4. Kel
4
KEL
I f there is a heaven, I’ve temporarily portaled into it. Sera’s body is all sin and all mine.
My growl is nothing short of beastly as I thrust into her. The sounds of her stitches popping are alarming. I expect her to cry out for me to stop. Instead, she moans and whimpers and begs, “More.”
My monster rises to the occasion. I piston into her, driving into both of her holes simultaneously. Sera’s perfectly pieced-together figure takes every stroke, every hard edge and inch. I can’t get enough of her. The sounds she’s making convince me she’s enjoying herself, but I need more confirmation.
My hand slides down from the side of her face and wraps around her throat. “Come for your monster.”
I squeeze, cutting off her air. Her pussy clamps down around me and the strangest thing happens. I erupt. Hot, violet flame spills out of me and fills Sera. She bucks back against me, crying out and coming again.
That’s never happened in my royal form.
The heat continues to pour forth, melting our bodies together, forging our desire in the flames of the damned. My thoughts evaporate, rising up to the man in the moon, leaving my skull a vacant chamber with Sera’s name etched on its lovesick walls.
I collapse over her, my bones turning soft as I come down from the high that has overwhelmed my senses. The heat between us simmers, allowing me to return to the present moment more fully. I release the hold the trees have on Sera’s ankles and scoop her into my arms.
She’s babbling incoherently. It makes me smile. I fucked her with a viciousness that I rarely allow myself to set loose. In my royal form no less. And she handled it like a fucking queen.
I’ve made a mess of her body. Frayed sutures poke out in places they shouldn’t and her hips look to be hanging onto her torso by a thread. It’s something that needs to be remedied. Now.
I move through the house so quickly that Sera doesn’t have time to notice I’m gone. When I return, it’s with a needle and thread in hand.
“Monster bait,” I whisper, stroking her face. “May I stitch you back up?”
She nods sleepily. I’m as delicate as my skeletal hands will allow as I sew her back up, seeking any area that’s popped loose. My handiwork is pretty good, considering my limited experience with sewing anything up. I give most of the credit to my magic.
“How does that feel?” I prompt, taking her hand in mine.
“Perfect.” She sighs, rolling onto her side. “Thanks for repairing me.”
“Well since I’m the one who destroyed you”—I plant a firm kiss on her lips—“it is my duty”.
Her eyes start to clear and she breathes. “That was...unbelievable.”
Sera
“Unbelievable, huh?” Kel is beaming.
“Best I’ve ever had.”
His face descends as he glares at me. “Can you remember any other?”
“Nope,” I admit. Kel’s features lighten and he laughs. The sound releases some of the heaviness I’ve been carrying since I was brought back. I stretch, lengthening myself like a lazy cat. It gives me a minute to take in my surroundings. Now that I can see clearly, the space looks off. Cobwebs cover everything, from floor to ceiling.
I stare deep into the eyes of the man who was so recently a stranger. In a matter of hours he’s become so much more. Kel takes me into his arms, guiding me off the bed. There’s a gentle crunch as I’m set on my feet. Dead leaves litter the floor around me.
Kel’s long, slender fingers reach above me, brushing a pale veil of silky webs aside. He clears his throat. “I guess the room needs more attention than I realized.”
I take in the long-forgotten state of this place. “When is the last time you slept here?”
He rubs a palm down the back of his bony neck. “I’m not sure.”
“Well, where do you sleep if it’s not in here?”
He shrugs his massive shoulders. “I don’t.”
“You don’t sleep?” I peer up at him with a raised brow.
A sigh slips from his skeletal mouth. “I spend most of my nights wandering the forest. I find this room to be too empty.”
“You’re lonely,” I realize.
He releases a mirthless laugh. “You wouldn’t think it was possible. Especially considering I’m always surrounded by adoring citizens. I yearn for something more. Something deeper. I’ve been waiting for someone like you for so long.” He brushes his thumb down my cheeks. “Being with you is the first time my loneliness has subsided in centuries.”
Smiling, I reach up to touch his cheekbone. “You’re not alone.”
Something shifts in his bottomless gaze. “Be mine, Sera. Help me fill this room and house with life. I know we’ve only spent a short time together, but if you’ll let me, I’ll give you every second of my eternal life and make sure you never feel sad or suffer again. Stay here, with me. Forever.”
He drops down to his knees in front of me. “I’m in love with you, Sera. I have been since the first second I saw you. Please say you’ll stay.”
Kel
Sera stares back at me with an open mouth and surprise in her mismatched eyes. A choking sensation crawls up my throat as her prolonged silence dwells over us. The words just poured out of me like witches’ brew. I couldn’t stop them.
What was I thinking? It was too much to profess my love, to tell her of my loneliness. But it’s the truth. I’ve been miserable here. The Skeleton King with all his power and fame. It’s nothing to me.
Cocking her head, she studies me. “Do you mean that?”
I drag my claws across the comforter beside me as anxiety tears a very mortal path through my bones. “Which part?”
“You love me?” There’s such a softness in her gaze.
“I do.” I have the sudden urge to gnaw at my fingertips. “Do you feel the same?”
Sera’s grin catches me off guard. “Yes.” Her sweet laughter suddenly fills the bedroom. “It’s all happened so fast, but I feel it too.”
“And you’ll stay?”
She nods quickly. “I’ll stay.”
I snatch her up by the waist, spinning until we’re both dizzy and stumbling. We collapse back onto the bed. The first thing I’m going to do is make this bedroom fit for a queen. I’ll let Sera design it, give her anything she wants. Contentment gives me a warm, glowy feeling inside.
“What shall we do now?” Sera asks.
I roll her over, pinning her to the mattress. “I have a few terrible ideas.”
“You might not need to recover, but I do.” She giggles as I nuzzle into her neck. “I want to see more of the Mid Hallows. Maybe you can show me around?”
“What do you want to see?” Her enthusiasm to explore my domain sends a fluttering feeling through my chest.
“Everything!” She rolls out from under me and jumps out of bed. “But first, I’ll need something to wear.”
My eyes devour the vision of her naked body. A blush spreads across her pale cheeks under my scrutinous gaze. Her arms draw inward, covering her chest.
“Don’t do that.” Pain splits my chest when she flinches at my unexpectedly harsh tone. I clear my throat, softening my voice. “Sera, I need you to know that I wouldn’t change a single thing about you. Every scar, every stitch, everything you perceive as a flaw, I see as a unique trait that’s specific only to you, the woman I want to spend eternity with. You never need to hide anything about yourself from me.”
Tears pool in her eyes. “Kel...”
She’s back in my arms before the first tear falls. “I mean it. You never need to hide from me.” I take in her ethereal form. “ But it’s probably best if we hide some of my favorite bits from the rest of the townsfolk.” I give her a saucy grin.
“Oh, yeah?” She wipes a tear with the back of her hand.
“Yep. Let’s get you some clothes. There are parts of you only I want to gawk at.” I toss her a wink and am rewarded with a smile.
“Do you happen to have a woman’s wardrobe lying around or will it be another oversized jacket?”
The sight of Sera in my clothes is something I’ll never tire of, but someone as beautiful as she is deserves to be covered in beautiful clothing in return. “No wardrobe. But I do have some friends who would probably love to decorate something other than the dusty corners of my home.”
The first of my eight-legged housemates drops down from the ceiling, landing on Sera’s shoulder. She gasps, her body tensing. The little fuzzy spider lifts a front leg and waves up at her. He bounces from leg to leg before spinning in a circle.
Sera’s laugh brings a smile to my face. “Well, hello there.” The spider closes its many eyes as she reaches out a finger to stroke it. Twenty or so other spiders emerge from all around the room.
“What do you think? Can you guys spin Sera something special?” The creatures scurry around and promptly begin spinning. I nod to Sera. “Hold still.”
The little creatures work quickly, weaving an intricate design starting at the top of Sera’s shoulders and dropping down to her ankles. They each spin independently to create webs of various sizes. The smallest of the spiders then runs around, attaching each of the webs together. When they’ve finished, I’m left speechless. Sera’s naked body is now fitted into a long, silvery dress made entirely of silky spider webs. A fitted bodice accentuates her waist and chest. Twin sleeves drape down to the floor. They end in thin straps and come together atop her shoulders, finishing off in oversized bows. The skirt is tiered, remaining open from the knees down in the front, while the back trails onto the floor, settling in a pile like a shimmering pool.
I’m stunned into silence. I didn’t think it was possible for her to look any more beautiful, but in this gown, Sera is pure starlight. Her beauty convinces me all the more that angels exist, and I’m fortunate to have found one to spend the rest of my existence with.
Sera runs her fingers over the newly minted fabric.
“You look perfect.” My words bring another blush to her cheeks. Seeing color upon her pale skin and knowing I’m the one who put it there fills my ribs with a warmth that’s completely unrelated to the flames kindling within my bones.
I hunch forward, drawing my royal form back inside and donning my human skin. While the spider’s work is exquisite, I prefer my own clothes. Magic allows me to dress without effort. I settle on the same outfit as before. Who knows, if things get crazy, I may end up ripping that silver dress off of Sera and then she’ll need my jacket again.
Giddiness has my body moving double time. I clutch Sera’s hand, dragging her out of the room and into the long hallway. What will be her favorite part of the Mid Hallows? The gorge? The pumpkin patch? The swamp?
Tugging at my hand, she halts our departure.
“Why did you do that?” Sera’s frown has me perplexed.
“Do what?”
“Put your human skin back on?” She gestures to my form, causing the long sleeves of her new dress to drape forward.
Fear is my occupation. Terrifying mortals is what I do . In the heat of the moment, Sera accepted my royal form. But would she really want to look at it every day? The fangs? The fire? Someone as lovely and innocent as she is shouldn’t be with a creature of pure horror. I want to be what she needs. What she deserves.
Insecurity rustles through my vacant abdominal chamber. It’s a new feeling, and it’s extremely unpleasant. “I wasn’t sure you’d be comfortable with my other form.”
“You mean your true form. What is it you said? ‘You never need to hide anything about yourself from me.’ That goes both ways. I accept you for exactly what you are. The Skeleton King . Wear whatever skin you like. But know”—she takes my face between her slender hands—“I love every shape you take. Simple or spooky.”
And I thought I couldn’t love this woman more. I dip down to steal a kiss. “Have I told you how perfect you are?”
“Once or twice.” She returns my kiss, sliding her tongue between my lips. I can’t contain my groan. That simple action has blood racing straight to my cock. It’s only been minutes since I had her and I’m already in dire need of another taste, touch, everything.
“You know what would look absolutely divine?” I spin Sera around until she’s facing one of the long hallway mirrors. “You, with your palms against the mirror, watching as my royal form takes you from behind. Rough…” My hand slides across her thigh. “…hard…” I dip my fingers beneath the shortest part of her dress. “…while you scream so loudly it wakes the dead.”
I brush along her seam and her knees start to buckle. “That would be—”
A loud knocking at the door makes us both pause. I sigh grievously, withdrawing my hand. “It looks like the townspeople are eager to meet you. Let me inform them that you’ll be tied up for the next few hours.” That thought brings a smile to my face. “I quite enjoy the sight of you tied up. Stay here.”
I leap over the railing, dropping the many stories that lead to the ground level. Mist swirls up around me as my feet hit the foyer floor. I’m beyond thrilled to show off my spicy little monster bait to those who occupy my domain, but the people can wait. I need her to myself just a little bit longer.
The knocking returns, louder this time. I swing the door wide, but do not find a crowd of excited citizens awaiting their first glance of my beloved. Instead, the Syratren stands before me. His massive worm body fills my large doorframe. Each set of his bulbous eyes lights when he sees me.
“My king.” He bows in reverence. “All Hallows’ greetings. I have a surprise for you.”
The great worm jerks on a heavy metal chain, dragging someone into view. Ice trickles through my veins at the sight before me.
It’s a girl. She’s human. Or was. Short dark hair frames her heart-shaped face. A pair of mismatched brown and blue eyes stare back at me. Horror is all I can see in her wide stare. Tears trickle down her cheeks, catching on the many stitches that mar her face...
Stitches .
Down her body, I find more of the mad doctor’s cruel work. Her wounds are almost identical to Sera’s. The Syratren has brought another woman to life . The girl sobs, shivering where she stands.
“This one is far more docile than the last. I’ve ensured she’ll be too frightened to run off.” The Syratren shoves the chain into my hand. It’s attached to two thick metal cuffs that encircle the poor girl’s wrists. She stumbles forward, whimpering. “I had hoped for her markings to be more eloquent, but after a setback earlier this evening, I was forced to rush. What do you think of your new bride?”
A gasp from over my shoulder has me spinning around. Sera stands at the base of the stairs, hands covering her mouth. Her gaze flicks from the chain in my hands to the girl it’s attached to. I drop the chain, raising my hands in the air. “Sera—”
The Syratren snarls from the doorway. “I see you’ve already located my earlier creation. This one’s not finished, my king.” He slithers into the foyer. “If you’ll return her to me, I can fix her. She’s the reason I was unable to grant your request sooner. But once she’s been tamed, I’ll have great use for her. Or you can have two brides if you wish.”
The Syratren lunges forward. Sera’s scream pierces my ears. I’ve placed myself between the two of them in an instant, my teeth bared. “You will not touch her.”
A scowl spreads across the doctor’s grotesque face. “But surely you must know, she’s far from the bride I promised when you commissioned me to create a companion for you. You asked for—”
“I know what I asked for,” I bite out. “But had I known what my request would entail—”
“You asked for this?” Sera’s words are heavy with hurt.
The guilt from what I’ve done constricts around my rib cage. I asked for this. Me, the ruler of the Mid Hallows. It was a moment of great weakness. “I never intended for it to be like this.”
Sera shakes her head. “You knew what I was when you met me?”
Against my better judgment, I nod. “I did.”
“You knew because it was your idea?”
“It was.” I admit. The confession cuts through my lips like glass, leaving me wounded in its wake.
“How could you let him do this to me? To us?” Her gaze settles on the sobbing girl.
There’s so much despair behind her question. I’m disgusted with myself. “I didn’t know. When I asked for this, I had no idea what it would cost. It never occurred to me that he was experimenting on other girls. I never stopped to think—”
“You never stopped to think about what it would be like to be brought back from the dead at the hands of that monstrosity?” Her voice breaks and takes my metaphorical heart along with it.
Shame burns a path along my foolish flesh. Foolish is exactly what I am. How could I have ever thought any good would come from such a morally muddled request? I asked for a bride, a companion. My only thoughts were on curing my endless loneliness. She has to believe I had no idea what my request would involve.
“I never wanted anyone to suffer. If I had known what was happening, I would have—”
“You’re the king. This is your domain . How could you not know? This has been happening right under your nose. You’ve allowed this monster to mutilate women all in the name of some twisted desire for company?” Betrayal lies heavy on every syllable she speaks. I can see the human emotions warring with her. Anger, betrayal, sadness, desperation, fear, all fighting for a place in her current state.
She’s right, of course. This is my domain. It’s my job to know what’s happening here. Perhaps I did know or suspected at the very least. It was easier not to think about the how , and just daydream about the when . When I had a companion of my own. When I was no longer unbearably lonely every day and night. When my existence had meaning, had purpose once more.
Her voice is so quiet now I can barely make it out. “You pretended to help me out of the goodness of your heart. Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”
Because deep down, I knew it was wrong. But I was desperate, so desperate for someone to share my life with. When I asked the mad doctor, I was only thinking of a bright future, not the dark path it would take to get there.
“Look what he did to us.” Sera looks back at the other woman, and her energy shifts. A stunned expression passes across her face and she releases a guttural sound of anguish. She grabs the chains, sliding one of the cuffs down. The inside of the other girl’s wrist houses a small tattoo. Horseshoes. A cherished name . I recognize the tattoo from Sera’s memories. It’s her arm.
Sera’s breathing becomes uneven. Pure panic overcomes her as she hyperventilates. I step in, needing to help her through this. She shoves me away. And runs.
“Wait!” I dart after her, only to find the Syratren blocking my path.
“My king, allow me to go after her. She’s defective. If I could—”
My hand strikes like a viper, fingers burying into the fatty flesh of the worm’s meaty neck. I dig around, searching for the rubbery windpipe buried beneath the many fetted skin rolls. He abruptly stops breathing as I latch onto the sensitive tube. His arms fly up to stop me but I shove him back toward the stairwell. The railing unfurls, snapping out and wrapping itself around both of his arms. Six bulbous eyes bulge in his misshapen skull. I release a laugh that teeters on madness as I watch him struggle with his restraints.
“Listen well, worm.” A bluish hue has spread across his ghostly white features. He perspires heavily, the liquid turning gooey beneath my hold. “You will never touch Sera again. She will never step foot in your lab again. From this day forward, it is in your best interest to pretend she never existed. Nod if you understand.”
His face has turned a deep purple. He nods rapidly. “Please,” he wheezes.
"I’m glad we understand each other. Get out.” The manor door slams open. His breathing returns in rasping gasps as I release his throat. The banister loosens and returns to its original positioning.
He inches out, still struggling for breath. When he’s regained his pale coloring he turns back to me. “My king, you cannot do this. She is mine. I am her creator. You have no right. If I want to take her back and fix her then you cannot stop me.” I lift an eyebrow. My silence seems to grant him the courage to keep pushing his luck. “Furthermore, I’ll tell the people you’ve gone soft. Over a human . You know if the demons of the Deeper Hallows sense weakness, they’ll rise up. Can you really fight them off if they all band together? I think not. Given that alternative, you have no choice but to let me have her back.” Spittle flies from his quivering lips as he spews out that last sentence.
He’s awfully brave for someone who was recently seconds from suffocation. The resulting adrenaline spike must have given him a faulty sense of overconfidence. His empty threats would amuse me if they didn’t involve Sera. But he’s made a grave mistake in threatening her.
“Sera. Is. Mine .” The words ground out of me so loudly that the house shakes. He freezes, suddenly aware of the precarious position he’s in. I take great care of my Mid Hallows citizens. Perhaps it is because of this protection and generosity that some have forgotten my true nature. The mad doctor seems to need a reminder of exactly what I’m capable of.
“Since there’s some obvious confusion on your part, I’ll need to ensure you see things my way from now on.”
I summon the darkness, raising a veil of shadows and wrapping the doctor’s gluttonous body up tight. The violet flames that have overtaken my eyes are reflected in his petrified gaze. If he needs help seeing things my way...
Screeching bursts through my eardrums as my finger buries into the largest of his bulging eyes. The jelly-like texture squishes around my flesh. I don’t stop pushing forward until I hit the back of his socket. With a satisfied pop, I pluck the eyeball from his skull. With one more jerk, the optic nerve severs, freeing the orb completely. His screams of pain fill me with a surge of satisfaction that borders on sexual. “But is one eye enough to ensure you see things properly from now on?” He nods, babbling incoherently through his sobs. “Hmm. I need to be certain.”
My finger glides through the second eye even more easily than the first. It exits his skull with a wet pop. I admire both eyeballs, settled on the tips of my fingers. With a quick clicking from the side of my mouth, I summon Peck indoors.
He flies swiftly forward, swooping through the doorway and heading straight for me. I raise my hand in the air, offering him a perch. He lands gracefully. “Are you hungry, my little friend?” His feathers puff out as he caws excitedly. “Bon appétit.”
The eyeballs are gobbled up in an instant, vanishing through Peck’s curved beak and down his throat as he swallows them whole.
The Syratren wails as his eyes disappear. That should be enough to get my message across. I drop the shadowy restraints. “Congratulations, worm. You’ve officially retired from your role as mad doctor to the Mid Hallows. Say goodbye to your days of experimenting and goodbye to any girls still trapped within your lab of horrors. You’ll spend the rest of your existence in solitude.” I raise my hand toward his face, enjoying the way he flinches. “If you do not heed my order, I’ll tear you into so many tiny pieces that no amount of sewing will bring your worthless form back,” I warn. “Out. Now .”
He slithers quickly away, whining and mumbling as he goes. A clear viscous trail is left behind. Looks like I scared the slime out of him . It brings a grin to my face.
The smile drops when I think of Sera. Where has she gone? What must she be thinking right now? I need to find her. A metallic rattling draws my attention behind me. The mad doctor’s newest girl works to free herself from the cuffs. She stills as my gaze settles on her. Fear wafts off her so thickly I could choke on it.
With a wave of my hand, her chains clatter to the floor. She rubs her wrists. “Can you remember your name?” I ask.
“Lydia.” She whispers the word. How interesting. I make a mental note to discover Sera’s true name when I can.
“I’m sure you’re scared and confused. I’ll explain everything as soon as I can, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. There’s something I need to do first. Keep her in the house,” I tell the manor as I stride out the front door. It shudders in acknowledgment, locking the door behind me.
The pumpkin vines tremble as I pass, sensing my agitation and anxiety. Where could Sera be? She isn’t familiar with the layout of the Mid Hallows. There’s too much ground to cover.
“Peck,” I summon my faithful raven. He swoops down, landing on my shoulder. “Find Sera.”
He caws before taking flight once more. His midnight blue and black wings carry him back toward town. I head the opposite way, taking a path into the forest.
Trees creak and groan as I pass. Their branches reach out to brush along my shoulders. “Has a woman come through here recently?” I ask.
Trunks bend near to breaking as the trees work to point me to a specific area on the forest floor. Footprints . Bare, human prints. I follow them, noting the length of the stride. Sera was running through here. My own long stride allows me to swallow the distance, covering six of Sera’s tracks with each step. The path she carved leads me deep into the forest. I burst into a clearing, my sights set on the gate. Did she leave the Mid Hallows altogether? Panic notches in my throat. What if she fell back into the Deeper Hallows? If I don’t get to her in time...
The footprints abruptly end. Then they change direction. She went back? But why? Why would she head back into town when she was so close to fleeing this place?
A rapid blinking from above halts my movements. I look up to the sky. Ramsyk shifts his gaze from me to the gate. I look again. Something crests in my chest, launching me into a state that makes my bone feel weak and crumbly. It isn’t fear, but it’s damn close. There are demons at the gate. Not one or two, but hundreds.
Mileen and Rapha are fighting valiantly. They’ve taken their warrior forms, growing thirty feet and sprouting jaws that spread from the tops of their heads nearly to ground level. They’re gobbling up demons as fast as they can, but the group is massive.
I look back to the path Sera took. She’s alone and vulnerable. The need to find her and make things right nearly overpowers my duty to the Mid Hallows.
A frustrated growl pounds out of my lungs. I leave Sera’s footprints behind and run toward the gate. If I can’t secure the Mid Hallows, Sera won’t be any safer here than she was down below. Through the bond in my magic, I reach back to the manor, praying the distance isn’t too far.
The guardians are doing their best, but despite their high kill rate, a demon manages to slip through the small crack between the two iron gates. I remember this one. He was summoned by a group of reckless teenagers with a fucking do-it-yourself spell they found on the internet.
Their Latin had been a little off and when the demon came forth he found himself unincumbered by a binding circle. By the time I arrived to usher the monster to the Deeper Hallows, all the kids were dead.
Eight silver eyes peer back at me as I approach. No doubt he remembers me as I do him. Twin jaws snarl and he drops to all fours, loping straight toward me. My royal form is out before we collide. Our bodies tangle as we roll across the rough ground. Between both mouths it’s harder to avoid being bitten. My arms are stretched to their full length to keep the demon’s frothing jaws at bay.
I can’t seem to land a hit. The moment I loosen my grip on his face, those razor-sharp mouths descend. I just need to buy myself some time . I tighten my hold, targeting the demon’s veiny blue neck. Its screeches turn raspy as I choke the life from its body. The demon fights back, giving me every bit as much trouble as it had when I first encountered it in the mortal world.
My arms are shaking, struggling. There’s a reason this one was able to slip through the gate while all the others remain outside. He’s strong . Strong enough to punch through my wards and continue on as if nothing happened.
We roll again. This time, the demon gets me on my back. Taloned fingers slash down, scraping against my bones. I reach back out to the manor. How long is this going to take ?
A flash of grey soars above my periphery. Hope courses through me. They’ve come .
Gargoyles flood the area, dropping down in a mass of stony stoicism. Their angry faces pinch as they take in the scene before them. My gratitude abounds as they pile on top of the demon pinning me down, wrenching him off before ripping him to pieces. Six gargoyles on one demon hardly seems fair, but whenever you’re dealing with murderous creatures like the thing before me, fair is a faraway thought,
“Secure the gate,” I command.
The gargoyles flock to Mileen and Rapha’s aid, stacking one on top of the other and solidifying the gate’s defenses. There are at least two dozen gargoyles. I’m certain they can pick up the slack and protect the border once All Hallows’ Eve is over. When the veil has stopped thinning and returned to its normal state, the demons will lose their chance to infiltrate the Mid Hallows.
With the gate catastrophe well under control, I return to my concerns regarding Sera. My human skin slides into place once more. I’m desperate for answers. A thick mass of billowy grey clouds shifts above, revealing the moon and the monster within. “Have you seen her?”
The next time the wind blows, I hear his voice. It rushes by on the breeze, barely landing long enough in my ears for me to hear. “ Back to him, back to danger. ”
Peck’s caw of alarm has my spine snapping straight. “What did you find?”
He circles me once before flying in the same direction as Sera’s new trail. I sprint after him. My legs pound the earth, carrying me nearly as quickly as Peck’s wings. We cross the town and head into the rocky outskirts. Why would she come here? No one has a residence here except…
My stomach lurches. Except the Syratren. The moon’s words drill down on me with the weight of a mountain . “Back to him. Back to danger.” I know immediately why she did it. Guilt rears up in my gut. She went back for the other girls.
I’ve wasted precious time protecting the gate. My speed increases as the stony fortress that the Syratren calls home rises into focus. To my surprise, there are people outside. I scan the group, seeking the one I’m most determined to find.
Golden hair comes into view and relief washes over me. Sera . She looks my way, as if sensing my presence. There’s blood splattered across her face and chest. Fear clogs my throat. Is she hurt?
My worries melt away as she smiles at me. I want to apologize, so bad. My steps falter as the ground tremors beneath me.
Sera throws her arms out, steadying herself. Her eyes meet mine. The confusion in her blue and green gaze turns to fear as the earth quakes again. Realization hits me, but too late. I’m still running when the ground erupts and the monster breaks free.