Page 69 of Mate of a Monster

Creed frowns. “Who?”

“The Nightkin.”

Creed blinks. “He has…a name?”

I shrug. “He had a body back on Exile.”

“That’s—” Creed shakes his head. “We’re getting off track. I fucked up. And I need your help to fix it.”

“What exactly did you do, Creed?”

“Legend is tied to Arabella. My brothers and I, with the help of a mage, used forbidden magic to form a fake bond.”

Anger tears through me, but I’d already figured as much. Well, not the forbidden part, or the part where they all helped, I don’t know shit about that. But I know that thing between them is rotten to its core.

I just need to make sure it doesn’t reach him before I can. Problem is, I have no idea how to fix any of this and if the beast does, he hasn’t exactly shared that yet.

Probably because he knows if there’s a way to let Legend rot and save the Nightkin, I’m more likely to lean that way.

“Hellpet.”

Knew it.

“So, you went and did to Legend the very thing you accused me of doing. And now you want me to help you clean your mess.”

I don’t need almighty magic like the man in front of me to know what he’s feeling. Creed doesn’t hide his regret. I don’t think he could even if he wanted to. He looks that fucked up about it. As he should.

“That is exactly what I’m saying. Help me find a way to make this right and I swear to you, no matter the cost, I will make up for what I did to you. And him.”

Staring at Creed Deveraux, for some dumb reason, I believe him. And isn’t this part of the reason I came back here?

To save Zev, but also to save the part of my mate that fought for our bond from the very beginning, even when I didn’t know it.

To do whatever it takes to protect the Nightkin.

Having a royal on my side can only help with that—not that I have to admit as much to him. But just because I believe him doesn’t mean I’m going to make this easy on him.

Which brings me to the other reason why I’m here.

“Okay, king dickhead.” Creed’s lips twitch, but it’s almost sad. “I’ll help, but I need something from you first. And this is in no way part of you making it up to me.”

“Name it and it’s yours.”

“Give me back my best friend.”

Chapter Fifteen

Legend

“You fucking what?” I snap at Creed, glaring at him from across the table. “Come again, because I’m not sure I heard you properly.”

I need him to repeat the words because what the fuck does he mean he put her in Crowsnest?

Creed shrugs, biting into his bone of meat. “What?” He pauses, sucking fat from his finger and gesturing around the table to all of us. “Would Arabella rather you two be sleeping down the hall from your first mate?”

My eyes bulge, a shiver rolling down my spine. “What the fuck, Creed?” I want to scream some more, demand he cower and correct himself, take the bone from his hand and beat it across his face until that smug expression disappears with it. But it’s the damn look in his eyes that gives me pause. “Say some shit like that again and see what happens.”

“My bad.” His blue eyes hold mine, searching. “Guess I didn’t think the joke would trigger you so much. Wonder why that might be.”