Page 78 of Monster's Pretty Bride

My bodycollideswith solid heat.

Naranus.

Hisgriptightens, yanking me away from the threshold.

Amelia’s smirkwidensas she takes amockingstep back. “Oh, look at that. Your pet monstercares.”

Naranussnarls, fangsbared.

Amelia justlaughs, retreating into the darkness. “See you soon, dear sister.”

And she’sgone.

Ibreak.

A raw,shakingsobtearsfrom my throat, my kneesbuckling.

Naranuscatchesme, his armscrushingme to his chest.

“Eryss—”

Ishakemy head, chestheaving, thepainunbearable.

“She betrayed me.” My voicebreaks.

“Eryss—”

I can’t calm down.

“She betrayed me,” I gasp, choking on my own tears. I’m losing my shit.

Suddenly, hismouthcrashesdownonto mine.

Heat. Fire.Possession.

Ilet him take me under.

35

NARANUS

The taste of her still lingers on my tongue, a maddening addiction I hadn’t realized I’d succumbed to.

Eryss trembles beneath me, her breath sharp against my lips, her pulse wild under my palm where I hold her pinned against the cold, ancient wall of the sanctuary. She fights me, not to escape, but to feel something other than pain. And damn it, I give it to her, pressing into her, branding her with every stroke of my lips, every scrape of my fangs, every growl vibrating in my chest.

Her fingers curl into my shoulders, nails digging deep, but I don’t stop. Won’t stop. She needs to forget.

Forget Amelia’s betrayal.

Forget that the people she trusted have used her as a pawn, just as mine have used me.

I swallow her anger, coax her to give me more, to let go of the agony and fury burning in her. I take everything, my tongue sliding against hers, my claws tightening their grip, my body pressing harder, until her desperation is a palpable thing, her every breath a surrender to this moment.

A sharp, grating cough from the entrance slams us back to reality.

I tear away with a savage snarl, my body still primed for more, my need a searing ache that only she could sate.

One of my soldiers stands at the entrance, looking thoroughly uncomfortable yet smug at the same time. “Uh—hate to interrupt whatever… that was,” he says, shifting on his feet. “But you’re going to want to see this. The purna inside is awake.”

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