Page 77 of My Monster’s Keeper

“What is your home like?”

“Dark, scary. Everyone is a lot more vicious, and even the most defenceless being has more teeth than a human. I would never want to see you in my world, Becky.”

“Do you want to go back?”

“I thought so for a while, but I like it here. I like them.” Stix pulls a bewildered face. “Never thought I’d be saying that about the Fae, but I do like them. And I really like you.”

I bite my lip to hold in all the words that want to pour out.

“You like us, too, don’t you?”

I shake my head. “I shouldn’t.”

“But you do.”

“But I do. You know, I’ve met some horrible people and seen some horrible things, but I don’t think you four even come close to that. I’ve never had friends before. Only Grant.”

“Well, you have us now, and we’re not going anywhere.”

If ever there were words that were my absolute weakness, it’s a heartfelt promise to stay with me. Damn those abandonment issues.

Still, I keep my eyes on Puppy as he and a little boy start bouncing around and shouting excitedly. The kid drags him to the other skeletons, and they start the process again.

Puppy is very much…like a puppy sometimes. The thought of not seeing the carnivorous asshole again makes me feel panicky inside.

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“I mean it, poppet. Wherever you go, I go. I’m truly sorry, but you’re stuck with me now.”

That’s not the scary thought that he thinks it is.

I glance at him out of the corner of my eye. He’s smiling, and he looks happy. They can be happy here with me, right?

Chapter 22

Frost

Iturn my head on the pillow and watch her sleep. The dreams have been coming a lot at night. I wonder if it’s because of where we are or maybe because of us. With a deep sigh, she snuggles deeper, moving closer towards me.

I reach up my hand cautiously and, using the back of my index finger, stroke her cheek. Even if the others wanted her, it would never be safe for me to have her.

I’m more dangerous than Puppy.

I have less control than him, too.

The last thing I want is to see her all barbecued or turned into a block of ice because I lost control.

No, it’s better if I keep my distance.

I remove my hand and find instead the nightmare on the other side of her watching me with knowing eyes.

“They pushed you out because you were strong, not because you were weak.”

“It doesn’t matter why they did it,” I say as I roll out of bed. “It matters what I do.”

Stix follows me into the bathroom, where I strip out of my clothes and get in the shower. He stands at the edge of the water spray, and his eyes travel down my body in appreciation.

I ignore him. The Fae never had issues around sexuality in the courts. Male, female, or other, so long as it could say yes…but sometimes they didn’t care if it said yes. If I said yes. Periodically, I would be dragged back to the courts and forced to live there until they got bored with me and banished me again. I prefer the wilds over the cruelty of my own kind.