Page 23 of Loving Monsters

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I will set her free; I will seteveryonefree.

Screw the king. I will show him how much humans are truly worth saving.

The king settles back onto his throne, keeping his hungry gaze on Alice. She holds onto my monster, Madoc, and he does his very best to placate her. The others look at me with uncertainty, and I bet they’re just as shocked as I am that I agreed to such a wager.

I guess I truly believe that humans are worth the effort of the king getting off his fat ass for.

Enzo steps toward me, whispering into my ear. “Are you sure about this, Belle? We can’t guarantee the safety of your friend. She may never return to the human world after this. My uncle can be pretty sly.”

I’m not surprised; he banished his own nephews and took their thrones just because he was petty and jealous, but I know I can prove him wrong about humans and save Alice in the process.

The king brings the court back to order, and now we all wait with bated breath. I’m not sure what he plans to have me do yet, but if it’s anything like facing off to a bunch of wraiths, I think I can handle it.

“Quite ironic. How you’re so willing to prove how much your race is worth saving, yet you just threw one of your own under a bus... is that how they phrase it in the human world? Forgive me, it’s been one hundred years.”

He cackles yet again, making his stupid jowls wiggle, and I ball my fists. The king really is one ugly brute, and I have to ensure Alice doesn’t end up being one of his concubines.

While I’m at it, I will rescue the other women he has in his clutches too. I bet they’re all husks of girls.

“I didn’t throw her under a bus, because I know I can prove you wrong. I’m ready. What do I have to do first?”

The court whispers, and we all wait as the king discusses with his private council. I chew my lip, stealing glances at Alice. She wipes tears from her eyes, and I hope she can forgive me one day. I should have refused, but I gambled with her freedom in the end.

I’m the worst big sister.

Finally, the king coughs, and we all give him the attention he rightfully deserves.

“In order to prove me wrong about humans, Belle, you must complete three challenges. For the first challenge, you must go to the Forest of Forbidden Fruit. Temptation awaits you on every branch, and many of your kind have lost themselves in these woods. If you can resist picking the fruit from any of its trees, then you will win the first challenge.”

So, I am Eve in the Garden of Eden? All I have to do is resist picking an apple from a tree, and I pass the first challenge?

The Forest of Forbidden Fruit? Please. Sounds like child’s play.

“I have one condition...” Enzo steps forth, and the king grants him to speak with a wave of the hand. My monster continues. “One of us must accompany her.”

The king scoffs. “And why should I allow that? If she wants to prove to me how much her race is worth saving, then she must complete the challenge alone.”

Enzo sighs, trying to keep his wits about him. He addresses his uncle again. “That may be so, but at the end of the day, she is our mate, and the urge to keep her safe and ensure no harm comes her way is strong. Surely, you cannot attest to that?”

One of the king’s advisors leans forward and whispers into his ear, and the ruler wrinkles his nose in disgust. “Very well. Itisone of our respected traditions asmonsters, after all, to ensure the well-being and safety of our human females. All right. One of you can accompany her to the Forest of Forbidden Fruit.”

I’m not so sure that is wise; I have to resist temptation in this forest, so the last thing I need is one of my monsterstemptingme. Plus, as the days go by, I’m getting even more aroused in their presence. I’m not sure if it’s something in the air, but I feel hotter whenever I’m near them, and there’s a strange emptiness inside me that yearns for their seed and cocks. The only thing holding me back from jumping them is Alice. I didn’t want to scare her while we were on the road, so yeah, it’s been three days since I got any, and I am feeling the effects.

However, the king never said that there were rules against me fucking my monsters in the Forest of Forbidden Fruit. Only that I should not pick any of its delicious fruit.

How hard can it be? They’re just apples.

If they were covered in caramel maybe, but I think I can resist picking some fruit from a wild orchard that’s most likely covered in worms. Yuck. No thank you.

So I guess I need to decide which of my monsters to take?

My eyes find Madoc at once, and there’s no missing the flames dancing in his eyes. He’s going to burn that whole forest to the ground, delicious fruit and all.

Sure, he may look like a human version of a snake, with the tongue and slitted eyes, but he’s one snake I can trust. I certainly don’t trust the snakes in this courtyard, especially the giant anaconda that currently sits curled up on the throne.

Let’s do this.

Me and Madoc against some fruit.


Tags: Violet Fox Paranormal