21. The Monster’s Gift
Chapter twenty-one
The Monster’s Gift
Moni
Leo stepped further into the tent.
The air shifted.
It thickened, turning sharp as glass and pressing against my skin.
My breath caught, and I dove my hands into the deep pockets of my gown where the two guns rested like lifelines.
Leo’s presence wasn’t just there —it consumed the space. With each step, his polished leather boots thudded against the ground and that sapphire robe swirled around him like a stormy sea.
He moved with the kind of confidence that said nothing could touch him—because nothing would .
He stopped a foot from me and trailed his sharp gaze over my appearance—my crown of sapphires, my gown, the fur draped over my shoulders.
He took his sweet time perusing me, and that alone made the hair on my arms prickle.
There better not be any more tests, Leo, or I’ll shoot you. In fact. . .
Slowly, I wrapped my fingers around one of the guns, and the cool metal became a steady anchor against the tremble building in my chest.
Maybe, I should shoot you now.
The thought slithered through my mind like smoke, dark and dangerous.
What if I shot him now? What would happen?
So many possibilities unfurled.
My hand could move in a flash—take the gun out, point his way, pull the trigger, end this nightmare, end him.
One bullet.
That was all it would take.
He was close enough, and I had the element of surprise.
But even as the idea took root, my instincts screamed at me.
Leo was fast.
Too fast.
He wasn’t just powerful—he was a predator honed by decades of survival, a man who had likely faced more attempts on his life than I could count.
People stronger, smarter, and more ruthless than me had tried to take him down, and I bet he’d bested them all. Surely, he’d be watching for a flicker of hesitation coming from me, a twitch of movement.
He’d see it coming before I even lifted the gun.
Would he knock it from my grip?
Twist it around and press it to my own skull?
I tensed.
What would he do to me if I failed?
Shivering, I forced my fingers to loosen.
The gun slipped from my palm like a reluctant goodbye.
No—I couldn’t risk it. Not now.
Leo’s sharp gaze swept up to meet mine, as though he’d caught a hint of my thoughts. His mouth tilted in a cruel, knowing smirk, the kind that told me he’d played this game far too many times before.
I swallowed hard.
Not yet.
He might not know just how close I’d come to pulling that trigger, but the knowledge burned in my chest.
He curved his lips into a smile, the sort of smile a predator would wear when amused by his prey. “Look at you, Monique.”
His voice went low. “My little monster is now all grown up.”
I swallowed hard.
My little monster. He’s back at that bullshit. Still. . .don’t flinch.
I lifted my chin and met his stare head-on. “I’m not your monster, Leo. I’m your daughter.”
The line of his jaw twitched.
The movement was so slight, I almost missed it, but I didn’t. For a second, the gleam in his eyes dimmed, as though my words had clawed through his armor, just for a moment.
Then, it was gone.
“You can call yourself whatever you like,” he said softly and stepped an inch closer. “But the truth is in the blood, Monique. And in the violence. The death. You showed the East who you really are last night.”
His tone dripped with pride, but hearing it twisted something dark and sick in my gut.
He tilted his head. “Do you even realize what you did? How magnificent it was to watch you spill their blood, to see your hands steady as you delivered their judgment one by one? You honored me.”
I swallowed back the nausea rising in my throat, but I refused to look away from him. “I didn’t do it for you.”
He smiled again, unfazed. "Didn't you?"
“I did it for Lei and my sisters.”
“Am I not your family too?”
“You made me kill. You played games with my head. You drugged me, so no. . .”
For a moment, there was something in his eyes, something that was not arrogance or pride. It was fleeting, there and gone before I could truly catch it.
Was it. . .hurt? Sadness? Surprise?
Regardless, the thought didn’t satisfy me as much as I’d thought it would.
He stepped even closer then, so close that I could smell the rich scent of marijuana on his breath and see the intricate embroidery on his sapphire robe.
"I see." His gaze flicked down to my lips and lingered there for a moment before moving back to my eyes. It unsettled me more than any threat could have. "My monster has finally grown her claws."
Finally?
The word echoed in my head like a baffling riddle.
“Did you see how the East praised you on TV?”
“I saw it.”
“Are you pleased?”
“I just want my days and nights to be normal.”
“You have power. Things will never be normal.”
“But is that how it truly works?”
“We’ll see, Monique. We’ll see.” He took a step back, creating some much-needed space between us. “However, I don’t want you to be mad at me. I’m sorry for last night. Please. . .forgive me.”
Those words hung in the air.
He moved his view to the box in his hand. “To apologize, I’ve brought you a gift.”
I eyed it suspiciously. “Why would you give me a gift?”
“Like I said. . .to say I’m sorry.”
“That can’t be the only reason.”
“Well. . .also because this is your special day and I want you to remember me always, just in case this ends up being my last day.”
I gritted my teeth.
Just in case? Leo. . .you must die tonight.
He lifted the small velvet box in his hand, turning it slowly, as though presenting something holy.
My heart skipped a beat.
By now, I knew better than to trust him or any gift in his hand.
I thought back to the last gift he’d given me. When I opened it, I saw his daughter’s severed head and her lifeless eyes staring back at me.
I stiffened, every muscle in my body on edge.
Leo must have noticed, because his smile softened, almost mockingly. “Don’t look so afraid, little monster.”
“Leo, please stop calling me that.”
“It suits you.”
I sneered. “I’m now the Mountain Mistress, so if you must call me something, then call me that .”
He blinked and then inch by inch widened that smile. “I like the tone in your voice. So commanding. So. . .laced with venom. Okay, Mountain Mistress. I will do my best to stick to that title, instead of our nickname.”
Our? I think not.
He continued, unbothered as ever. “Tonight is a moment in history, and you, Monique, are at the center of it. The first Mountain Mistress of the East to be forged in blood and crowned by death.”
He held the box out toward me, but I didn’t move.
My feet felt frozen to the floor.
“Take it,” his voice shifted to smooth as silk. “It’s yours.”
I shook my head slowly. “What’s in the box?”
“Nothing you haven’t earned.” His words sent a chill down my spine.
I stared at the box. “You’ve given me quite enough already, Leo. No thank you.”
“Still, you must. In fact. . .let me help,” he said, and before I could step back, he flicked the box open.
I widened my eyes.
O-kay. . .
Inside sat a ring, more beautiful than I could have imagined. A sapphire the size of a robin’s egg rested at its center, deep and flawless, like a piece of the night sky frozen in time. Smaller diamonds haloed the stone, catching the light in the space and scattering it into sparks of fire and ice.
He’s giving me a. . .ring?
I blinked, stunned by its beauty.
“This was my wife’s,” Leo said softly as he watched me. “The day I created the title of Mountain Mistress; I gave her this ring.”
My eyes shot up to his face.
Why does he want me to wear her ring?
I lowered my view back to it and studied this priceless jewelry. It was gleaming and sitting innocently inside its velvet prison. For a split second, the sheer beauty of it was enough to rob me of breath.
However, I was sure the sapphire burned with secrets that I couldn’t begin to unravel.
Why would Leo give me this? And why now?
Leo never made a move without purpose. He was a man who thought ten steps ahead while the rest of us were still taking one step forward.
Every gesture, every word, every smile came with a cost, and this ring—this gift —would be no different.
I curled my fingers in the pocket of my gown and brushed the edges of the hidden gun. The cold metal steadied me even as my mind churned.
This is a chess move. But what move was it?
I lifted my gaze back to him.
He just stood there, waiting. The smallest tilt of his head betrayed his patience, as if daring me to figure out the real game before him.
I forced my voice to steady. “What does this ring mean to you , Leo?”
A flicker of emotion crossed his face—pride, maybe.
Or satisfaction.
It was hard to tell with him. “This ring is a symbol. One that binds its wearer to the title and everything that comes with it.”
Everything that comes with it?
The words twisted like a knife.
What does he mean by that?
I tried to think clearly, but the space felt too small, the air too heavy and even the sapphire’s sparkle seemed like a trap, luring me closer even as my instincts screamed at me to step back.
Leo watched me. “You must take it.”
“Why?”
“You don’t like it, my little monster?”
“I don’t like whatever could be attached to it.”
“And what could that be?”
Think, Monique. Think.
If this was a game of chess, Leo had just placed his queen in plain sight, and that alone was enough to unnerve me. He never played his cards so openly unless there was something far bigger brewing beneath the surface.
The ring wasn’t just a ring.
It couldn’t be.
Is this a claim of ownership? No. That doesn’t make sense. Is this a power play to mark me as his successor in the eyes of the East? Or something worse? Why would he tie me to his wife’s legacy?
I forced myself to look beyond the obvious; to search for the threads Leo had left dangling for me to tug on.
What isn’t he saying?
I looked at the ring again, the diamonds catching the dim light and scattering it into fragile shards. It was beautiful, yes—but beauty meant nothing in Leo’s world unless it could be used to manipulate.
The longer I thought about it, the more I knew this was a move designed to corner me.
To shape me into something he wanted.
I just didn’t know what he needed that shape to be.
I swallowed hard.
Leo had already claimed so much of me—the blood on my hands, the new nightmares in my head, the violence that lingered in my bones.
And now he wanted this, too.
A ring.
A symbol.
A shackle of some kind disguised as a gift.
What’s your endgame, Leo?
I dared a glance up at him.
His expression was unreadable but I knew him well enough to see the quiet satisfaction in the tilt of his mouth.
He was waiting for me to understand.
Waiting for me to accept it.
And I hated that.
The sound of helicopters buzzed faintly in the distance, growing louder by the second. My chest tightened at the sound, hope bubbling up through the unease.
Lei.
My baby had to be in one of those helicopters. I could feel him drawing closer like the pull of gravity, his presence grounding me even as the storm of Leo’s games swirled around me.
Focus, Moni. Stay sharp. Take the damn ring so you can get to Lei. Once next to Lei, the meaning of this damn ring won’t matter.
Leo’s voice cut through the hum of the blades. “Do you know what it means to wear this ring, Monique? Truly?”
“Please, enlighten me.”
“It means you’re not just a player in this world. You’re the one who will rule it.”
The weight of his words hung heavy between us.
Rule it.
The thought should have sent a thrill through me—should have sparked something dark and powerful in my veins.
But instead, it made me tremble.
Because the truth was, Leo never gave anything without expecting something in return.
I looked down at the box, at the glittering sapphire that felt more like a noose than a crown and I realized what he was really saying.
He wasn’t giving me power.
He was handing me a responsibility that would tie me to him forever.
Or was I just bugging?
I’m not your wife, Leo. I’m not your legacy. . .so what are you doing?
But I didn’t say it out loud.
Not yet.
Because this was still his game, and I needed to play it carefully.
The helicopters roared overhead, rattling the tent walls, and I let the sound wash over me like a lifeline.
Lei was out there, somewhere close, and soon— soon —I’d be back with him.
I just had to survive this moment first.
Leo watched me with a predator’s patience and took that beautiful jewelry out of the box. “Take the ring, Monique.”
I did what I had to do.
I lifted my hand, keeping my face as blank as stone and let him slip the ring onto my finger. The cold metal slid against my skin, smooth and heavy, and I shivered as it settled into place.
“Yes. So perfect, my little monster.”
I flinched.
“I thought about this last night, I imagined it.”
I studied him.
Leo’s gaze lingered on my hand. “It suits you.”
Without breaking his stare, he gently lifted my hand and then slowly, almost reverently, he bowed his head and pressed his lips to the finger adorned with the ring, kissing it.
What the fuck!
It was such an unexpected gesture that for a moment I could only blink at him in surprise.
His lips were warm against my skin, warmer than any ring of power could ever be. The soft brush of his mouth sent electricity crackling through me, stunning in its intensity.
I jerked my hand away and my heart hammering in my chest.
Hold up now. I know you don’t be kissing your daughter’s finger like that. Well. . .you killed your daughter so I don’t know how you truly treated her, but still. . .
I stepped back. “What are you doing?”
Leo kept his gaze on me yet remained in his place. But there was an unfamiliar look in his eyes—a type of victory that didn’t need words to be acknowledged.
"The game has changed, Monique." He said softly, as the sound of helicopters receded into the distance and an unsettling silence descended around us.
The ring felt heavy on my finger and I stared at it, feeling something akin to dread curl in the pit of my stomach.
“What do you mean the game has changed, Leo?”
“It is hard to explain.”
“You’re the game master—”
“Yet, even the master gets surprised when the game goes in another direction.”
“And what direction is that?”
He gave me a sad smile. “Chaos.”
Song entered the room, and his eyebrows furrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line as anger marred his features. “You were supposed to wait until I was ready, Leo. You were not to come in here.”
“I wanted time alone with our new Mountain Mistress.” The tension in the room snapped like a wire. Leo turned to face him. “Why? What is wrong?”
Song’s gaze flickered to me, taking in the fur, the gown, and—briefly—the ring on my finger. His scowl deepened. “We need to move. Now.”
Leo arched a brow, unbothered. “Patience, Song. There’s still time. I’m not done talking—”
“You are done—”
“I need time—”
“You don’t have it—”
“Says who?”
Song’s voice grew tense. “Lei is here and he already killed Guan and Jietang.”
“What!”
I widened my eyes.
Song continued. “I had no time to stop him. Lei just stepped off the helicopter and sliced both their necks with Soaring Precious. Suzi passed out. Blood sprayed before I could even blink my eyes.”
Leo’s calm manner shattered. “Why the hell would he do that!”
“He yelled that Monique should have been in front of him and that he was done playing around—”
“Who the hell does he think he is?”
“Lei also said that we had ten minutes to get Monique at the feast and next to him or he’s just going to be killing all of our top men one by one, and meanwhile Chen and Duck pointed their swords at me when he said it.”
“Have they lost their minds? We are their elders! And I will not be rushed!”
“Brother. . .it is time to give Monique back to Lei. I will not lose any more people tonight.”
Leo didn’t argue but the look he sent Song’s way was sharp and dangerous.
I raised my eyebrows.
For a moment, the two men sized each other up.
Then, Leo broke the stare and turned to me. "Fine."
I blinked.
“Are you ready. . .Mountain Mistress?”
“I am.”
Leo held out his arm for me to take. “Then, let’s go. It’s time for your big debut.”
I hesitated, every nerve ending in my body screaming at me to back away but my feet betrayed me, carrying me toward him like a puppet on a string. “Y-yes. I’m ready.”
He watched me with a predator’s patience, his mouth curling into the faintest smirk, like he could already taste his victory. “Oh, but we do have to fix one thing on your gown, Mountain Mistress.”
“What are you talking about?” My words came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t hide the dread curling in my stomach.
Before I could react, Leo moved.
Fast.
Too fucking fast.
He was suddenly in front of me, his broad chest pressing against mine, forcing me a step back as his presence swallowed every inch of space.
He closed the distance again, pressing his body against mine once more. The scent of him—rich, spiced, with the sharp edge of marijuana smoke—burned in my nose, making it hard to breathe.
“Leo, back up off me.”
“One minute.” He slid his hands down my sides, slow and deliberate, like he had all the time in the world.
Song’s voice rose in the air. “What are you doing!”
“Lightening our Mountain Mistress’s load.” And then Leo slipped his fingers into my pockets.
No.
I froze.
His hands—warm and unnervingly steady—brushed the fabric that clung to my hips and then found the guns.
Goddamn it.
“Get your hands off her.” Song’s footsteps thundered as he got close. “Enough.”
I could feel everything—the pressure of Leo’s touch, the weight of his dominance as he dipped further, tugging the guns free.
Leo breathed me in. “She has weapons, brother. I’m just getting rid of them.”
Song stopped next to us and then widened his eyes in shock. “How did you get guns, Monique?”
I pressed my lips together.
Violated.
I felt violated.
My lungs seized, my chest locked tight as if invisible chains had wrapped around me, holding me hostage in my own body.
He knew I had the guns the whole time. Fuck. He would have been ready.
My heart slammed against my ribcage, desperate to escape, to run, to do something —but all I could do was stand there, helpless under his hands.
He pulled the guns from my pockets.
The smirk on his lips deepened.
“Leo.” My voice trembled. “Please, give them back. I feel safe with the guns on me—”
“Shh. I’m here. Later, Lei will be next to you too. You will be safe.”
“Still, there’s no need for me to not have them—”
“No one will have weapons at this battle besides Lei and me. Also, we wouldn’t want any accidents tonight, would we?” He turned the guns over in his hands, inspecting them like a prize as my heart shattered in my chest.
He knew the whole fucking time. Goddamn sicko.
My desperate attempt to level the playing field had been nothing but a child’s game to him.
The hope I’d clung to—that small, fragile sliver—crumbled into dust.
He set the guns on the bed.
I tried one last time. “I’m your little monster.”
He looked up at me.
“You don’t trust me, when you created me?”
“I don’t because now I’m starting to understand that I did too good of a job of making you into a monster. Tell me this.” He leaned his head to the side. “Were you going to use these bullets on me?”
I gritted my teeth.
“Then, no I don’t trust you. And by the way. . .” He slipped his gaze across my body. “You shouldn’t trust me either.”
His words were a blade, slicing through the last of my defenses.
“That’s enough.” Song’s voice shattered the moment like glass.
Leo stepped back just enough to give me space to move but his eyes stayed on me, pinning me in place. “Are you ready now, Mountain Mistress?”
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to tear the guns off the bed and point them straight at his smug, untouchable face.
But I didn’t.
Because in that moment, I knew that Leo had already won this round.
He had stripped me bare, violated my last shred of control, and left me shaking.
Song was still watching him with a mixture of anger and disgust, his fists clenched like he was seconds away from throwing a punch. “We don’t have time for your games, brother.”
Leo turned slowly toward him. “My games are what built this empire, Song. Don’t forget that.”
Song didn’t back down. “And they’ll be the death of you.”
“Perhaps.” Leo chuckled and turned back to me. “Shall we?”
I had no choice.
I forced my trembling legs to move and slipped my arm onto his.
The guns sat there on the bed, gleaming like fallen promises.
As Leo led me out of the tent, his chuckle echoed in my ears—low, cruel, and victorious.
“My smart little monster.” he murmured under his breath.
In that moment, I hated him more than I ever thought possible.