Monsterland Mayhem (Fairy Tales With A Monstrous Twist)

12. Krolic

12

KROLIC

Discussing my family history has put me in a mood.

Or maybe it was watching my queen grind all over my best friend’s lap that provoked my irritation.

Because I want to be the one she’s straddling and pretending to fuck.

Moons, she’s fucking glorious. All that long blonde hair taunts my fingers, making me want to grab hold, yank her head toward me, and claim that luscious mouth of hers.

Just like Catum was just doing moments ago downstairs.

Now he just has his palm against her lower back as he guides her down the hallway to our room.

We’re up in the clouds here, not that she’s noticed. The windows are all darkened up here, indicating the late hour.

She’ll see the view in the morning.

I’m sure it’ll confuse her, like everything else has thus far.

Fuck . There’s still so much for us to discuss, but I can feel Ailsa’s exhaustion. Other than the one donut and some sips of water, she barely ate downstairs, too. I’ve already ordered some evening snacks to be sent up to the room. Hopefully, she’ll indulge in a few, then sleep.

And in the morning, we’ll continue our discussions.

Talk about how her choice could impact the fate of the kingdom.

Because if she opts to go to the Imposter King, to join his mate-circle with my sister, it’ll solidify his claim.

Omegas mean everything in this world, and we’ve been without one for so long. My mother was the last one. A diamond of her kind.

I suspect the Omegas are actually in hiding, a way to punish Monsterland for what was done to my mother. The Imposter King’s edict likely didn’t help matters. That he’s pretending to be me while doing it… is a whole secondary layer of fucked up.

He never shows his face.

Only chooses to be seen in public as his wolf half—which is white-furred just like me.

I could have ousted him centuries ago, but if there’s one thing I learned from my sister’s antics, it’s that leaving the throne unattended puts the entire kingdom at risk.

It made more sense to observe from afar while hunting for an Omega so we could retake the kingdom as a complete circle.

I just didn’t expect it to take this long.

It all feels like an elaborate test, a way for Monsterland kind to prove themselves worthy of cherishing Omegas once more.

Which is why we’ve played this very carefully, ensuring we woo our mate properly, not take her by force.

Unlike the Imposter King.

And Heart, I think darkly. I rarely refer to her as my sister. Just Heart .

Though, she prefers to be called Queen Heart . She always has, even though she’s never been the Monsterland Queen.

Craze enters a code to open the door to our suite, then steps inside to do a security check while the three of us wait in the hall.

Ailsa glances around with a frown creasing her forehead, but she doesn’t speak. Catum warned her before he took down the veil that she needed to be quiet and just stick close to his side.

Thus far, she’s done exactly that.

Fortunately, his cloak masked her identity; otherwise, they all would have smelled her delicious slick.

Unfortunately, I’m immune to his magic because he intentionally wove it in a way that allowed the three of us to be very aware of Ailsa’s scent.

Which means I’m practically salivating now.

Because our Omega enjoyed being on top of Catum.

She might not realize just how much she enjoyed it, but we definitely do. Her sensual aroma is like a drug. All I want to do is kneel before her, lift those translucent skirts, and feast on her sweet cunt.

Craze reappears in the doorway and nods his chin, giving us the all clear.

Catum uses his palm against Ailsa’s back to lead her inside, then quickly begins weaving his smokelike enchantments throughout the room.

He’s incredibly powerful, his Shadow heritage underscored in dark magic and exceptionally unique. The moment he’s done creating a veil, he turns to me to begin undoing the cloak woven into my white shirt and jeans.

A sensation of lightness overcomes me as he frees me from my mask, one that changes my appearance to everyone else in this realm except for those in this room.

He wears a similar one, just like Ailsa does now as well.

The only one not covered in his magic is Craze.

But that’s because Craze has his own form of masks . Hence the skull makeup smothering his features.

Rather than go wash it off, he leans against the master bedroom door frame and folds his arms. “Ailsa, do you want to take a shower?” he asks her.

She blinks those big blue eyes at him. “What?”

“It’s a contraption you use to clean yourself,” he drawls.

“I know what a shower is.”

“Then why are you confused?” he counters.

“I don’t…” She shakes her head like she’s trying to clear it. “Why would I shower?”

He shrugs. “To wash off remnants from the Blood Ocean, the Gum Tree, the Hot Chocolate Fields, and the Orange Desert? To have a few minutes to yourself? To shampoo your hair?” His eyes travel over her. “To shave, perhaps?”

Her lips part. “ What ?”

He frowns. “You know, I really am starting to worry about your hearing.” He pushes off the door frame to saunter toward her. “Do you want assistance in the shower? Perhaps with the razor?”

“ No ,” she bites at him. “And my hearing is fine. You… you just…” She scowls. “You know what? Never mind. I think I will take a shower. To wash you off my skin.”

His lips curl. “Are you suggesting I marked you, gorgeous?”

She makes a furious sound that reminds me a bit of a growling pup and stomps off toward the kitchen. I’m about to correct her when she freezes on the threshold and starts toward the living area.

“ Ugh !” She throws her hands up and spins around. “Where is the shower?”

Craze smiles. “Through the main bedroom, Ailsa.” Before she can ask him to elaborate, he gestures to the door frame he was originally leaning against. “Just hang a right. You can’t miss it.”

She looks ready to argue but bites her tongue instead and marches into the bedroom.

The door slams in her wake, making me shake my head.

“Why are you goading her?” I ask Craze. Then I hold up my hand to stop him before he can respond. “Don’t answer that.” I’m not interested in his explanation. It won’t make any sense to me anyway.

It’s a miracle we ever connected as an Alpha-circle. His approach to life is vastly different from mine.

Which, I suppose, is actually why we’re compatible. He’s constantly thinking outside of the box, while I’m the voice of reason.

And Catum is the observant one.

“There are quite a few crows down there,” he states flatly, ignoring everything Craze and I were just saying to one another. “Vultures, too.”

Crows and vultures are slang terms for court sycophants and royal spies.

“That’s what the Tavern is known for,” Craze points out. “Why do you think I have such a high tab?”

“Because you’re obsessed with violet tea,” Catum responds.

Craze lifts a shoulder. “That, too.”

“Regardless, Catum’s right. There were too many eyes downstairs. We’ll need to remain vigilant tonight,” I say.

“Are you suggesting shifts?” Catum asks.

I nod. “Perhaps even having one of us go?—”

The bedroom door opens, revealing a flustered Ailsa. “This smoke— dress— won’t come off.” She utters the words through her teeth, her frustration palpable and bordering on hysteria.

“Catum, take off her cloak,” I say without missing a beat. “I’m going to go fix her a bath. Craze?—”

“I’ll report back with anything I learn,” he tells me, already anticipating my order and heading toward the door.

“Thank you,” I call after him.

He just gives a wave and leaves.

By the time the door shuts, Alisa’s gown is all but gone. Catum typically weaves his magic into the fabric of our clothes, but she was practically naked in the Orange Desert. Hence the need for her enchanted gown.

But removing the cloaking spell now means disrobing her.

If her nearly nude state bothers her, she doesn’t show it. Or maybe she just doesn’t notice.

Because she looks a little lost.

“Ailsa,” I say softly, stepping closer.

She just blinks up at me, that sense of despair seeming to grow.

“I’ll get the bath,” Catum offers, slipping around her.

I nod, even though his back is already to me, and move closer to Ailsa.

When she doesn’t startle or jump away, I slowly pull her into my arms. She buries her face against my chest, her body seeming to melt into mine.

I purr in response, the sound one I know she’s familiar with, as I’ve done it many times around her in wolf form.

She grabs my shirt and clings to me, her shoulders shaking as she fights the emotions rolling through her.

“Today was a lot,” I whisper. “I’m sorry, baby girl.”

It’s a nickname I’ve used hundreds of times in my head, but never out loud.

She doesn’t react to it other than to cling to me even more.

“I’ve wanted to reveal myself to you so many times,” I admit. “But I had to wait. We had to do this the right way.”

“I don’t even know what that means,” she mumbles.

“I know.” I kiss the top of her head. “There’s so much more we need to explain, but it’s been a long day. You need to eat and rest. Will you let Catum and me take care of you, Ailsa?”

She doesn’t answer. It’s almost like she’s too exhausted to make a decision.

However, I wait.

Because it’s the right thing to do.

She shivers against me. “Beast,” she whispers, nuzzling my chest as I purr.

She’s fallen asleep with me in the forest before, typically with her head on my shoulder. I always wanted to carry her back, but I couldn’t risk her waking with me in human form.

Plus, I would’ve been naked.

And that probably would have intimidated her.

“Bath is ready,” Catum tells me several minutes later.

I nod and lift Ailsa into the air to carry her into the bedroom. “Can you grab the tea tray when it arrives?” I ask Catum, aware that it should be here any second now.

“Yes,” he confirms.

Ailsa lays her head on my shoulder, her eyes closed. “You need to be awake for your bath.”

She hums noncommittally.

“If you can’t stay awake, then I’ll be taking one with you.”

Another hum.

“Hmm, I see.” I enter the bathroom, familiar with the magically enhanced amenities. We’re frequent Tavern guests.

Or we were until I found Ailsa.

It’s been a bit since I last stayed here. But nothing has changed.

The shower is fully stocked with necessary items, as are the sink drawers. Catum already filled the tub with salts, the scent of smoky embers definitely his aroma of choice. I would have chosen something a little more woodsy. Alas…

I set Ailsa on the marble counter, then catch her chin to draw her gaze up to mine. “I’m going to get in that tub with you.” It’s not a threat or a question, just a statement of fact.

She doesn’t say anything, just stares sleepily at me.

At least until I take a step back and remove my shirt.

Then her gaze widens, her eyes instantly taking a tour of my exposed physique.

When I unbutton my jeans, she licks her lips.

I’m not even sure she’s aware of how she’s reacting, her exhausted state likely altering her perception of reality and fantasy.

I unzip my pants and push them down, then kick the fabric off with my shoes and bend to remove my socks.

Wearing just black boxer shorts, I step forward to gently peel off the remainders of her ripped bra and underwear.

She swallows. “I’ve never done this before.”

“Done what, little one?”

“This.” She gestures between us. “You… you and Master Pillar were my first kisses. Craze, too.”

I smile. “First and last,” I tell her. “Or that’s the hope, anyway.” I brush her hair back behind her ears. “And we’re not going to do more of it tonight. I’m just going to bathe you.”

Her hands land on my shoulders as I lift her again, then she shivers as I take her to the bath.

Distrust shines in her gaze, the sight of it hurting my heart. It’s deserved, but I hate that it exists. I’m going to do everything in my power to remove that look.

I walk up the steps to the tub platform, then down a similar set of stairs into the massive bath. It could easily fit all four of us, the benches around it providing seats for five or six Alphas.

I choose one near the controls and sit with Ailsa in my lap.

The water is warm with magic, the oversized tub having been filled by one of the Tavern’s many enchantments. All Catum did to fill it was flip a few switches and set the temperature before adding the salts.

Ailsa shouldn’t be surprised by any of this. While she may not have firsthand experience with this kind of magic, she’s known it to exist her whole life.

Her employer—if Baroness Clarice could even be called that—was a supernatural. So were her children. Ailsa worked in their home, thus exposing her to all sorts of enchanted enhancements.

Alas, she remains stiff.

Although, I suspect her rigid posture has nothing to do with the bespelled bath and everything to do with her unexpected trip to Monsterland.

“Try to relax,” I tell her softly, then opt for an offhanded comment in an attempt to lighten the conversation. “We’ve cuddled before.”

“With you as a wolf,” she mutters.

“Do you want me to shift?” I offer. “It’ll be hard to help you wash your hair, but I’ll do it if it makes you more comfortable.”

She glances up at me. “This is a little deep for a wolf to sit comfortably in.”

“I’m a big wolf, sweetheart.”

She snorts, then shakes her head. “This is… fine.”

“Fine?” I repeat. “Do you want the jets on?”

“Maybe do that after eating something,” Catum interjects as he carries the tray into the bathroom. His gaze instantly goes to our Omega’s breasts, causing him to swallow as hunger no doubt ignites inside him.

I’m hungry for her myself.

Something she can probably feel against her ass.

Because I’m hard as a fucking rock.

Catum sets the tray down on the side of the tub.

Then he begins to disrobe, his intentions clear.

Ailsa straightens even more, her back practically glued to my chest as she watches Catum remove his cuff links and jacket. His black vest is next. Followed by his tie. And it isn’t until he begins unfastening the buttons of his obsidian dress shirt that Ailsa remembers to breathe.

I chuckle against her ear, amused by her reaction to my Second. “Like what you see, Ailsa?”

Her resulting tremble shudders through me, causing my lips to curl.

“It’s okay to find him desirable,” I whisper before placing a kiss against her now-raging pulse. “It’s okay to crave any of us.”

“Or all of us,” Catum adds as he unfastens his belt.

Ailsa grabs her thighs, her whole body vibrating now.

“I know this feeling is intense,” I tell her. “Your Omega instincts are coming out to play.” I kiss her neck again. “Just as our Alpha drives are awakening for you.”

I can feel that drive pulsing in my throbbing knot.

I’ve never been inside an Omega before, never properly fucked .

Oh, we’ve all experimented.

But only a true Omega can take our knots.

This will be a first for all of us in so many ways.

However, I meant what I said about tonight. We just want to take care of her, a directive Catum clearly understands as he disrobes only to his boxers.

And joins us in the water.