Monsterland Mayhem (Fairy Tales With A Monstrous Twist)

9. Craze

9

CRAZE

I’m being hard on her. I know I am. However, there’s a time for patience, and now isn’t it. Those spikers will be waking up soon, my cards having only slayed them temporarily.

The only one I truly injured was Brandt, but even he’ll survive.

And then he’ll start hunting for Ailsa.

Just like every other creature in the kingdom.

There’s a reason Krolic and Catum changed the game. We were supposed to play in the caves. The Tavern was a backup choice.

If they want her in plain sight, that means the Crimson King reacted with more power than we hoped.

That’s fine. We have our own tricks. Also, the Crimson King relies on minions. We rely on mutual loyalty.

I would die for Krolic and Catum.

Just as they would die for me.

And now, the three of us will do everything in our power to protect Ailsa.

Including being harsh when needed.

Her blue eyes hold mine, her long blonde hair seeming to wave in the invisible wind. She’s so ethereal and doesn’t even realize it, a true goddess walking amongst us.

One day, she’ll understand.

If I could go back to kill every single person who made her feel small for simply being human , I would. I would cut off their heads and deliver them on a fucking platter.

Because this female is so much more than she realizes.

And I’m going to spend eternity proving that to her.

“Please?” I echo, aware that it’s a word I rarely use. Most women, hell, most men , do whatever I ask the moment I speak.

But not Ailsa.

She’s been a challenge since the moment she dropped into our realm.

I hope she continues to be a challenge. It’s fun trying to win her over, even if it is a bit exhausting.

“All right,” she says, defeat etched into her features. “Let’s… go through the swirling black hole thing.”

“Portal,” I correct her. “And it’s just going to take us to the Tea Village.”

“You say that like I know what it is,” she mutters.

“It’s a village of Betas who serve Alphas,” I explain. “The highlight is the Tavern. It’s both an eatery and a hotel of sorts.”

It also serves as a center of information, a way to hear Monsterland rumors and learn more about the royal court.

With Catum’s cloak covering Ailsa’s identity, no one will know who she is or even care. It’s the same magic Catum has used on himself and Krolic whenever visiting the realm.

The three of us have spent many hours, days, and weeks at the Tavern.

We’re well known there.

But not as who we really are.

Just a trio of Alphas. And now they’ll see us as a trio of Alphas who have found a pretty little Beta to entertain us for the week.

At least that’ll help chase off the other Betas who have shown interest in joining our nest.

Oh, we’ve played.

But not since discovering Ailsa’s existence.

She’s been our only desire for two years. Even mine, despite not seeing her or knowing her in the mortal world. However, Krolic and Catum told me enough about her to pique my interest.

And now that I’ve met her, I have no doubt that she’s meant to be ours.

Our alluring rabbit is the perfect mix of feisty energy and submission.

“So it’s… it’s like my district?” she asks, drawing me back to our conversation about the Tea Village.

“It’s nothing like your home,” Krolic interjects. “This is Monsterland. Everything is going to feel extraordinary to you until you learn more about it.”

“And… going home isn’t an option.” She voices it as a statement, not a question.

However, I nod in confirmation anyway. “This is your home now, Ailsa. You’ve always been destined to come here. We just altered the way you arrived.”

“So you wouldn’t end up in the palace,” Catum adds. “I wasn’t lying about the Crimson King’s intentions—he’ll take you without consent, Ailsa.”

“You all took me here without my consent,” she throws back.

“He means fuck you without consent,” I interject. “The Imposter King will cage you until you go into a proper heat, then growl to force your slick, and knot you until you’re carrying his heir.” It’s a graphic depiction of events, but a truthful one.

Alas, she just gapes at me like I’m the monster here, not the one trying to save her from the monster.

“This isn’t a kind place,” I go on. “But it is meant to be yours to rule. The Imposter King won’t see it that way. He’ll parade you around like a glorified pet on a leash. We’ll carry you and bow to you as our queen. Just give us a chance to prove it, Ailsa.”

“I already said I’ll go through the portal,” she mutters, a hint of exasperation in her tone. “I can’t give you anything else. Not… not yet.”

“That’s a fair compromise,” I decide, my mood instantly lifting as a smile tugs at my mouth. “Let me know when you’re ready to compromise on nicknames.”

She shoots me a look that says that’s not going to happen.

Which only improves my mood even more and makes me grin that much wider. “Oh, I like you,” I tell her. “How do you feel about kitten instead of rabbit ?”

She scowls.

“So that’s neither, then?” I sigh. “At least let me call you gorgeous , Ailsa. It’s just a description. An accurate one at that.”

“You’re very…” She trails off like she’s trying to find the right word.

“Mad?” I offer her, smirking. “I get that one a lot.”

“Are you done flirting yet?” Catum asks me. “Because this portal is wasting a lot of energy.”

“You could have tamed it while we discussed options,” I tell him. “But you wanted to impress our intended with your powers. That’s not a me problem, C. That’s a you problem.”

“I’m starting to agree with Ailsa on you being impossible,” he informs me flatly.

“ Impossible is such a permanent term,” I drawl. “I much prefer mercurial . Or surprising . Or even intriguing .” I waggle my brows at him and then at Ailsa. “Thoughts?”

“Crazy,” she offers. “I think I’ll call you crazy .”

Amusement warms my insides. “You don’t know the half of it, gorgeous.” I try the nickname primarily to see if she’ll turn me down again.

When she doesn’t, I grin.

“Gorgeous it is, then.”

She sighs. “Can we go now?”

“We could always go,” I tell her. “The portal is right there.”

The beautiful female throws her hands up and stomps off toward it, only for Krolic to enter her path. “Please allow me to escort you,” he says, holding out his arm. “It’ll be easier. And I want to make sure Catum’s charm works.”

“It works,” he says without missing a beat.

Krolic ignores him. “Please, my queen?”

She blows out another breath and accepts his arm. “Yeah. Fine. Okay, Beast. ”

His green eyes light up with the pet name, his power seeming to ripple off him in energetic waves.

Someone likes being her beast, I muse.

He can’t hear me.

But he doesn’t need to.

He can feel my amusement, and the cocky look he throws back at me says he doesn’t even care that I’m entertained by this development.

Without another word, he escorts our intended through Catum’s portal.

“I don’t understand why he can call her queen , but I can’t,” I say conversationally.

“You’re not her king,” Catum points out.

“That doesn’t mean she’s not my queen,” I mutter.

“Our queen,” he corrects. Then he shrugs. “She’s a puzzle, one that’ll be fun to solve.”

“If that’s a euphemism for sex, then yes, I agree. Solving her will be quite fun.”

He snorts. “She has your knot all tied up, doesn’t she? All you can think about is sex.”

“Are you telling me yours isn’t strung tight?” I ask him, both of my eyebrows raised.

“My knot has been pulsing for her for two very long years,” he returns. “Every night she dreamt of me, it took physical restraint not to shadow into her room and turn those fantasies into a reality.”

“You’re lucky you had those two years,” I mutter. “I’ve had a few hours, and she doesn’t seem to like me very much.”

“She’s struggling with the change,” he tells me. “Just give her time.”

“I wish I could,” I reply. “I really wish I could.”

But time is not on our side.

Tick, tock.

“We should follow them,” Catum says.

I nod, agreeing.

Then I slip through the portal to join Krolic and our queen in the Tea Village.

Tick, tock .

That looming countdown echoes in my head.

It must be playing in Krolic’s thoughts as well because he’s busy checking his watch again as I step onto the cobblestone street. Catum is right behind me, the portal dissipating in his wake.

“Well?” he prompts.

Krolic grins. “Time to play.”

My own lips curl in response. Those three words are music to my ears.

Because playing, I can do. And playing, I do very, very well.

I pull out my cards to shuffle the deck. “Lead the way, K.”