Page 92 of Their Fierce Little Monster

I keep my walk slow so I don’t alarm his protectors, and the king stands to meet me, his height similar to mine. With my back to the rest of the room, I say, “I bring you a small gift that I think you’ll remember well.” I uncurl my fist and lift my open palm to King Slate, with the specially crafted gold coin sitting there. Only a small handful have ever been made, and this one is from the Ice Fire Court, which is even rarer. “This is a token from King Jaymes, Dawn’s father. He insisted that once you received it, you would remove any roadblocks in my way to keep his daughter safe. Said that you owed him this one last favor.” For extra payment, he requested from their court, but I don’t voice that aloud.

He stares at the coin, recognition glinting behind his azure eyes. Finally, he reaches out and takes the coin, spinning it to study both sides.

Suddenly, he clenches his fist around the coin and tucks it into his pants pocket. “King Jaymes was a great king,” he murmurs, his gaze drifting to nothing in particular. Then he clears his throat. “Let it be known in front of everyone in this room that Kazak of the Ash Clan is free. You are absolved of all charges, and I find you innocent. But⁠—”

“My king.” The Gamemaster steps forward. “Please forgive my interruption, but the law dictates that Kazak and Dawn should pay for their violation of your decree. Let me take them both to the dungeons.”

Tension rolls up my spine. That fucker is asking to be killed at this rate.

Corvin cracks his neck. “You are in no position to question your king’s decision. That in itself could be seen as treason.”

The king growls, his nostrils flaring, and for a heartbeat, the man’s body flickers, turning translucent. Beneath it rises something dark and deathly, making the hairs on my arms shift. Eyes open in a face made of shadows. Everyone drops their gaze, including the guards. The Gamemaster flinches and falls to his knees. I step closer to Dawn, needing her behind me.

I’ve heard that the king’s monster is from the realm of death. A kiss from him alone will kill you. He must be a lonely bastard.

Then it’s gone, and he’s back to his human form as though he hadn’t just terrified everyone in the room.

He glares down at the Gamemaster, who’s whimpering. “Forgive me, Your Majesty.”

“Don’t presume you know better than me,” he says in that monotone voice. “Because I am the law.” He swings his attention back to us. “Now, as I was about to say. Tomorrow you’ll attend my Royal Garden Feast celebration. I won’t take no for an answer. It’s not often that other courts attend my events.”

Fuck that, I’m ready to leave. He’s clearly not impressed that I used the coin to escape punishment, so I wouldn’t put it past him to find another way to torture us.

“We’d be honored, and we accept,” Corvin answers before I finish my thought. “We have strong relations between our families. We need to maintain them.”

Fucking idiot. Of course it all comes down to not severing whatever agreement his father has with King Slate for their damn human Choosing Days. For the slaves they receive each year.

I glare in his direction, rage ripping across my chest, and I curl my hands into fists.

Everyone falls silent.

Lian stares over at Dawn, his face grim.

“Good, good.” The king claps once. “Gamemaster, get up and see our guests out. You will be collected tomorrow mid-morning.” Then he waves us off and marches through a side doorway. And just like that, we’re dismissed.

“Well, that was fucked up,” Lian murmurs, and he marches right for Dawn. But I take her hand in mine before he can and steer her toward the door. He sneers, teeth bared, and falls in on her other side.

“This way,” the Gamemaster barks, marching ahead of us. His shoulders curl forward, and he’s furious, but he deserves so much more than humiliation. If he weren’t the king’s hand, I’d rip his fucking head off.

No one says a word, and I glance over at Lian, determined to stay by Dawn. Her name on his chest isn’t a damn lie. No matter how much I hate him, I can’t ignore that he’d throw himself in danger for her. I notice the way Corvin stares at her too, and now two fucking assholes I can’t stand have their sights on my Dawn.

Chapter

Twenty-Three

DAWN

“You don’t need to sleep on the couches. You have your own rooms and beds,” I suggest to Corvin and Lian. I stand in the doorway to my bedroom, watching the pair make up beds in my main room.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Corvin explains, punching his pillow as if to fluff it up.

“I have Kazak staying with me. I’ll be safe.”

Lian flops down onto his lounge with his pillow and blanket, shaking his head. “If he gets to be your guard dog, then we’re staying too.”

My emotions are tangled about how I’ve ended up with three protectors. Since we’re no closer to knowing who the assassin worked for, I can’t exactly complain about their safety measures.

So, sure, if they want to crash in my room, I’ll bear it. As long as I don’t end up with all three in my bed in the morning, because I’m certain it’ll turn into a world war.