Page 18 of Ruthless Monsters

“Well, they’ve looked better,”I say slowly.

“What does that mean?”she asks, her voice tinged with worry.

I peer at where Nate is sprawled on a metal cot with a nasty gash across his forehead. Prince Callan is standing, peppered with bruises, and Dante has dried blood crusted on his chin. Even Alaric looks rough. His clothes are ripped and bloody in places.

“They’re fine, I promise. But let’s just say it’s obvious they’re missing you,”I send back.

Blake doesn’t reply for a few seconds, but then she says,“Thank you, Shade. Get them back here if you can.”

“You can count on me, girl.”Honestly, I’m not actually sure if she can count on me for this. I’d been so distracted at the idea of being caught while I’d been on the trolley, that I forgot to memorize all the turns we took through the tunnels to get here. I try not to stress about it, though, and instead, I tell myself I’ll figure it out when the time comes.

The trolley moves on to the next cell, and none of the guys go to collect their food. Nate lifts from the cot, his nostrils flaring as he breathes in deep. His slitted gaze focuses on me as the others all turn as well, and I stand there feeling completely exposed. Nervously, I hop from one leg to the other.

Nice kitty,I think as Nate’s gaze turns predatory.Remember, you wouldn’t dare eat your mate’s friend. Right?

The shifter blinks, and just when I think he might pounce for me, his lips stretch into the biggest crooked smile. “Well, I’ll be damned. Thought I smelled you,” he mutters.

I sway on my feet. I’m not sure if it’s because I really thought he was going to eat me, because I still can’t believe I made it to their cell without being captured, or because the way his smile lights up his face is enough to make any female weak at the knees.Holy hell, I have no idea how Blake has managed to resist any of these guys.Sure, it’s not great being told that I stink, but they’re sweaty and covered in dirt, and they’re still gorgeous. If I was her,I’d be banging them in a heartbeat, but then again, I take in Prince Callan’s icy expression, and I remind myself what an asshole he is.

“Is that who I think it is?” Dante asks, coming closer.

I puff out my chest.Yep. Blake’s almighty bestie to the rescue.

“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” Dante says like he’s responding to my comment, though obviously, he can’t hear me. The demon’s seductive lips curl upward, and it almost makes me want to preen, but I’m distracted when Alaric scoops me into his massive hands.

“It’s good to see you, little one,” the assassin tells me, and normally, I’d be annoyed at being manhandled, but right now, I just peer dumbly up at him admiring his stupidly chiseled face.

“So, I’m goin’ to hope that the fact that you’re here is a good sign rather than a bad one,” Nate comments.

At that, Dante’s expression grows more serious than I’ve ever seen it. I stare at the dried blood on his chin and the dirt smeared over the demon’s clothes, wondering just what these guys have been through since we exited the portal. “Tell us Blake is all right,” he tells me.

Of course, I can’t actually speak to them, so there’s no way to tell them of the danger Blake is in and the king, but I nod my head once, copying the gestures they’re used to.

All four guys relax, their shoulders dropping. Dante leans his back against the wall and closes his eyes for a few seconds before opening them again.

“If we get out of here,” Alaric asks, his voice rough. “Can you take us to her?”

I nod again, even though I’m still doubtful that I can. Surely, a giant palace will be easy enough to find. Right?

“Does she know about the king’s plans to take her power?” Prince Callan asks, and this time I nod vigorously.

“They know about the king,”I send to Blake.“And his plan to steal your power.”

“Then they must be talking to someone in the prison,”she muses.

“Good,” the assassin grumbles. “Maybe she can kill him already, and we can get out of here.”

I shake my head, using my beak to point to the cuffs around their ankles. They look the same as the one Blake has, and I don’t think I need to guess what they’re for.

“They have cuffs as well. Just like yours,”I send to Blake.“Explains why they haven’t been able to escape.”

Blake lets out a stream of curses in my head.

“If she has a cuff, she’s as vulnerable as we are,” Prince Callan comments, and it’s confusing as hell having two conversations going on at once.

“What do you think their chances of escaping the prison are?”Blake asks me, and I peer at the guys, contemplating my answer.

“They’re crafty,”I tell her.“I mean, there’s the guards, and cuffs, and layers of security, but they seem pretty determined to find you.”

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