Friends with the Monsters (Friends with the Monsters, #1)

by Albany Walker

“Oh, of course.” I pull my eyes from his lower body. “Right through there.” I point at the door to my bathroom. Gunnar tilts his head down in a slow, single nod. “My lady.”

“I want you to tell the Berserker that I know the pact has been broken. Without the covenant in place, all deals are off.” Grim takes a step closer to the man. “He broke the decree, and now he will deal with the consequences.”

He’s pushed up his sleeves, baring his forearms: the sexy man equivalent of exposed cleavage.

“Look at you,” Aeson coos at me. “You brought a man home, I’m so proud of you.” “Three.” I pull my jeans up and go on to my toes to get them over my hips. “Yes! I knew you were listening to me all these years.” She sighs wistfully, like a proud mother.

“She has no sense of self-preservation,” he announces to the room. I ignore him. I would only need self-preservation if I felt threatened, and I don’t.

“Quite simply, it means we’re all connected to you. Fated, if you will,” he answers. I drop my hand from my face and into my lap. “Fated for what?” Calix takes a few steps closer to our group. “Fated mates,” he announces.

Which is met with grouching from Gunnar. “You only like him because he fed you. I was around, too. I’m the one who brought you all the stones,” he replies crossly. I slowly turn to face the man-child who is about as close to a tantrum as an adult could get. “You were the one leaving the rocks?” I question. “Not just rocks—they’re gemstones.” Gunnar folds his arms over his puffed-out chest.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Grim states, before I even have a chance to glance at him. “If having them around makes you happy, I can choose to not kill them. I’ve suffered their existence this long.” He lowers his head an infinitesimal amount, like he’s conceding to me.

“If they hurt her, I will hang them with their own entrails after I shred their souls.” “She’s perfect,” Gunnar whispers softly.

I have no idea what he meant, but if he’s offering his soul, I’ll take it and hoard that shit like a dragon with treasure. I won’t ever let him leave me. I shake that thought away, scared that it even came from me.

Grim swats the side of his dick, and it sways slowly. My eyes are drawn to it like a fucking pendulum. “This is hard again; I’m in need of you.” I slap my hand over my eyes.