Page 41 of Their Fierce Little Monster

But I can’t stop staring in the direction they vanished—through a side gate off the platform—realizing I’m alone now without Kazak. And in my fist sits his coin, which suddenly feels heavy. He’d never once mentioned this coin… so what does it mean?

My chest caves in toward the ache slicing me apart.

Gamemaster Adous glares at me for a long pause, then lifts his gaze to Corvin and Lian. “The king will most likely demand an audience with all of you, and I suggest you drill some etiquette into it first. He has little patience for such antics and has taken heads for lesser insults. Tame your beast, or you might end up losing it for good.”

The asshole just called me a beast now?

“Of course,” Corvin hisses through clenched teeth.

“Good, now it will be housed in the guarded quarters, and you two, my lords, can live freely anywhere in the city. I can arrange for one of our best accommodations until I have a chance to speak with the king. I am certain you’ve been inconvenienced in worse locations.”

“Our rooms will be where the girl stays,” Lian adds quickly.

“As close as possible,” Corvin states.

I pull myself free from Corvin’s grip, knowing that an argument isn’t something I’m going to win right now.

The Gamemaster grunts, then orders a guard to pick up my packed bag and bring it with us.

“Fine, this way.” The Gamemaster glares at me as though I’m the worst person in the world. I don’t even know what his problem with me is.

We’re following him now, my insides constricting tighter with each step, when Lian leans in closer to me. “Don’t fret too much about your lover. He’s harder to kill than you’d think.”

I ignore him, still unable to believe I’m on the Elite Mountain, as I never imagined myself here. Yet my heart rattles with each breath I take, frightened that nothing will ever be the same for me again. That this could be the place I die.

Chapter

Eleven

LIAN

“What a fucking joke!” I snarl into the empty hallway, where I can’t stop pacing.

We should be gone from Earth by now. Instead, we’re playing games to appease King Slate. And I fucking hate that I have no choice but to tag along with it because I sure as hell won’t be the one responsible for voiding the contract between Earth and Grimvale.

My father is the only man I take orders from, and if he sent me for Dawn, then I do as I’m told. I’m convinced he’ll use her as some leverage against Corvin’s family court, which will most likely tip the whole realm into war again. Gods forbid the two kingdoms go a few decades without open war.

I watched my father slit my cousin’s throat for betraying him on a small matter, so I don’t ask questions. As the eldest heir, I’m under no illusion that our bloodline won’t stop him from taking me out if I stand in his way. But one day, that throne will be mine, and things will change.

Until then, I obey, fetch, and kill… whatever the fuck he wants.

My footfalls echo around me as I pace up and down, staring at the floating lamps near the ceilings that need no flame when there’s a tiny sun orb inside them, lighting up the dark corridor. The decorations are basic compared to back home where we hold trophy skulls by the hundred on the walls. Mounted heads of our ancestors.

Here, the walls are subtle, and only if I look closely enough at the moldings, cornices, and columns do I see open jaws worked into the plaster. Some have fangs, others sharp teeth, as though their silent screams are trapped.

As subtle as it is, the decor screams the same story as it does back home. A reminder that freedom is an illusion, and that escape is an even greater one.

I pause outside Dawn’s door, breaths rushing.

She’s been in there for hours without a sound. This whole compound is ours to explore, and my room is next to hers, Corvin on her other side, yet she hasn’t made a sound.

What’s she doing? Sleeping? Crying over her Ash Clan bastard?

I press my ear to the door. Not a single sound, and I hate not fucking knowing if she’s all right.

Something about her intrigues me more than it should. I desperately want her to open this door and snarl at me, flashing that hatred in her eyes. I love seeing her all riled up, acting like she’s not afraid of me. I’m so fucking tired of people around me flinching away, groveling, and then this gorgeous, petite village girl stares an Obsidian Sun monster dead in the eyes.

Now, I’m curious about how far I can push her until she breaks.