Page 1 of When Monsters Rise
Chapter1
RUE
Itwasn’t untilIwas halfway done with my glass of water thatIsensed the thing in the kitchenette with me.Goosefleshbroke out up my arms, and my nape tightened as the hairs stood to attention.
Butthis wasn’t the first timeI’dsensed the presence, soIcontinued to sip my water, acutely aware of the shadow in the corner of the room.
Itstood perfectly still, blending into the pockets of darkness around it, but my primal instincts recognized it asother.
Asnot belonging.
“Iknow you’re there.”Myvoice was a whisper whenIwanted it to be strong and sure. “Whoare you?Whatdo you want?”
Theshadow shifted, and my stomach clenched in apprehension.
“Whoare you talking to?”Bastianpadded into the room, and the presence dissipated.Hewrapped his arms around me from behind and rested his chin on my head. “Hey?”
“Theshadow.”
“Theghost?”
“Itwas here.IknowSarqsaid thatDadmoved on, but what if…”Ididn’t want to finish the sentence.Tocontemplate that my father could be stuck here.
Bastianhugged me tighter. “Thisghost could be anyone.Thisplace…the death…You’remore receptive than most, and it’s probably just…lonely.”
Whichwas exactly whatShemhad said too, after he’d torn the room apart searching for the ghost as if it was a spider he could squish.
“Comeback to bed,”Bastiansaid.
Iset my glass down and turned in his arms. “Whichbed?”
Hischest rumbled in a chuckle. “Asmuch asI’dlike to steal you away,Shemhas his limits.”
Ilifted my chin, offering him my lips. “Communalbed it is then.”
Hepressed his lips to mine briefly, sighing softly as he pulled away. “Sharingisn’t easy.”
Ipushed up on my toes and kissed him again. “Tomorrownight.”
“Tomorrow.”
Overthe past seven days, we’d alternated whereIslept.Onenight withBastian, the other withShem, and then a night with everyone in the room.Tomorrowwas my solo time withBastian.
AsBastianled me out of the room,Icouldn’t help but glance back at the spot between the counter and the fridge where my ghostly stalker had stood moments ago.
Theshadows were now innocuous and flat.
Whateverhad been in this room with me was gone.
* * *
Shemwasawake whenIreturned to our room, the others fast asleep on the floor around our mattress.Ithad been easier to remove the bedframe from the room instead of moving it around every other day.
Sarqsnored softly, butTumielandZaqslept soundlessly.Bastianhovered by the door asIclimbed over the watchers’ sleeping bodies to the main bed.Shem’seye whites gleamed where they caught the light trickling in from the hallway, giving him an almost eerie look.
Heck, ifIwasn’t so familiar with him,I’dhave been spooked.Butthe crimson-skinned watcher, with his feral features and talon-tipped horns, was nothing less than beauty to me now.Iloved the sensation of his silken chestnut hair running through my fingers and the scrape of his fangs against my throat.Hisbody was familiar.Itwas mine, just asBastian’swas, andI’daccepted there was no shame in wanting…in needing them both.
Shemheld out his hand, andItook it, allowing him to brace me asIlowered myself onto the mattress beside him, but his attention remained on the door, onBastian, who continued to watch us.
