Page 57 of Captured By the Monsters
SERA
Holding Julie close, I mourned her senseless loss. Axton had found me before they could kill me, but there were still two deaths that did happen.
Two women had been sacrificed by their society to appease a bullshit treaty, set up for failure with the lies we were taught of this world, then were killed by traitors here.
It was all bullshit, and my grief was transforming into so much anger and hatred for this life we were forced into.
Glancing up as Julie’s Trifecta and my two remaining monsters rushed in, my anger was spurred on further by the look of agony in her Trifecta’s eyes as they took in the scene before them.
Julie and I had defied the odds and chosen our monsters, developing real feelings for them in such a short span of time. We felt that magnetic pull that couldn’t be denied, and by the pain in their screams and the way they scooped her out of my lap, I could feel the utter heartbreak they were experiencing.
They would never have a chance to build a life together.
It wouldn’t just be the death of these two women though. Without their mates, they were sentenced to death as well—they needed these women to live once the claiming was complete. There was a tiny shard of peace in my heart at the thought of them being reunited hopefully in an afterlife once they passed.
Our souls were fated, so they had to continue on together in whatever came after death, right?
I cried as they pulled her from my lap. “I’m so sorry.” I knew there was nothing I could have done, but it didn’t stop the guilt I felt from being a survivor.
Sylan dropped down to kneel in front of me, and I fell into his arms as Axton’s dropped, sobbing while he stroked my hair. I don’t know how long we sat there like that when a voice came from behind me, pulling me from my stupor.
“When you’re ready, she still needs to be presented. I’m so sorry for what has happened here today, but grateful that you fought.”
It was one of the Rumilus leaders. How the fuck could he care about that right now when Specters could have possibly killed the True Queen? It could have been Julie. It could have been the strawberry blonde woman.
But they were just ready to move on like it was a regular fucking Tuesday and nothing traumatic had just happened?
No fucking way.
“Are you kidding me?” I half-yelled, half-laughed. The audacity was astounding. So much so that I couldn’t figure out whether to cackle like a loon from the shock or if I wanted to punch him in the face.
Sylan’s arms wrapped around me tighter as Axton piped up at my back, “I will always do what is needed for Paratiisi, for my kind, and of course, for my mate. But right now we need a moment.”
“Of course,” the leader agreed. “We’ll give you some privacy, but know that you will do your due diligence in taking her to the crystal shortly.”
It was a respectful yet menacing statement. They thought highly enough of my Trifecta to trust them and give us some time, but the underlying message was still received loud and clear: don’t push us too much more.
With that, he turned and walked away, and it was then that I noticed the Trifecta of the redhead gathering her body and turning to leave.
It reminded me how important a name was, once again.
It was a way to honor and remember someone, especially those who were no longer here, but I didn’t know hers or the brunette’s.
“What was her name?” I croaked out at their retreating backs.
One stopped to glance over his shoulder at me. “Leah,” he whispered before turning back to leave.
Leah.
Julie.
Hope.
Madison.
Olivia.
Mishka.
