Page 32 of A Siren of Beasts

Letting out a sigh, I turned to face Hisceas. “I can’t deal with this, let’s go back to the house. I need something to eat, drink, and then taking a nap might help. This day has been one thing after another, and I’m at my limit.”

“Hold on,” Moreth interjected as Hisceas picked me up. “You’re not mad at him? He scolded you like a misbehaving sapling, and all we did was get into a tussle.”

“There’s a difference, he was upset and scolded me because he cared about me,” I said, hurling my words at the both of them, having finally reached my breaking point. “I’m still not happy with him but at least he’s doing it for the right reason. The three of you, this fight, that wasn’t about me like each of you claim. That was about all about you. Finding your place in the pecking order, who’s the bigger badder monster, and I’m not interested. My whole life has been about serving other people, making everything about them and I’m done doing it. So continue your fight if you wish I won’t stop you, but I won’t be a part of it to crown the victor with my affection. You won’t be rewarded for that, not by me.”

The three males stood there dumbfounded as Hisceas headed back to the house. I could tell my giant wasn’t happy with what I’d said and the emotions I was warring with, but he left it alone. Back inside the castle, we entered through the front door to avoid the mess, when he set me down I instantly headed off to find the kitchen.

The cooking area was much larger with all the things I would need to cook with ease, along with plates, bowls, and silverware. To my delight, it was also stocked with food in the root cellar and a freshly killed duck for me to prepare. It was nowhere near as good as the food Imp made me but it filled my belly and that’s what I’d needed. Taking some time to clean everything up, since I was fairly certain none of the others would be interested in eating what was left over. Done in the cooking area, I journeyed up the stairs to the second floor and wandered the halls peeking into various rooms, many of them empty.

Curiosity won out over the need for a nap so I went up to the third level and was pleased to find many of the rooms prepared. Oddly enough, each of them seemed to fit the needs and what I would have guessed as preferences of the guys. At the end of the main hall, there was a set of double doors that seemed so regal and ornate with carvings cut into them, I just had to run a hand over them. There was a snick of a lock being undone and one of the doors eased open just a crack.

With both hands, I pressed the door open to reveal a massive bedroom. The floor was covered in various furs to prevent the person from walking on the cold stone. There was a massive hearth with a fire burning in it warming the room and giving off a glow for me to see by. When I stepped in all the candles flared to life where they covered most of the flat surfaces along the walls. It transformed the room from something that could be considered cold and unwelcoming to cozy and decadent.

Armchairs, in a red so deep it was almost black, sat before the fireplace with a low table in front of them with a tea service waiting to be used. The more I took in aspects of the room, I realized many human features and comforts I enjoyed were to be found. Almost as if I’d designed the room myself—which was absurd. A stately dark wood desk was placed in front of a beautiful stained glass picture window. The image was of a woman, who looked oddly like me, reaching out her hand for a raven to land on it.

The desk was covered in maps of places I’d never seen before and books stacked on one side in languages I wasn’t sure I could read. Large bookshelves that matched the desk were on one wall filled with things I didn’t even know what to do with. I was going to have to ask Imp, if he ever came back, what all of this might be. Moving on from the study area I found a wardrobe and when I pulled the door open it was filled with clothing all in black with silver accents or adornments. Each one I looked at I loved more than the last. Dresses, tunics, coats, cloaks, leggings, skirts, anything I could possibly think of to wear was all right here. I was beginning to suspect there might have been another reason that Imp wanted me to help him with casting the spell. He’d said my magic was now part of this place, was that how this room came to be so perfect for me?

“Do you like it, Shiny?”

fifteen

Not turning to face him, I walked over to the enormous bed covered in silver silk sheets and a black feather-stuffed blanket that I couldn’t wait to curl up into. The bed itself was on a black wooden frame with thick wooden pillars carved to look like twisted branches that held a canopy over the top of the bed. The canopy was a gossamer silver fabric that seemed to almost shimmer in the candlelight.

A mountain of pillows filled the bed, reminding me a lot of the nest Imp had in his room. Everything about this space was exactly what I would want if I’d set it up myself. The fact that it was so absolutely perfect made me believe it must have come out of my own imagination. Resting a hand on one of the pillars I glanced over my shoulder to where Imp was standing in the colored light from the stained glass window.

“This was why you wanted my magic to be mixed in, wasn’t it?” I asked.

It was odd to see him so silent and serious, which was vastly different from how I’d seen up to this point. He continued to study me as I turned and leaned against the bed, content to wait for his answer. Slowly, he approached like he was worried I would refuse him. I supposed after my outburst I couldn’t blame him.

“That was part of the reason, yes, the other was this castle is made from magic and the desires of the spell caster. Everything about this place was created based on your desires, Shiny, I merely was the architect to make it happen. I wanted this place not to be my nest, but yours, ours to live in together,” Imp explained as he came to a halt right in front of me.

Seeing this serious side to Imp was a little startling but at the same time, I valued knowing he could talk to me like this.

“You were raised by humans, your expectations for how interactions and relationships work are based on that construct.” Reaching up he cupped my cheek in his clawed hand, his skin rough against my skin. “Problem is, Shiny, we’re not humans, we’re monsters. This means how we act won’t be the same as humans. I believe the biggest difference is that when a monster chooses their mate there is nothing they wouldn’t do for them. Monsters are possessive, ruthless, and will do whatever it takes to keep what’s precious to them safe, no matter what.”

Leaning into his touch, I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. “If you can honestly tell me that your actions when it comes to Rhun or Moreth today were purely for my benefit, I’ll believe you.” Opening my eyes, I held his gaze as I spoke, “What I saw was your selfishness and need to control who interacts with me. You don’t fight with Hisceas but that could just be because he’s more powerful than you and you both know it.”

Imp pulled me to him as he rested his forehead against mine. “It is highly unusual for the species of monsters you’ve called to you to share mates. Normally, we find our match and that’s that, there is no one else for either of them. With you, there is no way to know how many you’ve called to yourself and while I’ve told you how I feel on the matter, you have yet to express any interest in me. That unsettles me more than anything and drives me to own all your time to prevent you from seeking another and rejecting my claim on you.”

“I don’t want to be claimed,” I whispered. “That sounds too much like being owned and for the first time I’m free to live my life how I want.”

Imp chuckled and pulled me against his chest as he nuzzled into my hair. “While I’d love to believe I’d be the one in charge of our relationship, I know that would never happen. My dearest Shiny, you already own me. That first look into your mesmerizing silver gaze settled it, you laid claim to my soul and I have no intention of letting you ever give it back to me.”

Pulling back, I felt him slip something around my neck, its cool touch to my skin drew my attention to what he’d put on me. There nestled between my breasts, was a pendant with a silver raven skull on an obsidian backing surrounded with swirling silver accents. It was gorgeous and something I would actually enjoy wearing, unlike the few things Barnaby had got me.

“It’s beautiful,” I said, running my thumb over the skull. Imp shivered, almost like I’d been doing it to him directly instead of the jewelry.

“That is my mating gift to you, Kezia, it’s made out of my own blood and feathers. It also holds some of my magic that will allow me to find you wherever you might be. If you accept this gift and add a prick of your own blood, it will bond us together as mates. Once that happens, that necklace will never be able to be removed from you, but you can change it into whatever style of jewelry you choose to wear it as,” Imp explained. “There is one thing you must be fully aware of before you make any choices, since you don’t know about monster customs.”

Looking up from the pendant I cocked my head. “What would that be?”

“The term soul mates isn’t just a pretty phrase for being fated for each other, it means that our souls will be connected. What we share in life, we will also share in death, meaning if I were to die… so would you.” Imp paused and scratched the back of his head before continuing. “The only thing I don’t know, is if you have multiple soul mates how that works, but regardless you need to understand the full meaning of accepting my offer. Or any of the others that you choose to share your life with. I believe it was this that kept your mother from bonding with her soul mates and why the humans could steal her from us.”

Taking a step back I hit the edge of the bed and my legs bent, causing me to sit abruptly. The mattress gave under my weight, telling me how soft it would be to sleep on.

“I suppose I could see how that would be something you’d really have to consider before making a commitment like that,” I mumbled, rubbing my forehead as the ache from earlier returned.

“This displeases you?” Imp asked, sounding unsure as he knelt before me and started to undo the laces of my boots.