Page 64 of Mate of a Monster

The words are old enough that they carry weight in the walls themselves. So old and rare, I’ve never heard them spoken. They ripple through the chamber as a sigil of ancient language lights the walls, blinding everyone in the room before it disappears completely.

Haide scowls at the man, taking a step back, only to bump into someone else.

She spins, stiffening as more people follow: parents drop to their knees in tears, and the academy staff bow their heads. Even a war captain lowers his sword in silent acknowledgment.

“This is hysteria.” Arabella’s grip tightens on my sleeve, a small crack in her tone. “Can you not see it? She did this. She destroyed the academy herself!”

I meet Haide’s eyes across the kneeling bodies. For once, there’s no smirk or taunt daring me to react. I’d almost swear it’s sorrow. Like the shit she saw today actually weighs heavily on her . But she’s not capable of such emotion.

This is a game to her.

I am a game.

Comfort her. Hold her. Ease her pain.

Fuck! I grit my teeth, trying to claw through my own mind.

She still has power over me, influence I can’t trust, because the facts are clear.

Arabella brings me peace Haide never did.

So why isn’t it drowning out whatever this is?

I should feel indestructible, should have power beyond the norm with my true mate at my side. My Ethos should be pressing beneath the surface, my demon preparing to rise until we become one. Yet all I feel is strained, like two threads pulled too tight in opposite directions. The strongest stretching straight toward her.

I hate that feeling because it makes me question myself.

She makes me question everything.

“No!” A woman yells, gazing at Arabella in horror. “The fates brought her to us the day they knew we’d need her. It gave us the one thing none of us had to fight back against the sea: The lost flame! Without her, all the children would be lost.”

“What are you talking about?” Arabella frowns. “She—”

“She is a gift of the gods and she should be treated as one,” another screams.

“I…” Arabella leans closer, her voice low and urgent against my shoulder. “Legend. Do something.”

Probably should, but what? If I drag her back into chains now, I fracture the loyalty of every parent kneeling on this floor. Fuck.

“Rise,” I say, my voice carrying across the chamber. Slowly the kneeling bodies obey. “This is a matter of the royal court and council.”

“But my king,” A man shuffles a step. “We need to know what happened out there. My brother’s young are still unaccounted for. What am I to tell him?”

My heart kicks behind my ribs. Thankfully, London comes forward, pressing a gentle hand to the man’s arm while Knight tenses, ready to intervene just in case. But there is no fight in this man as he looks to the single queen of Rathe.

A position soon to be filled by Arabella, too, after our bond is officially complete when my Ethos rises.

“Tell him we’re searching until there is nothing left to search for.” She keeps her voice calm. “Tell him the royal house of Rathe will seek vengeance and retribution for every life lost, and more, but first, we need the facts. What we can share, we will, but for your safety and the safety of the rest of your young and families, there may be things that only endanger you more. You understand?”

Hesitantly, the man nods. Slowly, the families of the academy students begin to vacate, leaving only the staff behind.

“Please, Commander Vaelor.” Creed inclines his head at the man in question. “Report.”

Commander Vaelor of the Eastern Marches steps forward. The sigils etched into his armor mark him as the Keeper of the Outer Boundaries, and Warden of the Tideward Line.

“Wait.” I lift a hand when he makes to speak. “She does not get to be here for this.”

My gaze cuts sideways toward Haide without turning my head fully.