Page 117 of Monsters in Love

“Tarn now.” Head half-scrunched into his ruff, he shrugged. “We take new names, after the change.”

Her gaze darted between the two, finally processing the dynamic between the pair of males. Of course. Talos had told her how he’d chased a boy who’d been family to him into this room. That could only be Toby, the farmhand who should have taken over the Marr’s holdings after they were consigned to the pit.

“Well, Tarn,” she said. “I am still very glad to see you.”

His eyebrows lifted and he smiled shyly. “And I you, Miss Belle. And your sister, Emmanuella. I’m very glad she’s, uh, that you both are well—”

“But you won’t stay that way if you remain in Windhaven,” Talos cut in. “The demons grow in number with nearly every person sacrificed. There are more of them than you know—far more than you saw last night. If they emerge, the town won’t stand a chance.”

“Gods.” Belle pressed a hand over her heart. Her thoughts were full of the miller and the blacksmith—of all her friends who hung a red cloth beside their homes and dared to dream of a better future.

None of them looked beneath the streets.

“They have no idea of the danger they’re in.”

“No, Miss Belle,” Tarn whispered. “They don’t.”

“You have to warn them,” Talos said. “Then you have to take Emmi and run as far and as fast as you can. For all I want the hands of darkness to shred the bishop into a thousand pieces, he doesn’t understand. The demons could consume the town in a single night.”

Isabelle stood with her sister, Talos and Tarn around a make-shift table in the center of the tower room. Spread upon that table and illuminated in all the colors of the stained glass, was her map. She laid her fingertips beside the parchment, wishing her hands didn’t shake. But how could they not? Of all the uses she’d envisioned when she’d crafted those lines, it had never been to leave behind the love she’d thought dead.

And worse: To warn her town before their demons destroyed them.

The responsibility weighed her shoulders, the fear of failure tighter around her ribs than her stays. All she wanted to do was stay with Talos and rejoice in finding him again.

Instead, she had to use her hard-earned knowledge to do something terrible.

Because they had to try and stop the demons before they swept across all of Windhaven.

She glanced at Talos.

“Tell us, Belle.” His eyes rested on her, a mix of pride and resignation that tore at her insides.

“My father began this map before he disappeared…” She swallowed hard and willed her voice to steady. “Having finished his work, I believe I know a way to stop the demons. But such action should not be necessary.” She shifted closer to Talos, until her right shoulder rested against his side. “The bishop might be blinded by his faith, but he’ll not risk the entire town. If Emmi and I can emerge from the tunnels, we can warn him and the city guard.”

“So we hope.” Talos wrapped a hand around her waist and peered at the map.

Oh, Papa. This isn’t what you had planned… She traced her father’s signature mark in the upper left corner, a compass with a heart for an arrow, then tapped a nail over the Chastry. “It is the most defensible position. We have to believe the bishop will rally the guards and—damn.”

Her sleeves tried to tangle at her feet, and she kicked the over-long ends aside with her slipper. She’d have preferred to leave the gown in the tower, but if she emerged from the tower in her undergarments she wouldn’t be given a chance to speak, let alone be listened to.

Of course, she’d rather be naked with Talos.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option.

She bit her lip and looked up at him. “It is our best plan. Emmi and I will get out, and warn the bishop. If the guards are ready at the grate, surely they will be able to hold the demons back?”

“Perhaps.” He let out a low rumble. “But we cannot rely on the bishop.”

Her insides lurched.

No. The bishop had to see reason. Anything less put her love in greater danger.

“Belle…” His head lowered until their noses brushed. “You see another solution. There’s too much at stake to hold back.”

Her Thomas always put his own wellbeing last.

Talos was no different.

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