Page 19 of My Monster’s Keeper
Becky
I told Diablos where to go in a thousand different ways. Then explained calmly to Hartley that my boys needed a few lessons about how to be human, and I was taking two weeks to assess and educate.
Hartley relayed the information to Diablos, who considered my demand and agreed that it would be cheaper. I listen to their conversation and roll my eyes before hanging up.
“That was twenty minutes of my life I’m never getting back.”
I pace around Diablos’ huge house. He invested in an old church with vaulted ceilings, which is good because, apparently, with anger comes the big crimson and horned rage demon. I cross my arms, unimpressed with his bluster.
He picks up a piano and hurls it.
Stix tsks.
They’re winding him up and, to be honest, I’m finding it mildly amusing.
“Do you know how much it costs to unfreeze a house?” Diablos shouts. “Everything is ruined, and you aren’t staying at the Milford! It’s the most expensive hotel there is. No way.”
He pouts and whines, turning a sad look on Hartley.
“Help me.”
“I would, but you know all the eyes make everything extra spicy.”
Diablos’ eyes gleam. “I love your dirty little mind.”
Hartley slumps back in the seat, proud and pleased.
I, on the other hand, could have done without that info. If the two of them are into exhibitionism, I’m sure there’s a kink club with a dungeon.
“Just give it to us so we can leave.”
“One condition, but I need to talk to them about it. You get out.” Diablos glowers at me and snorts a plume of red-tinged smoke .
I stare down that long finger pointing at me. The urge to bite it rises up, pressing in on me.
“You’re treading on thin ice, Di.”
He stomps a cloven hoof.
“Oh, my god! How old are you?”
“Hartley, take her out before I forget why I need her.”
“Just try it, Demon!” Puppy snarls, and my heart jolts.
What is this? Feelings for them all now?
Hartley puts a hand behind my back, not quite touching me but certainly guiding me.
“We’ll be in the kitchen.”
He leads me through a couple of arched doorways until we get to a kitchen several times bigger than mine.
Hartley indicates a stool at the island and goes to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of orange juice.
He fills two glasses, slides one to me, and just stays leaning against the island on the other side.
“So, things are going well between you guys?”
“Well enough,” I say evasively.
Hartley nods, his expression far away. “Be sure.”
“What?”
“Be sure. I can tell you have feelings, no, don’t interrupt, just listen. Their relationships are different from ours and those four are alphas. They need an omega. Anyone less would eventually be destroyed. So you have to be sure.”
I stare at him, trying to hear what he’s saying. But it feels like someone just called me out, like I’m doing something wrong. But I’m not, am I?
“They don’t want someone like me.”
Hartley snorts. “Darling, you’re a cop, and I’m a cop, don’t bullshit me.”
I look away. “So, you’re saying stay away from them?”
“Nah, I’m saying they will change you, and you will be different, and you might not survive it. The only ones who can come out unscathed are omegas.”
“You survived.”
Hartley pulls his top off.
“Whoa!” I protest.
He pulls a face and turns around. “Not unscathed.”
The burn is an immense circle that takes up almost all of his upper back. It’s got a weird swirl of lines of raised scar spiralling into what looks like a white star .
“Shit, Hartley.”
“It was worth it, but you gotta understand, Dawson, this is forever. There’s no divorce, no do-overs, no oops or morning after regrets. It’s one and done. Locked, knotted, whatever you want to call it. There’s no exchange. But I only have Diablos. There are four of them and just one of you.”
I stare at him, thinking hard. Doing the math, but two and two aren’t coming up at four.
“Are you sure you want them? Are you sure you’re ready?”
Instead of answering, I pick up my orange juice and drink it. I have a lot to think about, but Hartley seems content not to press me.
“Nice house.”
“Yeah.” Hartley looks around. “It is nice. Don’t worry about the hotel, I’ll make sure Diablos gets you the room at the Milford.”
I finish the glass, and he reaches out, taking it and putting it in the sink. He pulls on his shirt and gestures to me to follow him.
He leads me through a few more doors and out into an atrium filled with green plants.
“You know what Diablos loves?”
I shake my head.
“This spot right here. He hadn’t seen green plants before he came to Earth. He is absolutely dedicated to protecting this world because he fell in love with it. My Di doesn’t want to see the other worlds come here and trample it. That’s why he fights so hard and puts together impossible teams.”
I exhale roughly. “It’s hard to grasp just how big the world is out there.”
“It really is.”
“Have you been to any of them?”
“Me? No, but he’s told me about them.”
I wave past a huge sunflower and reach out to touch the petals.
“This is so pretty. But, surely, there are things just as pretty on those worlds?”
“Maybe. I don’t know.”
“Don’t you want to go and have a look?”
“Not really.”
I snort a laugh. “You and Diablos are like the ultimate old couple.”
“I’ll take it. I just want my demon, my slippers, my coffee, and my bed. ”
Frost appears behind Hartley, who hasn’t noticed him yet. I watch the Fae prince stand in the shadows of the foliage and become almost invisible, but, to me, I can’t miss him.
“RULES!” Diablos booms. “This is work. You proposed training them, then you will. Eight hours a day minimum, and I expect a report at the end of it.”
Puppy appears beside me, rattling scales I can’t see.
“You will work and learn, and you only get two weeks. That’s all I can spare you for. I will be stopping in every now and then to give you a pop quiz.” He rubs his hands together with far too much glee.
I raise an unamused eyebrow and watch the prowling demon.
“You will sleep in one room.”
“All five of us?” I ask, surprised.
“Yes, because I want you to be safe, and four Shadow kin and Fae watching over you are better than none.”
He nods to himself, pleased but then turns and points a finger at my chest.
“No happy endings.”
My mouth drops open. “Excuse me?”
“Not getting your dicks wet, your cunts creamed, or holes filled. You are not a Choux bun!”
I tense my shoulders and take a warning step in his direction. “Are you seriously telling me, a human woman who lives on this planet, who I can and cannot sleep with?”
Diablos blinks hard enough to flutter his eyelashes in alarm. “I, um-”
He glances at Hartley, who is perched on the edge of a garden bed with his face in his hands.
“Yes?”
“No!” I jab him in the chest. “I can sleep with one human male or a thousand alien monsters, but you do not get a say in who I fuck. No one does. And, further, if I hear of you trying that with any other woman, not only will I kick your ass, but so will he!” I point at Puppy.
“I’m your boss!” Diablos mutters.
“Nowhere in the contract I signed did it say I couldn’t have relations with employees. Next time, get someone to look over your contract better and put it in writing.”
Diablos huffs. “Fine. I won’t tell you who to fuck, but I can tell them.”
I snarl, low and long.
Smokes billows out of his nostrils. “This is my ruling! ”
He stomps his foot and disappears with a crack of lightning.
Hartley gets to his feet. “Allow me to escort you out.”
“Should I be sorry?”
Hartley glances at me and smiles slightly. “He will need extra cuddles tonight when we go to bed. I could thank you.”
I snort a laugh that I muffle with a pretend cough.
We get to the front door, and Hartley pulls it open. I glance at it and wonder if there is anyone born on this planet who could move that door.
Hartley is changed.
I didn’t realise he meant physical changes.
Stix puts a hand on the small of my back, the slightest touch leaving my blood pounding in my veins. I peer up at him as he guides me down the steps. He looks out at the world as if watching and preparing for danger. Protective.
He’s protecting me.
On my left, Wilder, flanked by Frost, jog down the steps, catching up to us and keeping pace. They, too, look outwards, but Puppy is looking at me. His eyes are always on me.
I never had a family. Is this what one feels like?
Or is this something more?
What changes?
Why do they need an omega?
Would I be willing to be destroyed by risking it all with them?
It’s a lot. It’s heavy.
The scars on Hartley’s back are burnt into my retinas.
But my monsters lead me away from the church with the demon in it.
We’ve got two weeks to think. I’m going to use every second.