Page 34 of Ruthless Monsters

He grins and winks at me. “Let’s just say, sometimes I go there when I’m feelin’ hungry.”

My cheeks heat as he holds my gaze, and I purse my lips.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure he’s not talking about eating food,”Shade points out unhelpfully.

“You think?”

“Hey, don’t take it out on me,”Shade squawks.“He’s the one talking about banging bunnies. Remember that place, No Bunny Blues? You don’t think that’s where he’s talking about, do you?”

I think of the club we’d once had to visit in the beast realm. Dad had tasked us to collect information from an informant there, but the shifter had come out to meet us on the street, so we never had to enter the club.

“I’m still salty about how we never got to see any bunnies,”Shade says, and it’s only then that I realize she’s still been rambling this whole time.

“Maybe Nate can take you there one day,”I reply bitterly, not annoyed at her, but at my shifter mate. I know I shouldn’tcare that Nate’s been with other shifters. Just like I shouldn’t care that Dante has probably bedded half the demons in Seral, but the thought of my mates being with other females has irritation spiking up my spine.

Like he can sense it, Nate leans close, his lips brushing along my warm cheeks. “Somethin’ bothering you, gorgeous?” he asks wickedly.

I force a breath out through my nose, and I turn my head so my lips are almost touching his. “Just thinking about those innocent bunnies,” I lie.

He chuckles, and the rumbling sound in his chest makes my insides twist. “Oh, I can promise you, love, they’re not innocent.” His gaze turns predatory. “How ’bout I tell you all about it?”

“Uh, yes please,”Shade says excitedly in my head.

My heart pounds as Nate waits like he’s actually expecting me to answer.“Does he really think I’d want to hear about all the depraved shit he’s gotten up to with other females? Hard pass.”I force my lips to curve as I press even closer to him. He responds, his nostrils flaring as he breathes in my scent. I part my lips like I’m going to kiss him, but instead, I say, “And to think I was almost considering fucking you,” I murmur, then I pull back, continuing to walk through the tunnel and leaving Nate standing there.

Dante smirks, clearly amused by the situation, and even Prince Callan’s lips lift slightly. It takes Nate a few seconds to wipe the look of shock from his face, and then he’s striding through the mob of prisoners and rebels, finding his way back to us.

When we near the edges of the rebel city, a guard shouts, “They’re here!” That’s all it takes for the message to spread, and soon dozens of rebels are streaming out of the city, swarming our group and fussing over the freed prisoners who collapse with relief.

“Your highness,” one of the newcomers says as the group rushes forward. They each stop before Prince Mason and bow their heads in a gesture of respect.

I watch the prince, noting the way his body becomes rigid, and a look of unease crosses his face as they await his command. “Rise,” he tells them. He passes over the female he’s holding to the one of the rebels. “See to it that she gets the care she needs. The rest of you assist the other wounded.”

The rebels are quick to follow his orders, separating and joining our ranks. Quite a few of the rebels openly gape at me and Prince Callan, and it takes me a moment to realize they’re staring at our wings.

“We’ve worn these cuffs for so long, there are many who can hardly remember what it feels like to have our own,” a feminine voice says, and I turn to see one of the female rebels close to us.

My brow creases. “What?”

“Your wings,” she goes on. “There are many who will be envious of you, and many more who will be wary because you’re outsiders.”

“That’s Eliza,”Shade quickly explains.“She’s one of the main rebel leaders.”

“We’re not interested in causing trouble,” I reply.

She nods as she assesses me, and I get the sense that she hasn’t yet decided whether she believes me.

“How long have the rebels been here?” I ask, indicating to the city.

“Many have resided here since the first uprising three decades ago,” a masculine voice answers before Eliza can speak, and I turn as Prince Mason strides toward us accompanied by a male rebel.

“And we’ve been building on it ever since,” Eliza adds. “With so many residents in such a confined space in The Haven, it tooka while before the king noticed some of the residents and his resources were missing.”

The male on Prince Mason’s other side smiles at us, and I recognize him as one of the rebels who came to the prison. “Name’s Waylen. Good to have you here.”

Nate grins. “Glad to be here. Thanks for breakin’ us out.”

Dante squeezes his hand around my waist, and Nate, Alaric, and Prince Callan stand nearby, all of them so close that I’d barely have to reach out to touch them. Prince Mason, Eliza, and Waylen stare at us curiously, and considering my mates are still butt naked, it’s a credit to them that they’re able to keep a straight face.

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