Page 59 of Mate of a Monster

“Silence,” I snap without looking at her.

Haide’s pupils darken, and the faintest purr slips into her tone. “Jealous?”

My hand is at her throat before I realize it, fingers digging into her warm skin, talons slowly splitting free to press at her heated flesh.

“Answer me,” I murmur.

She leans into my grip, breath fanning across my knuckles. “Harder, mate.”

The word is like an electric boost, power surging and filling places I didn’t know were empty until my heart doesn’t just beat. It throbs.

I jerk back, releasing her instantly, as my body betrays me. Heat surges low and unwanted, cock jerking in her direction, and I could fucking kill her.

Her smile widens like she knows, but the door bursts open before she can respond.

Vicente storms in, Knight and Sinner close behind him, all three of them drawn tight in a way I’ve seen only before battle. I snap to attention instinctively as Creed rushes to my side.

“The East Tideward borders,” Vicente says, out of breath.

“What about them?” Creed demands.

“The wards collapsed and the sea has risen.”

“Risen?”

Arabella grabs my arm, pressing closer.

“It breached the water barrier and rolled over the lower grounds. The Tideward Academy is flooding. The children—” Vicente’s jaw tightens. “They’re trapped.”

My blood runs cold.

“We have to go.” Knight jerks toward the hall again. “Now!”

“I can help!” Haide shouts.

I turn on her, finding her already on her feet. “You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’ll let you anywhere near my kingdom,” I snap. “You will stay here until I decide whether you live or die.” When the last word leaves me, the tendons in my muscles stretch so hard I fear they’ll snap.

“There are children dying,” Haide shoots back, fury replacing the earlier heat.

“Like you fucking care!”

“Leave her here with me.” Arabella squeezes my arm. “I will make sure she doesn’t escape.”

I don’t know why I hesitate.

“Legend,” Haide snaps.

I swing her way. “We don’t need you.”

“Yes, you do.”

“If you think we’ll just let you go after—”

She steps forward and the hellhound leashes flare bright, red light searing as they activate to restrain. I watch closely, waiting for skin to blister, for flesh to split. I almost yell at her. To warn her to fucking stop before she gets hurt, but the words get lodged in my throat.

The smell of burnt flesh never fills the air.

The magic rolls over her, wraps tight around her limbs for a breath, and it sinks beneath her skin like it was born there.