Page 9 of Their Fierce Little Monster

Terror rips at my insides as I frantically pull with all my weight against the Baron’s grip, but he snatches me by the dress and shoves me forward.

“Go where you belong,” he sneers.

I stumble forward with him at my back. “I’ve done nothing wrong.” But the bastard only laughs at me, so I slam my heel back into his shin. His grip loosens, so I whip around and claw for his face, sinking my fingernails into his throat, anything I can reach.

In seconds, strong hands grab me from behind, one guard wrenching my arm behind me, dragging me off the Baron. I hiss from the sharp pain digging into my shoulder from how far back he’s twisting my arm.

But I’m too furious and buck against them. “Get off me!” I yell.

“Fuck, hold her still,” Baron Lester spits, wiping the blood off his cheek.

Tears run down my face, and I’m heaving for breath just as the Baron backhands me hard enough that my world blacks out for a second. His knuckles are like rocks against my cheek, and I’m thrown backward into the guards. Blood floods my mouth from where I’ve bitten my inner cheek, and stars dot my vision. It takes me moments to see straight again. But my head is screaming with throbbing pain.

I groan from the agony, my ears ringing loudly.

And that’s when the silver-haired Baron Gregory emerges from the rear of the homestead, approaching me, a grim expression on his face. I see two of him as my vision dances. I hadn’t even seen him standing there earlier, but at this stage, nothing will surprise me.

A blade glints in his grip when he lifts the weapon and slashes it at me without warning. I shudder, the bite slicing down my forearm, sharp, like fire cutting into me. I hiss, crying out, shaking violently.

Blood bubbles and drips down my arm, but my fingers instantly stiffen, nails stretching into points, blackening. They snap away as quickly as they came, but they all saw it. And I drown in terror, realizing exactly what this is about.

Both Barons grin, while one of the guards jerks away from me, releasing his hold. But it doesn’t matter because another guard locks an arm around my throat. I’m gasping for air, staring at the men wanting me dead.

Terror hollows me out. I curl my hands into fists, fingernails digging into my palms until it stings, except the damage is already done.

“The devil’s showing herself,” Baron Gregory bellows. “This whole time, she’s been hiding amongst our families. The rumors about her have been correct all along. Rylan was right that she can’t remain here.”

“You’re wrong. I’m not going to hurt anyone,” I gasp out in a broken voice.

Baron Lester chortles. “Let’s finish this.”

The guards haul me off my feet and toward the lofty pyre that stands at least ten feet high. My life flashes before me, stomach twisting so hard I’m going to be sick.

They shove me against the sharp logs, which dig into my back and legs. One of them forces a thick cloth between my teeth and ties it behind my head so tight my jaw stings. The other guards lash rope across my body, pulling me against the pyre.

I scream behind the gag, thrashing against their restraints. Tears blur my vision as I fight with every ounce of my strength.

Baron Gregory approaches while the others step away. He’s got his hands behind his back, staring at me. “Such a disappointment, but the most dangerous are often the prettiest.”

I yell into the gag to let me go, sobbing.

It’s in that same moment that a guard appears with a lit torch and lowers it to the base of the pyre.

Flames catch with a savage hiss, and I scream, my throat raw, the first flick of heat burning around my feet.

The guards are laughing at me while the fire begins popping hungrily at the base, orange light sparking brighter. Smoke wafts, and I feel the real heat start to lick at my ankles.

I shudder.

Baron Gregory still watches me, the sick fuck grinning. “The day you arrived, we were told by the city to keep you and Kazak. But we had no idea at the time that you were the devil.” He spits on the ground, his nostrils flaring. “We’ll tell them one of the guards found you in the woods after an animal attack. You insisted on going out to harvest herbs during the Choosing. And we were too late to save you, so we burned your body, as is customary, seeing as you were in such a horrible state.”

I scream against the cloth, hating these men.

The flames at my feet crackle sharply as orange light spreads along the base, smoke wafting upward. I blink, my eyes stinging.

Despite that terror and fury, it’s Kazak who comes to mind, because no matter what lies they tell, he won’t believe them. And I wish he’d been here today, wish he’d found me.

The bastards are laughing at me while I tug against the ropes but fail to loosen them.