Page 26 of Their Fierce Little Monster

A city is enormous, with many people and places to hide, ways to escape, alleys to disappear into.

“Corvin and Lian can wait in your village. I’m certain you’ll find ways to entertain them,” he continues.

The Viscount scowls as though he might throw up at the idea of leaving the two monsters with him.

“Like fuck you are,” Lian mutters.

“Kazak, that’s not required,” the Viscount continues, stepping past him, and like me, Corvin observes the theatrics of this man. He runs a hand down his cloak, lifting his head, grinning. “King Slate needs to see all four of you, as per your family contracts with him. What has been wronged here, only he can address.”

“I’m fully versed in how our agreement works,” Corvin states. “Our houses have chosen tributes from this land from the first Day of the Choosing.”

Cold slides down my spine. Those chosen are most likely treated like slaves by these monsters.

A foul smirk tugs on the Viscount’s lips. “Good, then you’ll not want those crucial agreements annulled for breaking the rules. Kazak might have instigated them, but you’re all tangled in his mess now, my lords.”

He stands tall, proud of himself, and he obviously wants us gone.

I roll my eyes at the glee on the Viscount’s face, while Corvin unleashes a heavy growl in his throat.

“Fucking fine,” Lian explodes loudly, arms thrown into the air. “We’ll all visit the city to pay the king our respects. Are you fucking happy now, Viscount? And, Kazak, you fucker! Let’s just do this already. Waiting around makes me eager to spill blood.”

I’d rather visit the city than a monster realm, so relief slips under my skin for now. But will the king punish Kazak? Worry pours heavily over me. But it shouldn’t matter, I tell myself. Because I don’t care anymore. Kazak is a monster who lied to me, except evidently my heart hasn’t received that message. Each time I stare at him, I know I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to him.

“My lord, your patience is most appreciated but⁠—”

“You can stop kissing ass,” Lian bites out, and he turns to Corvin. “Can you fucking believe this? I get to spend more time with your sorry ass.”

Corvin just gives him a flat glare.

There’s something rewarding about Lian’s bluntness when it’s not directed at me.

“We leave immediately,” the Viscount states, stealing my attention. “I will escort the four of you into Elite Mountain, or you shall not be permitted entrance with the illegals.” He points his chin at me and Kazak.

“Then make preparations for our immediate departure,” Kazak fires back. “I’m taking Dawn home to pack a bag.”

I feel lightheaded at thinking I need to say goodbye to my parents, but this doesn’t have to be final. I’ll see them again, right? My eyes sting, but I blink away the emotions. I still feel as destroyed as the moment the Viscount sealed my fate.

The bastard flicks his head to his guards. “Escort them and wait outside the cottage.” Then he eyes the monsters. “My lords, if you will follow me, I’ll find more comfortable quarters for you while I confirm our transport.” He pauses near Kazak, still cradling his broken arm. “King Slate has slit throats for less than what you’ve done.” Then he marches away with Corvin and Lian.

Kazak presses his lips together in a thin line, staring at the three of them leaving us behind. I’ve always been someone who has had to fight just to belong in this village, but the blaze burning in my chest now has me wanting to scratch the Viscount’s face for his threat.

Kazak doesn’t waste a moment and swings toward me, collecting me by the elbow. “Let’s go.” We hurry toward the village, two guards at our rear.

Terror grazes the back of my throat with bile at how fast things are escalating, and for the worse.

I pivot my attention to Kazak, whispering, “Are we going to be in danger from the king?”

“I’ll always keep you safe, Dawn. You can trust me.”

“But it sounds like you’ll be blamed for sneaking us into this village.”

He studies me carefully, leaning closer. “Here I thought you hated me, except, you still care.”

There’s a tiny upward curve at the corner of his mouth, and the way he studies me leaves me slightly swooning. Which is how I lose my head so easily around him, and why my breaths race.

“This has been a horrible day.” My gaze drops to the ground in front of us. “I don’t even know what to believe in anymore, let alone trust anyone.”

“I meant every word I’ve ever told you, Dawn,” he points out. “The king won’t harm you, and I’ll be fine. You’ll see.”