Revealing the Monster (Playing with Monsters #4) by Amelia Hutchins

“He sounds like he was wise and taught you to be like him,” Lucian murmured against my ear.

“He was, but he died early. I wish I had more time with him before he moved on to his next life,” I admitted.

The music changed, forcing my attention to where everyone else was looking. Bob Seger’s Old Time Rock & Roll started, and Spyder was on the floor, dancing. I laughed when he waved his arms in the air as the others joined him.

He held his hand out for me, and I scrunched my nose up in reply. Lucian grumbled, and Ryder echoed the sound beside us. I slid from the chair, walking to Spyder, as Synthia and Erie joined him. By the time I got to the dancefloor, I almost had to fight my way through to Spyder. He had a smile on his mouth and a wicked twinkle in his stare. Grabbing my hand, he twirled me as I quickly found the beat, dancing with him as Ristan joined in, spinning Synthia around us. Erie grabbed Zahruk, who dug his feet in, shaking his head while she forced him onto the floor.

Spyder was singing to the song, and before I could say otherwise, we were dancing in a line, with hands on each other’s hips, moving through the dancefloor. I laughed as I peered down the line, finding Hades, Persephone, the Fates, and my coven dancing with us while the men at the bar watched, glaring at Spyder, who’d gotten everyone up and having fun during the catchy song.

When it wound down and changed to Bob Seger’s Night Moves, Spyder grabbed my retreating form and pulled me back out onto the floor with him.

He scanned the crowd before settling his icy-blue gaze on me. “Hey, Kitten,” he whispered, leaning his forehead against mine.

“Spyder,” I replied, and yet I’d known it was coming. My stomach sank and my heart cracked.

“I have to leave for a while. Not forever, and this isn’t a goodbye. I have things from my past that I have to deal with and shit I need to do on my own.”

“The furies?” I asked, swallowing past the lump forming in my throat.

He didn’t reply, but he hadn’t needed to. Lucian had told me that Spyder and I were still connected, but not on the level we’d been when the furies had added to it. It was more of a magical connection now. One we’d chosen to keep. That hadn’t saved Spyder from what the furies did to him. I nodded, letting him know I understood what was happening as I felt tears welling up.

“Hey,” he whispered, tipping my chin to peer down into my eyes. “None of that, Kitty. You’re immortal, and we’re forever. It won’t seem like very long, but until we learn where the furies have gone and what they’re planning for me, I can’t take a chance on them getting inside that palace. Not with the babies there now. You and I both know that they’re easy targets, and the furies don’t care about who or what is in their way. They don’t include themselves in their own rules, the selfish bitches. I’ll be back the moment I can do so safely.”

“That’s what was happening in the hallway, wasn’t it?” I asked softly.

He nodded once more, sliding away from me as Lucian slipped in, taking his place. I rushed to Spyder, hugging him tightly.

“Come home to us when you’re finished with them. Promise me you will be okay,” I demanded, peering up at him. Spyder kissed my forehead and untangled himself from my hold.

“I can’t do that, Kitty. I won’t make you a promise that I don’t know for sure that I can keep. Keep them safe, brother,” he said, leaving us to watch him dissolving into shadows before he vanished.

“He’ll be okay. He’s a drama queen about this shit,” Lucian stated, kissing my neck. “Your son wants you, and Makenna needs you as well. Lucifer snuck out when the dancing started, and I don’t think he’s coming back for her anytime soon.”

“I need a moment,” I said, turning to wrap my arms around him. “Did Lucifer say anything about the Hell Gates?” I asked.

“They’re closing, but it won’t be quickly. He said they’ve been shutting for a while. He just chose to keep that to himself until now. The demons will still be here for quite a while, given how many escaped. We’ll help the surviving enforcers at the guild hunt them down and end their time on earth.”

“You did this for me. Everything you’ve done since I returned. Why? I mean, I get the whole saving my life, but Vlad could have easily brought me back as he is.”

“Because I wanted that girl who got in my face and refused to back down,” he stated. “I wanted you as you were born to be. I wanted the hurricane that walked into my world and knocked me on my ass. You’re the first woman ever to look beyond my face and see inside of my mind. You, Lena, were an unknown, and by the time I’d started figuring out the puzzle that is you, I needed all the pieces. I wished to hold them together, but I broke them. I did that even though I never intended to hurt you. So answering your question, I wanted the girl I’d met, and I didn’t want her to lose any part of who she was because of me. You taught me what was possible, and I am never giving you up now. You looked me in the eye, and you didn’t blink. No other creature alive has ever managed that, not even Spyder. You’re the part of me I didn’t know was missing until I lost you. I never want to feel that emptiness again.”

“Thank you for loving me as you do, Lucian. I don’t need you to say it, not when everything you do to show me how much you care for me.”