Page 112 of The Monster and the Masochist

“What would make it stronger? Like, what’s the strongest material possible?” I asked abruptly, and Iris stared at me, her eyes shining with something I didn’t understand.

It made my heart feel warm, and my throat tickled a bit, and I hated it.

“Silver would be much stronger. It is a sacred alloy with very powerful protective properties. It acts as a mirror of sorts, and can literally reflect negative energy and psychic attacks.”

I nodded firmly, a plan already forming in my mind.

“Got it. Silver… I’m on it…” I was already whipping out my phone to text Alyssa so I wouldn’t forget this very important task, when Iris touched my arm again, drawing my attention back to her.

“A silver talisman will not be enough, Cassandra. She needs someone to help her fight the demons that live in her heart, or she will never heal. The talisman is a weapon… a tool. But if she doesn’t know how to wield it, then it is just another useless charm taking up space in her pockets.”

My monster let out a low, humming growl at her words, and I felt a cold, humorless smile spread across my face. Iris already seemed to know about the evil thing that lived inside me, so for the first time in my life, I intentionally let it peek out from behind the bars of its cage so she could really see it.

“I have a monster living inside me, too, Iris,” I hummed, leaning in close to her ear so my voice wouldn’t carry. “And my monster has been begging me to let it kill something for a very long time.”

I pulled back to find Iris giving me an almost desperate look of hope. Her fingers curled around my arm. She looked deep into my eyes, and I knew she wasn’t speaking to me, but the thing that lived inside my chest.

“I hope when you find whatever has been hurting my daughter, that you make it bleed,” Iris whispered, and my monster smiled in my mind’s eye, flashing rows and rows of razor-sharp teeth.

‘Do not worry, little witch. I will make her darkness scream,’ it promised, and for the first time since I’d pleaded with my beast to help me slit my mother’s throat, I was glad to share my body with it.

Monday morning came too quickly, which isn’t something I ever thought I would say. I normally loved Mondays. I loved going to work, but now it meant I wasn’t with Theo, and I was beginning to hate being away from her.

I’d officially lost the battle, and my monster had claimed her as ours, which meant the obsessive tendencies were already beginning.

When I stepped out of the elevators at the firm, clutching the Yeti Theo had filled that morning with my usual triple long, I was actively fighting the urge to text her to see what she was doing.

She better not be at the cafe flirting with that barista…

‘There would be no barista to flirt with if you had let me kill her as I’d suggested.’

I was about to scold my beast when Alyssa rushed up to greet me.

“Morning, Aly–”

“Mrs. Walker, we have a situation. Mr. Cross sent me to find you.”

I froze as my blood ran cold at the look of concern on my EA’s face.

“Why? What’s happening?”

“It’s the reverend, he’s ordered an emergency council, and he’s currently with Mr. Cross in boardroom three.”

I gritted my teeth in frustration, but Alyssa hurried to calm me.

“Mr. Cross refused to start the meeting until you were present. They’re waiting for you now.”

My eyes widened in surprise before narrowing again.

This better not be some ploy to get in my pants or some shit…

But as soon as the thought crossed my mind, I felt annoyed with myself.

I needed to stop letting my interpersonal relationships interfere with my work. This wasn’t like me at all. I’d been really slacking on this case with everything that was going on, but that needed to end now.

I was going to be professional, attend this meeting, win this case, and make partner so that I could finally relax and spend the rest of my career spoiling the woman I… The woman I’d claimed.

“Alright. Here, can you take my things? I’ll head straight there.”