Page 32 of Monsters in My Bed
“Sorry.” I blush at being caught because now is the most inappropriate time to be thinking such thoughts, but what can I say—my monsters bring out the worst in me. It might not be appropriate, but at least fantasizing about my mates doing naughty things to me in their shadow forms takes my mind off the ever worsening dread spreading inside of me.
When we cross into The Bowels, Roxy’s baby slows down marginally, as if searching, before shooting off again. He zigzags this way and that until he stops at the hovel Roxy and Rastorj once called home. Like my childhood bedroom, the place is in shambles, but this was caused by another maniac and his army.
As if thinking about the despotic tyrant conjures him into reality, The Fallacious steps into view. The baby freezes, shifting in midair into his Vasura form before landing at the False King’s feet. I cry out, reaching for him, but Seriq holds me close as Zuriv scoops the child up. I realize we were mistaken. Roxy didn’t call out to her son, his father did, beckoning the newborn to him with whatever bond Vasurian children have with their parents.
“Ah, Alexis, how good of you to visit. I see you’ve managed to overcome the odds, saving Seriq from ferality and reopening the portals. You are everything the prophecy says and more. It must be as humans say—love conquers all—but I have a feeling this love will be your undoing.”
I squirm in Seriq’s arms, silently demanding to be let down. There’s a heartbeat of tension where he wars with himself, but eventually sets me down. He still keeps a proprietary hand on my shoulder, not in possession, but to hold me back. The Fallacious baits me, wanting me to come closer, and Seriq is wise enough to know I will if it means getting Roxy’s baby back.
“And why will love be my undoing?”
The False King tsks. “Your mates still haven’t told you the prophecy in its entirety. For the light to vanquish me, it has to die—and you’re the light, right?”
My breathing stutters at this. No wonder no one wanted to tell me dick about this crappy prophecy. It’s because they all know how it’s going to end and tried to keep me from fulfilling my destiny. Zuriv, that bastard, is right. Love will be my undoing because if dying means he’s dead, too…
Then I hope we don’t both meet up again in the afterlife.
fifteen
XHOSHAD
Thatmotherfucker.
As usual, the False King leverages the situation ever in his favor, trying to drive another wedge between Alexis and her trium. Of course we never told our mate the final piece of the prophecy for the very reason Zuriv pointed out—Alexis would willingly fall on her sword if she knew it meant saving those she loved.
She might be The Pharos, but prophecies are not set in stone. How she brings about the light to destroy The Fallacious doesn’t have to end in her life. It can’t, and the False King is a fool if he thinks that we would let anything happen to our mate. Then again, that’s what he’s counting on—the fact we won’t let Alexis die and fulfill the prophecy, allowing him to continue on his path of destruction.
A thousand emotions dance across Alexis’ face as The Fallacious’ words sink in. A flash of hurt, a moment of shock, a splash of anger, a flicker of fear, and then it finally settles into resolve. I share a glance with Nerazi and Seriq, who look just as pissed as I feel. They note our mate’s expression, too, and Seriq’s eyes blaze.
His right leg shifts into a lunge, and I know he’s preparing to strike. Unfortunately, the False King is shrewd and also notices Seriq’s movements. A cruel smile overtakes his face, all sharp teeth and vicious intent. He croons to the infant in his arms, rocking the baby gently back and forth until his son falls asleep. Then, he places a claw against the child’s throat, his grin widening.
“Alexis, my queen, tell your trium to stand down, or I’ll slit his tiny throat.”
My mate’s eyes bulge. “B-b-but that’s your child!”
“Yes, he is, but I can make more.”
Waves of furious indignation radiate off of Alexis. Whether Zuriv is fucking with her or not is hard to tell. He’s cold enough to kill his own flesh and blood. Unless the child has a use for him, then his existence is unwarranted, but The Fallacious wants to get under Alexis’ skin more than anything. She stole Seriq back from him. That alone earned his wrath, and now I’m going to stoke that ire into an inferno. An unhinged Vasura makes mistakes, and mistakes are deadly.
“Aren’t you going to ask how we opened the portals?”
Zuriv’s grin sours. “I don’t care.”
I tsk in amusement. “Liar. Aren’t you at all concerned about your army?”
He shrugs. “No. Even without Seriq to command them, they’ll wreak havoc across Earth. That’s what empty souls do. They consume everything in their path in the hope of finding something to fill them with life again.”
“You seem awfully confident we didn’t destroy The Revenant Swarm.”
The Fallacious’ laugh booms into the darkness of The Bowels, startling the sleeping baby in his arms. He wakes up, shifting into his human form, and cries. Zuriv shushes him, shaking the infant, out of paternal patience. Alexis snarls, pivoting on the balls of her feet to race at the monstrous man, but Nerazi yanks her back.
“There’s no way you defeated my army. It’s too big, too wild for you to tame.”
Alexis straightens out of Nerazi’s grasp, shooting the False King a smug look of her own. “How embarrassing for you that your big, bad army crumbled when presented with a little bit of—what did you call my love? Ah, yes, my undoing. Your swarm was undone by my undoing. How’s that for some poetic justice?”
Zuriv expression mottles, and I want to clap in pride for my mate. Although she doesn’t know my intent, she’s helping me egg the fucker on.
“Impossible!”
