Page 35 of Monsters in My Bed
Even if they’re a monster.
The Fallacious grunts. “This kid doesn't like the taste of your emotions.”
I shrug. How do you answer something as stupid as that? But the False King isn't looking for my response. Instead, he's passing judgment on his own child who's more human than Vasura, and now I really do worry. Zuriv made it clear he has no need for the baby, and if he’s not a true boogeyman, I know The Fallacious will kill the infant without thinking twice. The clock is ticking, and I know this infanticide will happen sooner than later. I will the sinqol to aid me, but still nothing.
Please help me before I have this child’s blood on my hands.
seventeen
ALEXIS
“Putmedown.I'mgoing to be sick.”
My threat garners an immediate reaction, and The Fallacious zooms down to a grove of odollam trees. “Here, vomit on these odious plants.”
He speaks as if they personally offend him, although I don't know why. Perhaps once upon a time, they were dangerous to him, but with him being infused with sinqol, the odollam trees can't hurt him. On the other hand, I need to be careful of the baby as long as he’s in human form and for myself.
The False king lets go of me so quickly that I nearly topple over. My legs quake as I regain my balance and hug the baby to me tightly. Over and over in my head, I will my hands to glow, for the power of the sinqol to come to the surface. Anything to prove that I am indeed The Pharos, but my disappointment grows when my skin remains the same.
I swallow back my temper. Losing it won't do me any good. In fact, it'll just give Zuriv the upper hand. Suddenly, a light bulb goes off in my head. This isexactlywhat Xhoshad was doing before. My red-eyed mate purposefully baited the False King in an attempt to anger him.
A calm and controlled person is dangerous since they make decisions with a level head. Someone blinded by wrath lets their anger get the best of them. But that's not the only thing that can cause a person to mess up. The Fallacious’ smug superiority very well could also be his undoing, and I wonder if I play into it, if I might just get the answers I need.
Pretending upset—not that it's much of a stretch—I fret over the infant. “I'm concerned about this cut that you gave to the baby.”
The False King waves a dismissive hand. “He'll be fine. If he's truly a Vasura, he’ll heal.”
I bite my lip, knowing I'm walking on thin ice. This malicious man already detests his child because he doesn't think it's monstrous enough, but I press on, playing into the maniac’s ego. “I was wondering if you could heal the cut, though.”
Zuriv shrugs. “Why should I?”
I frown, as if pondering his words. “Well, can you not? I just assumed you could because of your connection with the sinqol.”
“Of course I can—I can do anything—but why would I heal him? Besides, he's fine.”
“Oh, you just keep saying how powerful you are, but I don't believe it. I don't think you're as formidable as you think you are.”
A rumble of menace racks The Fallacious’ body. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I thinkyouthink you're all-powerful, but you're not. I bet you couldn't even heal this one little scratch.”
“Ha, you stupid, pathetic human bitch. You know nothing.”
Then he whispers something in Vasurian, and his whole body lights up. Excitement courses through me as I copy the command he said in his native tongue. Although I can't quite copy the hissing tone correctly. I must do a good enough job because my body begins to glow from head to toe just like The False King. His eyes widen in shock, and I tip my head back to laugh victoriously.
“Don't be so smug. You have no idea what you're doing, whereasIdo.”
He's right. I have no clue what I’m doing, but the fact that I've finally called the sinqol to life inside of me is enough to give me hope that maybe I can somehow direct it. Zuriv won't be so foolish as to show me any more of his tricks, but I've demonstrated that I am just as formidable as he is.
To my surprise, The Fallacious turns my attention by reaching out for me with a hand. He shifts it into his shadow form and caresses my cheek where he scratched me. “That's twice now I've marked you without claiming you—I think we need to change that.”
Disgust ripples through me. “No, thanks. I don't think you'll exactly find me willing.”
Zuriv barks out a laugh. “Nor was your friend Roxy, but that makes it taste even sweeter.”
I smack his shadow hand away in fury. “You're not a king. You're not even a man. You're a disgusting pig disguised as something sentient.”
The False King shrugs, clearly not caring about my opinion. “Here's the thing, my dear. You’re the only sinqol left in Vasuriad. According to you, it drained away when the volcano erupted. Meaning you're the only source I have left. The liquid running through your veins is a precious commodity. Now, whether it stays inside of you or is extracted in another manner is completely up to you. I'm content to keep you at my side as my mate, to feast upon when needed, or I can prepare some vials and watch the life drain away from you as I take what I want regardless.”
