Page 38 of Their Fierce Little Monster

Goose bumps trail down my arms.

“Could have fooled me,” I whisper with a gasp. “Anyway, you worried about me getting hurt so you don’t return home with damaged goods? Is that what this is all about?”

A ravenous grin splits his mouth as he leans into my ear, and my breath hitches all the way down to my lungs. “This has nothing to do with that.” He exhales heavily, that hot breath washing over me, leaving me tingling. “I could tell you the truth, but then you wouldn’t sleep peacefully ever again.”

Raw anger rushes through me at all their games, and I shove my palms against his chest, but he doesn’t budge. Muscles ripple beneath my touch.

He huffs a laugh, his lips pressing against my ear. “You are a dangerous little monster, and I have a taste for deadly things.”

A nervous laugh escapes me, and I duck under his arm. As I rush away, I glance back, saying, “Don’t get too excited, Corvin. I haven’t decided if I like you.”

On fast feet, I turn the corner and run toward our cabin because being alone with these monsters doesn’t do me any favors.

Suddenly, the speakers overhead crackle. “Ladies and gentlemen, we approach Elite Mountain. Gather your belongings and prepare for arrival in ten minutes.”

My stomach instantly drops. We’re almost in the city.

Chapter

Ten

DAWN

Pressed flat against the cold train window, I stare out at the encroaching city that rises ahead of us. “This can’t be real!” My breath fogs the glass, and I wipe it away with my sleeve.

From my angle, I spot a lofty stone wall that encloses the city while enormous golden gates sit open farther in the distance, offering me a glimpse inside. We approach closer, and all I see are pointed towers, purple banners swaying off the tops, and endless dark roofs spreading outward. Bridges link dozens of towers.

Amid the buildings, the palace rises in the middle of it all, impossible to miss. It stands on a hill, casting a shadow over part of the city.

Stone walls that shine like sheets of gold, slender towers reaching for the blue sky, and grand domes at the edges. Even from our distance, it’s obvious the city was built around the palace.

Behind me, Lian chuckles, and I ignore him. Moonstone Village is all I’ve known, all I remember, so I let myself admire this beautiful city. Especially since the storm left us long ago and now the sun lights up the buildings.

“How many people live on the Elite Mountain?” I ask randomly.

“No one knows the exact number,” Kazak answers. “But rumors hint at at least a hundred thousand.”

“Oh! That’s a lot of Elite families.”

“It’s not only the Elite families who live there,” Kazak corrects. “It’s filled with monsters from various realms as well, plus thousands of workers. King Slate gives approval for those wishing to relocate to the Elite Mountain, as long as they bring a trade to benefit his city.”

I nod just as the train hurtles us across a narrow bridge, and down below is nothing but black water. I grip the windowsill, hating to know what’s down there.

“She’s so cute, all excited about visiting a new place,” Lian says, sounding delighted and mocking.

I don’t even waste my breath on responding, but watch as we burst through the open golden gates and into the city. Thrilled, I stare at the cobblestone buildings we pass, the trees covered in pink and blue flowers, and strings of lanterns hanging everywhere. I catch sight of houses with arched windows, two to three stories, unlike the small cottages back in the village. Statues of terrifying creatures sit at the corners of buildings, others on roof ledges, staring down as if protecting the property.

“You like what you see?” Corvin asks.

“It’s beautiful,” I admit in response and turn toward them as the train slows down. Butterflies swarm through me with a readiness to see the city that those in the village would only talk about as if it were a fantasy. There used to be so many rumors about how dangerous the place was, along with being able to find anything you could ever desire at their markets.

All three of the men lounge in their seats, studying me, each with a grin, clearly having their own fantasies.

“Sometimes, the most beautiful things can be venomous,” Lian says.

“Oh, I’m fully aware,” I answer, pointedly staring at him. “Just because I admire the city doesn’t mean I’ll go into it blindly.”

Kazak grins as if agreeing, while Corvin just watches me, head tilted to the side. What’s he thinking? How gullible am I? Perhaps, but I’ll let him think that so he underestimates me.