Sanctuary With Kings (Tempting Monsters, #3)

by Kathryn Moon

"Good ol' Isabel. Happy to accept the generosity of monsters, as long as she doesn't have to look us in the eye,"

I was not a lodestone or a tool or a body to sleeve a monster's pleasure. I was a woman, and I wanted to live again!

"Fast and safe," Conall called. "Burn them all," Asterion answered, and then he squeezed the steady horse into a quick canter.

But you cannot change the length of time, or how it stretches around you."

"Your maps are wildly out of date." Laszlo rolled his eyes. "Yes, well, it is difficult to keep up with the ambitions of the empire in recent years." "Centuries," Conall teased,

"It's kind of you to say so, but—" "Oh, Asterion, shut up!" I cried. He did so immediately.

"Hand-to-hand combat?" Asterion snapped. "Wrestling," Hywel replied cooly. He smirked and continued, "You're too large, of course. But you can teach her evasive maneuvers. You're good at those."

"I'm going to pluck out your feathers while you're sleeping!" I blinked and stiffened, gasping at the venom in my tone. Laszlo arched an eyebrow. "You could try," he answered coolly. I could've sworn he was holding back laughter.

"Well, I suppose the sleepy beast is good for something." "Generous of you."

"I did wonder why the Wyrm was so eager to visit in person. Did you toss him out the back again?" Conall asked Hywel.

"I considered dropping him into the dreaming sea, but I'd feel sorry for wherever he washed up. I would've warned you not to involve him. He can't be trusted."

Telling a dragon where one of the greatest legends of western myth was hidden. Knowing he wouldn't be able to retrieve it himself. Knowing he would never let another treasure hunter get their hands on it, out of jealousy.

"Do you think he's set us a trap?" Hywel was quiet for a few minutes, his arm around my waist delivering a reassuring squeeze. "I change my mind every few minutes,"

He's reminding them that he's challenged every pack leader within three thousand miles and is always the victor, Laszlo told me. My eyes widened. "Is that true?" He's boastful but not a liar.

"It's not as though we didn't know there was something waiting down there for us." "Oh, very well, Your Majesty. Yes, let's just stomp down the stairs into who knows what kind of danger," Rolant snapped back. "That's the spirit," Conall said, releasing me and clapping them both on the back, sending them stumbling down a few steps.

"My mates always find the best treasure for our hoard, don't you think?" Hywel taunted.

"They did. That went on for…a long time. Years. Sometimes I hid, and sometimes I faced them eagerly. Evanthia, I have no idea how I won some of those challenges." "You were angry, and you wanted to survive. Wanting to survive is the hardest part," I said.

"They're penance," Hywel muttered, slightly bitter. "And you can set them aside for a night. Now go to sleep. Both of you."

Rolant paused behind the couch, sniffed the air, and wrinkled his nose. "I'm going to bed. You lot smell like questionable decisions."

"Don't stop, cariad. We've only just begun." Conall hissed a false whisper in my ear, "Insatiable old folks."

"I don't want to leave," I breathed out. The words were a release, a weight off my chest. Laszlo's smile stretched, his nose nudging mine. "Oh, good. I didn't want to lie to you, but Hywel and I might find ourselves following you."

"I promise you, théa, you'll enjoy their company," Asterion said, twisting to kiss the top of my head. "And if you don't, I'll eat them," Hywell offered lightly.

"Oh, swinging about blades for fun, yes, of course, no one was ever injured by the edge of a sword," Amon muttered,

"Now, I want to face him again. I want him to know it was a little, insignificant human woman who helped destroy him."

Hazel nodded. "He hurt my friends. I'd like to grow a tree where his heart should've been, turn him into mulch."

"We'll have the mountain surrounded." "Just get me to Asterion," I murmured. "With our wings and claws, blodyn bach," Hywel vowed.