Page 51 of Ruthless Monsters

“No, because he’s only going to tryto kill you. Obviously, you’re not going to let that happen. And when he’s the one who’s dead, that means all the wedding gifts will be yours.”She pauses.“Wow, okay, I am an asshole for not getting a gift then.”

I grin as I listen to her rambling, glad to have her in my head to take the edge off the situation. But I quickly tune her chatter out when the robed male becomes flustered, rushing to the last part of the ceremony. He lifts my hand, placing it onto King Celzar’s, and he drapes a strip of silky white cloth over our hands.

Sweat beads on my brow and makes my hands clammy. I know this isn’t real. Not in the sense that I’m really intending to commit myself to the Perstalian king, but as the citizens of The Haven watch on intently, and even the guards standing stationary along the walls appear to lean forward to hear the next part, my heart thunders in my chest. I can’t see my mates, but I can sense they’re out there. Undoubtedly, the other rebels have slipped inside, too. If all goes to plan, they shouldn’t have to reveal themselves until the dagger strapped to my thigh is through King Celzar’s neck, but a slither of doubt slides through me. Because what if I’m not fast enough?

“D-do you, Blake, daughter of …” the robed male trails off awkwardly, a flash of panic entering his gaze as he stares at me, and I supply, “demons.” The male’s face blanches. I’m pretty sure he was wanting me to list off my family names, but I don’t. Irritation ticks along Kings Celzar’s jaw.

“Uh, do you Blake, daughter of demons,” the male says quickly, “take King Celzar, first of his name, ruler of The Haven and savior of our kind to be your wedded husband?”

“Savior? Well, that’s rich,”Shade scoffs in my head.

I lick my lips nervously. In Seral, if a demon husband or wife dies before a single night has passed since they voiced their vows, the marriage is considered voided. I remind myself of therule, and it helps to ease the tightening of my stomach. I hesitate only for a second, before blurting, “I do.” The moment I say it, King Celzar’s face changes. The corners of his mouth twist into a cruel smile, and his eyes are icy and unfeeling, devoid of the slightest hint of warmth.My blood chills, and the malice in his eyes has me wanting to grab my dagger.

The robed male stutters as he asks King Celzar the same question that he asked me, and the king is quick to say, “I do.”

“Then, it is so,” the robed male says, pulling the cloth away from our hands and turning to address the crowd. “Let us celebrate King Celzar’s new bride, and our new queen!”

The crowd erupts into applause, and though I know they’ve likely been ordered to respond like this, for a moment, I panic. It feels too real. Like I’ve just sealed my fate and sworn myself to the Perstalian throne and their king. But then I hear the faintest growl from somewhere further in the ballroom, and it’s enough to ground me. Saying that vow is the least of my worries. Now I have to try and stay alive.

My heart races even faster.All right, Blake. The moment the cuff is off, you need to seize your power and kick his ass.From what I’ve been told, this is the point in the ceremony when King Celzar would remove the cuff from his bride, so I’m surprised when he leans down, his scent of roses invading my senses. Before I can react, his ice-cold lips are on my cheek, and my skin prickles as his power seizes me. I feel the curve of his lips as he smiles, but I can’t seem to pull away. His power holds me in place, my body paralysed, and my energy slowly starts draining into him as his magic takes what’s mine.

“No, no, no! He was supposed to remove the cuff first,”Shade squawks in a panic. She flaps her wings, lifting into the air, and she outstretches her claws like she intends to scratch his face. Before she can get to him, one of the guards comes for her.She dodges the guard’s hand, moving to the side, but another guard clamps his large hands over her.

King Celzar’s lips remain on me, and repulsion rolls through my body, chased by a bout of nausea. It feels like eons pass, though in reality it’s likely only seconds, and then the king is stepping back. The moment he’s no longer touching me, my knees buckle, and two guards step forward, grabbing me roughly under my arms and holding me up.

None of the Perstalian’s are cheering now. The ballroom is eerily silent as they all watch me with pity…and relief. Pity because the king is about to take my soul, and relief that it’s not them. I don’t blame them. It’s hard for me to imagine myself in their shoes when they’ve lost their home on the surface and lived for years without their magic and power.

For a moment, I think I see Sassia amongst the crowd, her eyes wide with hope and determination, even when it’s obvious I’m doing a crap job at saving her kind. Steeling myself, I try to stand…and fail.

“Let her go,” I rasp at King Celzar, my frantic gaze going to where Shade is still trapped in the guard’s hands. Shade screeches, struggling in his grasp, but he only clamps onto her tighter.

King Celzar’s cruel gaze is sharp and unkind. “The fact that you care for that little wretch is proof enough that you could never be a true queen.”

I’m not sure why he has such a hatred for birds when he has a half animal form himself, but I croak back, “And the fact you have a stone for a heart is why you’ll never be a decent king.” Holy Lady Fate my body feels so heavy. I struggle to keep my eyes open, fighting against the darkness that’s at the edges of my vision.

There are shocked whispers from the crowd, and King Celzar’s lips form an ugly sneer. “Ikeep my subjects alive,” hespits. “They understand your sacrifice will benefit us all. Without me, they would have been dead on the surface long ago.”

My nostrils flare as I glare at him, my hatred so strong it sends a small surge of energy through me. “If it weren’t for you, then the witches—” My words die off as King Celzar grips my throat, his fingers tightening and cutting off my air supply. My mouth opens and closes as I struggle for air that doesn’t come, and energy starts draining from me again.

He leans in close, his lips a hairsbreadth away. “Usually, I remove the cuff from my bride and make a spectacle before they die, but I suspect you can’t be trusted. I can smell it on you—the power that races through your veins, just waiting to be released.” He chuckles, and it’s a dry, humorless sound. “Oh no, I’m going to take what energy you have now and wait until you’re close to death before I free you.” He inhales and exhales deeply, the tip of his nose brushing against the curve of my ear. “It is a shame. You know, you almost had me when you said you wanted to change the ending of my story.”

Black spots start to dance across my vision, but I’m powerless to stop him, my limbs hanging uselessly by my sides. I was so stupid to think I could best this male. So fucking stupid. Pain blooms in my chest, a searing, aching agony, and just as I think he’s not going to stop, just as I’m certain he’s going to simply kill me now, a bellow rings out across the ballroom. “Ceeeelzaaaar!” The cry is long and low, and full of an anger that resonates in the depths of my being. “Release her!”

“Mason!” Princess Nerelia gasps, struggling against the guards that hold her back and staring at where my mate must be standing further in the ballroom.

A sinister smile crawls onto King Celzar’s lips, and he releases me, taking a small step back. I sag in the guards’ arms, my knees slamming to the stone dais as air returns to my lungs, and pain races along my bones. When the king twists his head tothe side, I try to move my head as well, but my body is too heavy, like these limbs don’t even belong to me anymore. I can’t feel my connection to Shade. I can’t feel any remnants of my magic at all. Had I really thought I’d be fast enough to best King Celzar if he removed the cuff? It looked like I wasn’t going to get to find out.

“The defender!” Awed whispers ring out amongst the crowd of Perstalians, and while I can no longer see King Celzar’s face, I note the way his hands curl into fists at his sides.

“How nice of you to attend my wedding, little brother,” the king says, an undertone of amusement in his voice.

Though I can’t see them, I hear the shuffling of the crowd, and I sense all of my mates as they move a little closer to the dais and stop.

“Well, I appreciate that,” Dante drawls like the king had been addressing him. “I do enjoy a good party.”

“Especially ones with such entertainment,” Prince Callan adds, and I’ve never heard his voice so cold. It makes all the times he spoke to me seem like casual banter in comparison, and a chill slides down my spine even though the ice in his words isn’t directed at me.

King Celzar’s body goes rigid, and the guards holding me tense as well.

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