Monsterland Mayhem (Fairy Tales With A Monstrous Twist)

17. Catum

17

CATUM

Where the hell is that damn cat? I wonder, irritated by this futile search.

I received a missive this morning from the enchanted creature, telling me he possessed important information.

But as per usual, that missive came with a riddle, one Krolic and I have spent the last hour trying to decipher.

All I want to do is return to the Tavern and wake Ailsa up with my tongue between her thighs.

Alas, here we are, wandering the Rose Maze just outside of the Royal Palace. If anyone catches us here, we’ll be even more delayed.

And potentially ousted.

Both outcomes are undesirable.

“Perhaps the flower on the card isn’t a rose,” I mutter, pulling it out again to examine. The thorns are rather clear, as is the blood dripping from the tips. But thus far, we haven’t found any mutilated flowers.

“How many paw prints were there again?” Krolic asks. “Five?”

I nod, counting the doodling steps around the rose. We assumed they stood for directions on where to go once inside the maze. Yet everything we’ve tried so far has failed to reveal the notorious pink-furred cat. Even when in his human form, his hair is magenta in color. Pretty hard to miss, even in this vibrantly colored maze.

“I have not missed playing this game,” Krolic growls as we reach yet another dead end. “I swear the Beta does this on purpose.”

“What better purpose than to confuse a king?” comes a soft male voice from right in front of us.

I roll my eyes. “You’ve been following us around for the last ten minutes, haven’t you?” Because that is exactly like Ches to do.

“Thirty-five,” he murmurs as he removes his cloaking spell to reveal himself. “But who’s counting?”

“We were right the first time,” Krolic says, glaring at the cat shifter.

“No, the third time,” he purrs. “Alas, I’ll forgive you. You’ve been out of the game for a while, after all.” He saunters toward us, his bright purple pants flowing like a skirt against his long legs.

“We’re wasting time by being here,” I cut in. “You know it’s dangerous.”

His lips curl into a smile that is all mischievous feline. “Is it? I had no idea.”

“Stop fucking with us, Ches. You said it was urgent.”

He presses a palm to his chest, his pale skin blending with his white blouse. “Did I?”

I fold my arms, not saying anything more. He knows what he wrote on that fucking note.

Sexy Caterpillar,

IHVII4U.

Your Treasure

Can be

Found

Or lost

Here…

Caterpillar was the pet name he bestowed upon me, similar to how he often referred to himself as Treasure .

The jumbled mix of letters and a number were easy enough to decipher— I have very important information for you.

And the latter part was decorated with the bloodied roses and paw prints.

“You used to be a lot more fun,” he drawls now, his gaze dancing over my torso to my black jeans. “You barely even put on a show last night, Master Pillar . I was disappointed.”

My jaw clenches at Ches’s indication that he was watching me with Ailsa last night. “Things have changed,” I inform him.

Because Ailsa won’t be shared with the public.

She belongs to me, Krolic, and Craze. No one else. Never anyone else.

That was solidified last night when I put my tongue on her cunt. She may not have felt it, but it was a fucking declaration. A vow to make her ours. A claim .

Krolic grunts beside me, clearly agreeing with my words.

Watching us share a Beta is a moment of the past. Another lifetime.

Our present and future lie with Ailsa.

And will not be putting her on display. Ever .

At least, not in that manner. As our queen, yes. But how we worship her in private will remain behind closed doors.

“I see,” Ches murmurs, his catlike eyes fluttering as he blinks long, pink lashes at us. “Well, I suppose we should get to it, then.”

I say nothing. Because that’s what I fucking requested several minutes ago.

He sighs and shakes his head. A serious mask overcomes his usual playfulness, his gaze seeming to harden. “The Queen of Hearts is playing the long game,” he tells us. “I can’t elaborate on what that means, but know that your usual tricks won’t work. She sees through your smoky cloaks, Catum. She sees all.”

My jaw clenches. “You’re saying Ailsa’s scent isn’t masked.”

“I’m saying you need to be very careful when you’re above ground.” He gives me a meaningful look. “Once a rabbit, always a rabbit.” He cants his head, his gaze going to Krolic. “She’s always been one step ahead, your sister. Perhaps it takes a woman to beat her at her own game. As they say, the queen is the strongest on the board, yeah?”

With those profound statements, he vanishes, leaving a dusting of purple glitter in his wake.

I scowl. “More riddles.” And a fucking waste of time, I think, my mind whirring. Which can only mean ? —

“We need to get back to the Tavern,” Krolic says, a hint of urgency in his voice.

I’m only half a second behind him in terms of coming to the same conclusion, my hand already waving through the air to create a portal.

Because the only reason Ches would want to distract us and waste our time was if he needed us out of the way.

And he clearly knew where we stayed last night—as evidenced by his complaint about the lack of a show.

Fuck .

Krolic and I enter the portal at the same time, both of us drawing our own form of weapons.

Weapons that end up being needed immediately as we step into utter chaos at the Tavern.

There are jabberwaries everywhere .

As well as blown walls and shattered glass.

Which meant Craze jumped out the window.

With Ailsa.

And ran .

Krolic must come to the same conclusion as me because he instantly runs back into the portal, and I follow while closing it in our wake before anything can come with us.

We stand in silence for a long moment, lurking between time and space, both of us catching our breath from all the back and forth.

“Plan C,” Krolic eventually whispers.

“Plan C,” I echo, knowing exactly where to go.

But I’m not sure it’ll matter.

Because it seems Ches was right about one thing—my cloaking isn’t working.

Which means Ailsa is a damn beacon for chaos.

Although… he did say we needed to be careful above ground.

Was that a hint? Or another game?

Ches’s allegiance has always been to himself first and foremost. But I considered him an ally, once upon a time.

Perhaps he really did mean to warn us.

Or, like everything else in Monsterland, it’s a trick.

I run a palm over my face, exhausted from this morning’s mindfuck.

There’s really only one way to find out if Ches’s words were truly a warning or just one of his ploys.

The Caverns are underground.

Let’s see if my cloak holds down there…