Chapter 14 Speaking of Monsters
Seri
The sunlight filtering through the drapes was soft, almost hesitant, as though it was afraid to be there. I blinked at the unfamiliar room, then remembered where I was and smiled just a little.
Evermere.
My new home with my new husbands. The word still felt foreign, like a too-big shoe I hadn’t quite grown into yet.
Yesterday, they’d found me on their doorstep, battered and broken, in the aftermath of Amabel and Eluned’s cruelty. A few hours later, I’d woken clean, bandaged, and cocooned in a bed so soft, it felt like sinking into a cloud.
And then they’d introduced themselves: Casimir, Zane, and Koa. Three men who were now mine.
And I had no idea what to do with them.
My body ached as I swung my legs over the side of the bed, but it was a dull ache, manageable.
I glanced down at the bandage wrapped around my arm, crisp and white, and felt a pang of gratitude.
I was clean, cared for, and wearing Koa’s white t-shirt.
It still smelled of evening primrose, his mate scent, and I breathed it in greedily.
I shuffled to my suitcase, which sat against the dresser.
I didn’t know how it got there, but I was grateful to have it.
Digging around, I found an old t-shirt dress in soft lavender, wrinkled but familiar.
It wasn’t much, but it was mine. I frowned at my bare feet.
My only pair of shoes was missing, probably lost in the chaos of yesterday.
My feet looked small and pale against the hardwood floor, vulnerable in a way that made me shiver.
“Brummy,” I called softly, turning to the wolf pup who’d been watching me with wide, curious eyes. He trotted over, his tail wagging in slow, deliberate arcs. “Go fetch one of them, okay? In case I need help.”
He tilted his head, ears pricked forward, and I smiled a little as Casimir’s stern words from earlier echoed in my head.
“Letting that animal watch you in the bathroom! He’s a boy!”
I opened the door, and Brumous bounded out with a happy yip, his claws clicking against the floor as he disappeared down the hallway only to stop at the top of the stairs and start howling.
Well, I guess that will work, too.
The mirror above the bathroom sink showed a version of myself I barely recognized.
Yeah, my face was still pale and my gray eyes still held shadows, but there was a spark in them I hadn’t seen in a long time.
I splashed cold water on my face, the shock of it sharp and invigorating, and brushed my teeth with the toothbrush someone had left for me.
Feeling slightly more human, I left the bathroom and found Koa and Zane waiting for me.
“That color suits you, beloved.” Koa’s nearly black eyes swept over me, lingering on my dress. “Very pretty with your skin tone.”
I felt a blush creep up my neck and ducked my head, mumbling a thank you.
“All right, sugar booger, let’s get you downstairs before we miss luncheon.” Zane swept me into his arms like I weighed nothing, which, to be fair, wasn’t far from the truth these days.
“Hey! I can walk!” I yelped in surprise, gripping his shoulders.
“Yeah, but why would you when I’m here?” he shot back, his gingerbread eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Consent, Z,” Koa grumbled.
And Zane immediately set me down on my feet, so fast I staggered and had to grab his arm to steady myself.
“May I pick you up and carry you down to lunch, Serafina?” He bowed over the arm I was gripping. “Wouldn’t want you taking a tumble.”
I knew I was far from steady on my feet. Plus, there was something comforting about the way he held me, like I was precious.
“Yes, please.” I gave him a sweet smile, and I was hoisted back up in his arms before I knew it.
The banister gleamed under my fingertips, smooth and cool, and the air smelled faintly of lemon polish. My legs dangled, my sore ankle throbbing, but I didn’t mind. It was nice to be cared for.
Koa followed close behind, coaxing Brumous with a treat. The pup hesitated at the top of the marble stairs, his ears flattening as he peered down at the slick surface.
No wonder he only howled from the top earlier.
“Maybe you should carry him,” I suggested, glancing over Zane’s shoulder. “He looks scared.”
Koa shook his head, his black hair brushing his shoulders.
“He needs to learn. Soon, he’s going to be too big to carry everywhere.”
He was right; I couldn’t protect my baby from everything, no matter how much I wanted to.
“Not too heavy for us, of course,” Zane added with a smirk. “For you, blossom. Trust me, you won’t be able to lift a full-grown dire wolf.”
I huffed a laugh, even though the thought made me a little sad.
Brumous was growing so fast, too fast, but that was the way it should be.
When the wolf pup finally made it to the landing, Koa ruffled his fur with a soft smile, and the fact that their kindness extended to Brumous made my heart glow with warmth.
The dining room was all warm light and polished wood, the long table set with gold-edged plates and far too many forks and spoons.
Zane sat me in one of the chairs, then claimed the seat next to me, grinning like he’d won some kind of prize.
Brumous wagged his tail so hard, it slapped against the floor in a rhythmic thump.
“Where’s Casimir?” I asked, glancing toward the doorway.
Koa opened his mouth to answer, but before he could speak, Casimir strode into the room.
His waist-length blond hair was back in a loose knot at his nape, and his green eyes scanned the room like he was looking for threats.
In one hand, he held a shoebox, and in the other, a pair of white ankle socks.
“Made it with five minutes to spare, bro!” Zane crowed as he checked his phone. “Luncheon is promptly at noon, remember?”
Cas didn’t say a word. Just walked straight to me, knelt at my feet, and set the box down.
My breath caught as he pulled my foot out from where it was tucked in the rungs, cradling it in his big hands.
As he slid a sock on, I stared at his hair, gleaming like spun gold in the sunlight.
For a moment, I forgot myself and reached out to touch it, but he shifted to my other foot, and I quickly dropped my hand and shoved my traitorous fingers under my thighs to make them behave.
“I purchased a few other necessities as well and deposited them in your room,” he murmured. “We’ll apply the arnica cream to your bruises three to four times a day.”
“Thank you,” I murmured, watching as he opened the shoebox and pulled out a pair of white sneakers. “Oh! You didn’t have to—”
His scowl made me clamp my lips together. In silence, I watched as he slipped the shoes onto my feet, then tied the laces. When he looked up, his expression was still fierce, like he was daring me to argue.
“You needed footwear. Appropriate footwear. I have provided it.”
Joy bubbled up inside me. It was such an oddly protective gesture, and one I hadn’t expected. Koa snorted, turning his face away to hide his laughter, while Zane outright cackled, clutching his stomach like he’d just heard the funniest joke of his life.
“What are you laughing at, you scarlet hyena?” Cas stood, his scowl deepening, and shot Zane a hot glare.
“Thank you, Simmy,” I said, meeting his gaze.
His expression softened just a fraction before he turned away, muttering about velocity and arch supports, and I shook my head.
Soon enough, a boy came into the room with platters of food, setting them down with an almost scared look, his hands trembling just a little. I gave him a kind smile, but he never looked directly at me.
As soon as the boy was gone, Casimir began dishing food onto my plate, then the others. Since Zane and Koa didn’t say anything about it, I only murmured a quiet, “Thanks,” and got a quick nod back.
As we ate chicken and roasted vegetables, Zane kept up a steady stream of jokes and stories, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief, while Ko interjected with dry, understated commentary that had me biting back laughter.
Casimir ate quietly, his posture rigid, although I caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips whenever Zane said something particularly outrageous.
Brumous sat at my feet, his head resting on my lap as Zane fed him scraps under the table. I smiled, marveling at how quickly he’d grown attached to them and they to him. Zane ruffled Brumous’ ears, earning a happy yip, while Koa murmured something soothing when the pup whined for more food.
Casimir seemed less enthused. He looked under the table twice with a slight frown, his fingers tapping against the edge of his plate, his eyes narrowed.
I wondered if he’d had a bad experience with a pet before or if he just didn’t trust dires in general.
The thought made me sad. Brumous was sweet, all paws and wagging tail, and I couldn’t imagine anyone not loving him.
Zane caught my eye and grinned.
“Don’t mind Cas. He’s just mad because Brumous gets more of your attention than he does.”
“Zane,” Casimir warned.
“Brummy is cute.” I smiled, shaking my head. “He’s pretty hard to resist.”
Casimir rolled his eyes, but I swear I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. For all his seriousness, there was something endearing about the way he tried to hide his softer side.
They were so different—Zane with his easy laughter, Koa with his quiet intensity, Casimir with his sharp edges—but there was a bond between them that was unmistakable. As I looked at these three men who were now my husbands, I felt a flutter of hope, something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
It gave me the courage to ask a few questions.
“What, um.” Okay, maybe not as much courage as I’d hoped.
“Please don’t hesitate to ask us for or about anything.
” Casimir set down his knife and fork and folded his hands over his plate, and I nearly shriveled under the weight of his full attention.
“If you require something, we will provide it. If you want to know something, we will answer you if we can.”