Page 21 of Their Fierce Little Monster

I scream.

Chapter

Six

DAWN

My boots hit the ground, and I slam back into Lian’s chest with the landing. Breaths gush from my lungs, my pulse thundering in my head, while he tightens his hold, keeping me in place.

“Rough landing,” he murmurs in my ear, leaving me shivering.

“That was insane.” I shove against his chest and wrench myself free, not needing to get all cozy with a monster.

Kazak comes down right next to us in a dust storm. He touches down on a bent knee, his fist to the soil as though he’s done this a few too many times and perfected the descent. Then he turns on Lian. “You bastard!”

Lian grins, and it’s all perfect teeth, but his chest puffs out, hands curling into fists.

I push a hand against Kazak’s arm, drawing his attention. “Don’t fight. There’s enough chaos going on already.”

He whips away from Lian, who simply huffs.

Nearby, I spot Corvin, arms folded across his chest, dragging those blue eyes over the three of us. “You all took your time.”

“Well, we had to wait for our fiery little one to gather her courage,” Lian adds, glancing at me the whole time. “But it got the blood pumping, right? Anytime you want a thrill, I’ll toss you through another portal.”

I glare his way, convinced he’s not joking, and swing my attention to where we’ve arrived.

We’re standing in the woods, near an enormous tree. The trunk is wider than all of us linked by hands, branches twisting wide overheard. Blue light glows through the oval leaves, and each time the breeze shakes the branches, a spray of golden stars from the tips of each leaf scatters on the air. Embers rain down, floating, then vanish before they reach the ground.

“Wow.” I’m mesmerized, glancing at the other trees, which are thinner and darker. Something chirps in the distance. The air smells crisp, reminding me of having bitten into a green apple. “Where are we?”

Corvin steps alongside me, glancing up at the spectacular tree. “There’s no real name for this place, but we call it the Between because it takes root amid realms. These places carry a lot of magic, the kind that refuses to be tamed.”

The blue reflects across his face, and his eyes almost glow.

“So it’s a terrible idea to be here?” I say.

“Absolutely,” Lian answers as he strolls closer to the tree, running his hand across the rough bark. “But what’s life without a bit of risk?”

“Not much else grows in these lands,” Kazak adds. “They’re covered in endless forests with few animals. No villages or roads. These trees release a toxic substance into the air, and for a few hours, you’re fine, but any longer than that, you’ll die from poisoning.”

“Geez, and why are we here, again?” I ask sarcastically, to which Lian laughs, the sound guttural and deep. I shouldn’t even entertain the idea of how much I enjoy watching him, yet I’m staring at the lines near the corners of his mouth and eyes, the way his throat moves up and down. That sharp jawline he has no right to, as handsome as he is.

“Surprised you remember anything, Kazak, seeing as you’ve been gone, what, ten years playing dress-up as a human,” Corvin states.

“You think I’d forget where I’m from?” he growls in response, then marches to the other side of the tree, looking as though he’s about to burst. He’s keeping his distance. Shadows gather under his eyes, but I catch him lifting his gaze in my direction every now and then.

I’m unsure what he expects from me when I don’t know myself. What I need is to not deal with one strange thing after another and to stop panicking.

Staring at the three of them glaring at each other puts me in the middle of their madness.

“So, what happens now?” I ask, taking in the beauty of the place. Perhaps something wonderful will surprise us for a change.

“We wait,” Lian answers casually, as though this is an everyday occurrence.

He doesn’t elaborate, and I huff. Breathing deeply, I concentrate on slowing my pulse.

“But whatever happens,” Kazak says from several feet away, “just don’t scream or run.”