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

Spyder moved to my side, and I rolled my eyes as Avenged Sevenfold’s Hail to the King started thumping throughout the club. I adored the band and had fucked Lucian to this very song more times than I could count. It fit him perfectly.

“You ready for this, Kitty?” Spyder grabbed my hand, pulling it to his lips, placing a soft kiss into my palm. “The room is filled with elite clientele and those known for gossiping and spreading rumors. I won’t allow you to suffer because you freed me. Nor be made out as a whore because you let me fuck you to break the spell.”

“I don’t care what they think of me, Spyder. Wolves do not worry over the thoughts of sheep. We simply eat them and rid ourselves of their mindset. I enjoyed fucking you and being shared between you and Lucian. I don’t regret it, and neither should you. It was an experience I won’t ever forget. I’m glad it was with you and not someone else. If this is to spare my reputation, it’s not necessary.”

“This isn’t for you, Magdalena. Tonight is for our guests so that they don’t end up murdered for trying to get to that naked kitten in your panties. They assume Lucian is finished with you, and the events of tonight will signify that he will never be done with you—ever, Kitty. You’re Lucian’s, and he’s claiming you as the queen of his kingdom. Do you understand that?”

“Yes,” I whispered, even though I wasn’t sure why or what it fully meant.

We started down the stairs slowly because I was certain Spyder was aware of my history with heels. I’d learned to live in the damn things lately, since everything Lucian had bought for me seemed to look sexier with high heels. My appearance enhanced his, and he expected me to compliment his attire when I was at his side.

When we entered the second floor of the club, the music changed. Theory of a Deadman’s rendition of Wicked Games started, and I recalled hearing it play before the world had burned to ashes around me.

I closed my eyes as the memories flashed through my mind, fed by the music playing. I swallowed back the tears that threatened to fall as I opened my eyes, holding Lucian’s stare.

I knew without needing to be told that Lucian also remembered the first time we’d made love here and had chosen this song on purpose. The day I’d spilled my guts and told him I loved him, he’d reacted badly, very badly. It had set off a chain reaction, landing me into the trap Lucifer and Katarina had been making.

Spyder and I walked forward, and my heartbeat began thundering against my ribcage. The entire assembly of patrons went silent, and all eyes were on me as I moved toward the stage. Spyder’s hold on my hand tightened, and I could feel his shadows wrapping around me in comfort.

My eyes remained locked on where Lucian sat on a chair that looked more like a throne than anything else. The high back of the chair was silver, etched in runes glowing an eerie blue. The power inside the room was stifling, and no one had to tell me it was Lucian, unsheathed and unleashed as a warning to those present.

We paused at the stairs briefly, and Spyder dropped his hold on my hand. Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I peered at the pillow that sat on the stage at Lucian’s feet. Anger at what I thought was about to happen erupted from me, causing my eyes to water.

He was going to sit me at his feet, which was just another display of ownership. I climbed the stairs silently and waited mere feet away from him while the guests and party-goers observed. Lucian rose from the throne, leisurely eyeing the crowd before he closed the distance between us. He lifted his hand, cupping my cheek with his palm, searching my face. The song ended, but neither of us moved or spoke.

Lucian remained in front of me, our eyes locking before his gaze dropped briefly to my mouth. His thumb trailed over my bottom lip, and he lifted his eyes, holding mine captive. Everyone in the room went silent, uncertain of what was happening between us.

My anxiety rocketed into worry, mingled with uncertainty. What was he doing? Was he changing his mind? My chest rose and fell with labored breathing.

“You are mine, Magdalena Fitzgerald,” Lucian whispered. This level of the club was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. “From this day on, you are mine and only mine.”

Lucian leaned closer, claiming my lips hungrily. One hand wrapped around my neck while the other left my cheek to slide down the open back of my dress. Lucian didn’t make it a practice to kiss me in front of a crowd. I could probably count the times he had on my fingers and toes, but this kiss felt different from all the others.

This kiss was deeper and caused my toes to curl. I moaned hungrily against Lucian’s mouth, allowing him to control the pace and the kiss. He pulled me tightly against his heat and ended the kiss, peering down at me. If I had a soul, he’d be staring into it, but I’d lost it to protect him and our son.

“You’re the queen of my kingdom, Lena. No other will ever sit with me nor hold the position I am giving you here, tonight. You are forevermore, my woman.”

“I have always been yours, Lucian,” I admitted because it was the truth.

From the moment he’d kissed me outside my ancestral home, he’d placed his name on my ribcage. It went deeper than that, though. This monster had walked into my life like a storm and unleashed something unexplainably right when everything had gone wrong.

Lucian had kept me safe, even when I’d understood he was the bad guy. He had picked up my broken pieces after Todd had attacked me and had known exactly what I’d wanted and needed from him. When the world had turned against me, Lucian protected me, even though he’d thought I’d purposefully slept with him to awaken my magic.