Page 138 of Mate of a Monster

“Kill her. Kill her, kill her, KILL HER—”

My power surges before I can control it. Black flames erupt from my hands, edged in crimson, and I throw myself at Arabella with everything I have.

She doesn’t even flinch.

Her hand comes up, gaze brightening like I’m giving her everything she ever wanted, but I’m too distracted by all the rage, by the—

Zev’s body blocks mine just as Arabella unleashes a surge of black water. No!

I go to shove him out of the way, but then I’m the one pushed aside until I’m rolling across the concrete. I scramble to my knees, blinking upon finding Zev shoved against a stone and Legend’s fist in his collar.

“I’m not gonna kiss you, even if you did just save my life, royal.” Zev’s lip twitches, but Legend just tosses him away, turning back to me.

“Don’t you fucking dare. If you even think of coming at her with fire, Haide, that water will fucking tear the flesh from your bones!”

“Then what?” I yell back, but it’s too slow because a tunnel of water is flying right at me.

“Legend!” I scream.

Sinner ducks behind Arabella, reaching through the water to the back of her throat, but she dissolves back into a puddle.

And reforms in front of me, tilting her head. “You truly are a pest.”

“Legend!” I cry through our bond, because if he doesn’t do something, I am—whether I turn to fucking ash or not.

”Fuck!” The scream tears through my brain, turning everything to white noise. “I fucking can’t! Every time I try to fucking kill her, I fucking can’t!” I don’t think he even realizes he’s switching back and forth from speaking aloud and mentally.

His panic makes my entire being ache.

Another blast tears through and I recoil to the left to dodge it. Rage simmers below the surface, and I breathe through every motion. You will not lose your shit. You need to stay alive for Legend.

Arabella stands in the center of the chaos, dark water swirling around her in a slow vortex, pale light pulsing from her skin.

“Finally.” She inhales, her head tilting back. My eyes fly around the room to where Sinner is pinned against a rooted tree; to Legend, body convulsing and stuck to the spot; to Zev, flicking his blades at her without penetrating, and to—where’s Creed?

My head snaps around but I can’t spot him.

Did she take him out? Is he underwater?

“Beast?! Where is he?”

He doesn’t have time to answer as Arabella extends her hand toward my mate.

Legend’s power surges and then chokes, rage flooding through him as he’s forced to respond to her against his will.

“Stop it.” My voice comes out broken. “Stop fucking doing that to him—”

“You can’t make me.” Arabella’s blue eyes fade to white. “Come take what’s yours, little witch. I dare you!”

The Nightkin throws itself against my ribs.

“She’s baiting you. She wants you to attack—”

“I don’t care.”

I push to my feet, blood dripping from my mouth, fire crackling at my fingertips.

“He’s MINE.”