Page 1 of The Monster’s Obsession (A Monstrous World #5)

Chapter One

Vivie

L eaning forward in my chair, I study my eyes in the mirror, applying an extra coat of waterproof mascara.

Lazarus has been known to turn me into a sweaty mess, and not all makeup is created equally. If he plans to drag me off stage for a dip in the aquatic tank, I never bother, but tonight, the plan is to stay on the main stage.

Tossing down the mascara, I grab the powder to give my cheeks one more touch-up. My gray eyes narrow as I catch sight of my reflection. Sometimes I look a little too much like my mother, and it makes my skin crawl.

That female doesn’t even count as a mom.

Not after what she put me through.

You’re in the human realm.

Not in Faere.

Don’t panic.

You’re safe inside The Den.

The entire building is secure.

Rowan can’t get to you here.

My hands shake so much, I give up on perfecting my look.

I’ve been in the human realm for over a decade, and thoughts of Rowan still cause a pit to form in my gut. Then again, I suppose that’s what happens when your own mother trades you to a true monster for wealth and a small bump in her social standing.

I’ll never understand how she could make the choices she made.

I work around literal monsters here at The Monster’s Den, and not even one has ever treated me as vilely as my own mother.

It’s taken years of being free of Faere, but I better understand my trauma responses. In the fae realm, I would have been expected to keep my composure no matter the circumstance. We’re taught to never show weakness and to always put our best foot forward.

Leaning my forehead against the small dressing table, I breathe through the panic.

I’m free.

No one will ever drag me back to that hellhole.

“Are you ready, precious?” Lazarus asks, shooting me the sexy smirk he always gives when he’s about to fuck my world up in the best way possible.

“For you?” I toss my strawberry blonde hair over my shoulder and move to stand in front of the dressing mirror, checking my lipstick one last time. “Always.”

I’ve worked with quite a few partners while putting on shows here at The Den, but Laz is my favorite by far. He’s a generous lover and tender, even when the audience calls for a little degradation or violence.

Laz is very good at making them think they’re getting what they’re asking for while still honoring every single one of my boundaries.

The kraken in human form steps up behind me and runs his hands down my arms as he rests his chin on my shoulder. Unlike some of the lesser demons and other species, he has two full forms. His monster form is much different from the man currently grinning at me in the mirror.

Laz’s white-blond, shaggy waves fall over his forehead as he tucks my hair behind my ear and leans in close to my ear.

Dammit.

He’s going to make my knees wobbly.

I can feel it.

Seeking out something to help keep me upright, I wrap my hands around the small black square of counter space. It shakes a bit as I lean into it for support.

Laz’s warm breath fans over my skin, and he flicks his tongue over my throat. I groan, stretching my neck to the side to give him easier access.

Laz is dangerous because he knows exactly how to tease my body for maximum pleasure with minimum effort. He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met, and his lighthearted energy is addictive. Not to mention, his desire for me fuels my magic like no one else.

“You smell absolutely divine.” He slides his tattooed hand around my stomach and down to tease my lower lips over the silky material of my dress. “Won’t be too much longer, and this sweet little cunt will be all mine.”

I moan as he scrapes his teeth over the sensitive skin of my shoulder. He doesn’t let the thin material of the strap stop him as he licks and sucks while grinding against my ass.

“You’re on fire tonight, aren’t you?” I tease, but in reality, he always affects me on some deep level.

It’s hard to explain.

Yes, I get a power boost from his sexual desire that’s more potent than I’ve ever experienced, but it’s so much more than that. It’s like his calm, steady energy levels me out in some way that’s even more potent than magic.

“I thought we still had a few weeks before the quickening hit?” Laz murmurs, running his nose along the column of my neck. “Your scent alone tells me there’s no way it’ll hold off for that long.”

My brow furrows.

“It should be several weeks away…” I think.

Female fae experience a period of hyperfertility known as the quickening. It comes regularly every three months. For several days leading up to the beginning of the quickening, we build ourselves a safe spot to burrow and nest.

In Faere, homes often have small rooms designated for the purpose of nesting. It’s very much like how a female wolf will build her den, except we fill ours with soft pillows, fabrics that appeal to our senses, and if the fae has a mate, then they’ll be invited in too.

During the days leading up to it, the female will smell sweeter and seem more appealing to any compatible partners. Once the quickening begins, a haze of lust overrides logical thought. That’s why it’s important to be in a safe place when it hits and far away from anyone you don’t trust.

If fertilization doesn’t occur, there will be several days of cramping and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Laz has helped me through multiple cycles, and he’s the only person who’s built up the level of trust I need to believe he won’t push past my boundaries.

Kraken mate differently than fae.

It makes him an ideal partner because, oftentimes, one male wouldn’t be able to meet the sexual needs of a fae female, at least not during her quickening.

Laz doesn’t just have his cock and mouth, though. He’s stacked with tentacles when he’s in his monster form.

Not to mention the cock pocket.

Gods, how I love teasing the sensitive tissue with my tongue.

“It’s probably time we give notice. We can do the show tonight and maybe the one tomorrow, but after that, I don’t think we’ll be able to come back to The Den until it hits.

It’s either coming faster than you expect, or you’re just extra sweet this time.

” Laz nuzzles his cheek to mine. “Either way, it’s not worth the risk.

You know what it does to the other monsters.

” His aquamarine eyes meet mine in the mirror, but I’m more distracted by his pointy canines.

They’re sharp all the time, more like vampire fangs than human teeth.

In full monster form, he has a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth, and they are intimidating as hell if you aren’t expecting them.

“We’ll need to warn Aline and Dread, since we won’t be available. ”

I nod my agreement.

The bosses are good about honoring our requests for time off, but I always feel guilty when it comes faster than I’m expecting. It’s more of an issue for me than it is for most fae, since my siren blood riles up anyone who gets a whiff of me.

Laz cups my lower stomach, pulling me back into his lithe chest. “I know you get extra needy when the quickening is close. You want me to fill all your holes tonight, precious?”

I groan, nodding frantically.

He loves teasing me, but I enjoy his torment just as much.

“They’re calling for you, Laz,” Saber says from behind us.

Laz chuckles. “I’ll just bet they are.”

My eyes catch on Saber’s light gray eyes. They’re so pale there’s no mistaking he’s a sentinel, one of the offspring of heaven. His dark hair falls around his face in waves.

Saber is friendly with everyone except me. He doesn’t like me for some unknown reason, but in all the years we’ve worked together, I’ve never been able to determine why.

It’s fine by me.

Before this last year, we were almost never in the same room at the same time. Back when he was running security with Atlas as one of the bouncers, it was much easier to avoid him. Ever since he got moved to management, it’s like I can’t escape him or his judgy, calculating eyes.

Laz laughs even harder. “All right, I’m going to go set up.

” He finds humor in everything, which is one of the things I love most about him.

He’s not tainted with pain like I am, and when I’m with him, it becomes easier to forget the ghosts of my past. “I’ll be waiting for you. ” He smacks my ass and heads out.

Saber crosses his beefy arms over his chest and continues to stare at me.

I’ve gone over and over every interaction we’ve had throughout the years, but not one gives me any indication of what I could have done to offend him.

Maybe he just had a bad interaction with a siren? My kind is known for breaking hearts and being generally awful at relationships.

“Did you need something?” I turn back to the mirror and run my finger around my lips to remove any smudges.

“I’m the monitor on duty for your show,” he says, and his entire demeanor betrays how not excited he is about that fact.

“Good to know.” I grab a hair tie, pulling it onto my wrist for later.

I prefer to have my hair up for scenes, since it can get hot on stage with the lights blaring down on us. But the audience likes it better when my hair is down so Laz can fist my hair or watch as it fans over my body.

“I’m still required to go over the basics with you.” Saber gives me a condescending look as his eyes narrow. “If you need assistance, all you need to do is call out red . If your mouth is full, tap your partner three times. If they don’t honor your request to stop, hold up a fist.”

I smile as politely as I can when I feel like he’s constantly talking down to me. “Thank you, I remember.”

He nods and walks away without a backward glance.

Both of his heritage species are known for being haughty and high-strung, but seriously…

Saber is smoking hot.

He should have no trouble finding willing partners.

In all the years I’ve seen him around the club, I’ve never seen him with anyone or heard of him dating or hooking up.

Maybe that’s it.

He’s all pent up from watching everyone else fuck and never participating.

He might want to consider it. It might help him relax a little, which could lead to a more pleasant version of himself for the rest of us to interact with.