All The Queen's Monsters (The Queen's Slave, Book 3)

Twenty Four: All The Queen's Monsters

"I cannot love in the insipid way others do. What I feel is different; it's more. This thing I feel when I look at you is formidable. It burns through my veins and infects my mind with a weakness to you I've never felt. It's terrible."

-Madilyn DeRose, Hemlock

"Do It Like A Girl"

By: Megan St. Jean

&

"Death Note"

By: Stellar, Autograf

A Z A L E A

I could only stand there, staring at Camille with my mouth hanging open, primed to catch whatever flies happened upon it. My sister-in-law's red gaze never wavered as we all waited with baited breath for her to spill the beans about how to kill Hades once and for all, but to my absolute astonishment, she simply tossed the book to Kore and strode away, robe flapping in the wind. Snatching it from the air, Kore looked at me, raising her brows, then to Elizabeth, who watched her sister walk away with a frown. I padded over to them, barely aware my feet were moving, my eyes locked on the book, feeling something inside me pulling me in. Dark magic pulsed off of the cover in waves, and my fingers reached for the spine, Elizabeth's shouted warning coming a fraction too late.

"Wait, don't touch it!"

But it was too late.

The old leather was warm against my hand, and the magic in the grimoire immediately captured mine, snapping taunt, calling my wolf to the surface so fast that I barely had time to blink before the shift was forced on me. Muscle and sinew ripped and tore, my jaw broke and reformed, my spine snapping and twisting into shape. White hot agony raced through me with a suddenness I hadn't expected, hadn't been prepared for. Memories and visions flashed through my mind at a rapid pace, things that once were and had yet to be, all of it mixed together inside my mind. I shook my head and snarled, and above us the sky rippled with light. I could year yelling, but the pain still came, racing through my veins like hot lava. I could see through it, but my paws stood firm, holding my weight. I didn't know what the fuck was happening, but I sure as hell didn't like it. More pain arched through me and I howled, spamming.

"Don't fight the pain." Camille's voice suddenly sprang through my mind, which shouldn't be possible without the amulet. "Let it come, let it speak." I did as she said, sinking into the waves rather than trying to swim against them, and once I did, the visions and pictures slowed down, and I was able to make a little more sense of them.

I saw the world a thousand years ago, when the world was filled with miles of skyscrapers and shiny glass, and people walked to get food, watch movies, or go on dates. Families sat around the dinner table, smiling, rejoicing.

I watched children chase each other on the playground, saw the dark-haired man throw the ball for his excited Labrador.

I saw the elderly couple fall asleep in each other's arms, never to wake again.

I saw light and laughter and happiness.