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

“Which is why my compass is pointing me to her to feed,” Zahruk admitted before holding his hands up, palm exposed. “I didn’t say I would, only that I craved to feed on her, Lucian. Believe it or not, I don’t want to taste that forbidden fruit. Lena has enough men trying to snack on her already.”

“Remember that,” Lucian growled, tightening his hold on me before placing a soft kiss against my throat, sending a shiver rushing through me.

“That shit isn’t helping me, asshole. Everything is heightened right now, including smell and knowing when a woman is responsive to a male.” Zahruk glared over my shoulder as Asher snickered beside him. “Fuck you, rainbow boy,” he snapped.

“Cool your balls, Zahruk. Soon enough, your transformation will be complete, and you will be able to turn it down a bit. Until that time comes, you can find someone who isn’t taken to ease that ache,” Elysian snapped back, her rainbow-colored eyes holding his in a challenge. “Go find Freya. She’s about to hit a dragon heat cycle. She’ll be so hungry she could eat a village of men with her pussy.”

“Fuck that noise. I don’t fuck anyone I have to see again,” Zahruk admitted, pain entering his gaze.

“Don’t even right now,” Synthia warned.

I glanced between them, making a mental note of the tension in their silent stares. Zahruk looked saddened, while Synthia appeared—detached. It was as if she had closed off her emotions or refused to feel whatever had briefly flashed in her electric-blue gaze.

“Back to the cluster fuck we’re about to walk into, ladies,” Ristan announced in a cheery tone, even though it didn’t reach his eyes.

We were all fucked up in our own ways, I realized. There wasn’t a single person inside the room that wasn’t fighting some sort of demon, and some were bigger than others, like Synthia and the Fae. They’d lost people, yet you wouldn’t realize it unless you noticed the pain shining from within them.

Lucian’s lips against my throat had me sinking deeper into his arms, needing the comfort he offered while I listened to Ristan.

“If the demons succeeded in reaching the catacombs below, they could be holed up down there. We packed it with enough supplies to last through another cold war.”

“Our fear is, if one of the changelings, a human transitioning into an Unseelie prince or princess, is inside, well, he or she could have done a number on them. It would explain why no one is contacting us from within the guild. Alden has a direct line to Vlad, who has one to us,” Synthia informed.

“I also gave him a cellphone that calls out directly to me. He hasn’t used it or answered it, either. I had Bane calling on the hour for the first week and once every five hours after that. Alden never picked up,” Lucian stated.

Synthia’s eyes widened slightly. “Thank you for that. You didn’t have to do that, but I’m thankful you did, Lucian. It’s been a relief knowing that Vlad and Adrian weren’t the only ones monitoring him. Alden told me that you had men on him, but he assumed it was for a more sinister reason.”

“Magdalena is attached to Alden, and therefore I ensured he was never out and about without backup. Not that he needed it. He is very adept and has more survival skills than most immortals nowadays.”

Synthia laughed before an anxious sigh escaped her. “I’m counting on that to get him out of there alive. I’m worried about the amount of time that has passed. We don’t know what we’re going to find down there. He would have called if he could.” Synthia voiced our fears, shoving the truth down our throats. “Alden wouldn’t want us risking our lives for his. If any of you don’t want to do this with us, I understand. I won’t judge you if you back out now.”

“That’s not happening,” I stated firmly. “Alden loved my mother and made her happy. I can never repay him for that. I can, however, fight for him.”

“He’s been there for all of us,” Vlad entered the conversation, shaking his head as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Alden brought you and Ryder together when he suspected what you would become. He forgave me for turning Adrian because he knew Adrian’s end would be violent. He’d known it because he foresaw it happening through the aid of a seer. Alden got involved when the guild fought to murder innocent fae, and he stood between them and us when Shadowlands was bombed and destroyed by the mages. There’s not one person inside this room he hasn’t helped.” Asher coughed, clearing his throat. “Other than this asshole and his sister, even though I do believe he stepped in to help Elysian when she went in search of a mascot.”

“He told me I couldn’t bang teenage boys because it left an impression.” We all stared at her before she rolled her eyes. “He was nineteen and such a gentleman. Anyway, he showed me how emotions could be tied to humans and that they became clingy when feelings entered into fucking.” The men snorted, but Synthia’s gaze met mine, and we shook our heads at Elysian’s announcement.

“Okay, so no one wants to sit this one out? We have no idea what is waiting inside that place. It could be the Devil, or it could be Unseelie princes,” Syn continued.

“Or princesses,” Elysian pointed out. “They need to balance us, and in order to do so, they’d need to create some girls. You know I’m a whole lot of woman.” She wiggled her hips and then shoulders in an awkward move that looked like she was trying to dance. “Tough crowd. Are we ready, then?” she asked, but the door opening caused us all to turn, staring at the new face that entered.