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I'm left panting shallowly, trying to refill my lungs and get my blood to flow again as the Creeper, who appeared out of nowhere, hurtles across the room toward Aliana and wraps her up in a hug.
"Creep!" is her bright response as I wearily drag myself to my knees.
Every part of my body reminds me just how fragile it is, how close to breaking. But I can’t let Aliana see that sort of weakness, can’t let the Terrors. I force my aching limbs to stand up once more, though I do end up leaning against the wall.
A growl sounds beside me, and I glance over to see Dev standing there, red eyes glaring at the picture that Creep and Aliana make as the horned monster picks her up and swings her in a circle, causing her to nearly brain Fluffy and then kick a cup off the countertop.
I have to do a double-take when I spot the neon-green monster slung over the huge beast’s shoulders in a fireman carry.
What the fuck?
Please don’t tell me that’s another one of Aliana’s lovers,Em laments, his voice bordering on a pathetic whine.I can’t deal with any more competition for my mistress’s heart.
Ummm… I doubt it. Do you not see the blood? The bruises?
Some people like it rough,Em says simply.
Dev, as if sensing the direction of my thoughts, tosses the monster unceremoniously on the ground, not caring when his skull ricochets off a table with a deafening crack.
Definitely not a lover, then,Em muses.
Still could be,I murmur, having heard of the Devourer’s possessive tendencies, especially where they concern Aliana.
"I knew you'd be okay. I knew it. You're such a fucking badass little warrior," Creep praises, drawing my attention back to him and Aliana.
Her smile is vibrantly beautiful, so sweet I forget to breathe. But when Creep tilts his head to kiss her, it feels like my veins have been injected with poison. Jealousy blackens the edges of my vision as despair makes my heart stutter.
I want what he has so badly, but I have no goddamned clue how to get it.
Next to me, the Devourer's claws clench so tightly that his nails cut into his palms. If he were still holding the smaller monster, I imagine he would be in ribbons right about now.
He wants her too. Everyone fucking wants her, which is why this will never work.Em's annoyance rattles inside my skull.
His dark proclamation rings true because I can't imagine how the hell the Terrors might share, much less share with me. Somewhere inside my stomach, a shovel starts digging, and a trench appears, then a pit, then an entire canyon.
Happiness is impossible. My happiness, at least.
"Where's Tesq?" Aliana asks.
"I'm sure he'll show any second. I'll even go looking for him if you want. I just need a kiss so that I know how much you missed me." Creep waggles his eyebrows suggestively, mischief twitching up the corners of his lips.
She rolls her eyes, but then she does something I've never seen her do. Aliana blushes. Actual pink colors her cheekbones, and her eyelashes flutter down in a way I've only ever seen in my imagination. Even when she leaned down over my body in that torture chamber, her face flooded with concern, it didn't look like this.
Holy shit.
The feeling that I've slid into an alternate reality doesn't end there. Aliana brushes back a strand of her white-streaked hair before she kisses the Creeper with a wild sort of abandon I've never seen her possess. Her hands cup his cheeks, and her mouth is a very active participant as her lips repeatedly brush his. I even see a hint of tongue—forked tongue. That must be Creep's.
With a feral growl rumbling through his throat, Dev stomps forward and plucks Creep up by an antler until the blue monster is dangling with his feet in the air.
I twist my mouth up in dark amusement at the sight.
I hope he throws him brain first into the wall,Em states flatly.
I can't say I disagree, which just proves to me yet again that I'm not worthy of her. Which makes me hate myself and Creep all the more.
"Dev, if you want a welcome-back kiss, you'll put him down this fucking second." Aliana's tone brooks no argument, as if she's used to ordering Terrors around.
Wait. WHAT?
