Page 150 of Mate of a Monster

The Nightkin snorts. “She’s not wrong.”

My brows snap together and she nudges my arm. “You have plans today,” she reminds me. “Good ones.”

Plans. Focus on the plans.

Life.

Second chances.

My mate.

I run my hand through my hair and exhale slowly. “She’s going to fucking hate it.”

London laughs. “Probably.” Her smile softens. “But only on the outside.”

A chuckle pushes past my lips and Knight gives my shoulder a good squeeze.

“She’s going to try to kill me,” I mutter.

“Worth it,” The Nightkin laughs.

I turn toward the doors. “Let’s do this.”

…

Haide

Legend is acting strange.

Not that that man has ever been normal. But there is a difference between Legend’s usual brand of madness and whatever the hell this is.

His bullshit normally comes with smirks, threats, and a very healthy disregard for authority.

I stop in my tracks, head cocking. Literally, that sounds like me.

Huh. We are so fucking the same. How did I not see it?

Whatever, today he’s too fucking quiet.

Focused.

Annoyingly calm. That is his principal power, obviously, but this is different—and exactly why I know something terrible is about to happen—

I step out of the palace doors and my heart stops at the sight.

The usually dark, eerily empty courtyard—just the way I like it—is full.

Like the entire kingdom is here full full.

Not just nobles and guards, but merchants, soldiers, servants, riders, the new dragon keepers—half of Rathe is packed into the courtyard below the palace steps. They fill every inch of the grounds and spill down into the lower terraces like a living ocean of gifted.

“What in the fuck?” I whisper.

My gaze sweeps the area again, disbelief giving way to irritation as I notice the black banners hanging from the palace towers, the torches lining the etched walls, and the massive stone platform raised in the center of the grounds.

A platform that absolutely was not there yesterday.

“What did he do?” I mutter.