Some Kind of Monster (Friends with the Monsters #2) - Albany Walker
Chapter 1
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” I whip my head to the left where I can see Gunnar and Calix purposely avoiding my gaze. Those two don’t work together unless it’s for me or against me. I narrow my eyes, contemplating my revenge. My entire parlor has been redone and all my furniture has been replaced. Gunnar owed me a new chair after breaking the arm of my last one, but come on. I’m not so great with change.
Grim’s presence tingles against my skin as he steps out of a portal from the other side. “Did you know about this?” I prop my hands on my hips. Grim is never one to avoid confrontation, even with me. His direct nature doesn’t allow it.
His tall frame slinks over to me without an ounce of reservation, and his eyes don’t stray from mine. I crane my neck back as he approaches to keep him in my sights. “Do you want me to kill them?” His voice is sex wrapped in sin. I shiver at the offer. He knows the way to my dark heart.
Calix makes a disgruntled sound. I don’t think Grim would actually kill him…well, maybe he would if I really wanted him to, but I know he would never do anything that would upset me. “You’re my favorite, you know that, right?” I peer up at his gray eyes from under my lashes. The rivers of lava that erupt at my statement have me biting my lip in anticipation. Grim is stoic to the point of indifference, but not when it comes to me. I get a thrill knowing he can’t hide all that pent-up power from me. My Angel of Death could make people weep with his beauty, but the monster underneath is just as beautiful.
“Hey!” Gunnar barks after my declaration to Grim, even though he knows I’m teasing. I don’t need to look at him to know that rage is simmering just beneath the surface, close to exposing his Berserker nature. Grim leans in close and ghosts his warm, full lips from the corner of my jaw over to my waiting mouth in an act of seduction you would assume was deliberate, but it’s just the natural sexuality he exudes.
“You are my everything.” I feel his breath against my lips, and I swoon. I’m not even a little bit embarrassed. He makes my knees weak. Finally, he kisses me. Grim doesn’t hold back, he puts everything into the act of loving my lips.
A throat clears, but neither of us move to break apart. Grim’s been gone for over twenty-four hours, the longest he’s been absent in the past few weeks. I missed him, and that makes me a little uncomfortable.
“Where have you been?” Gunnar demands, his tone disgruntled. He doesn’t care that Grim was gone, he just doesn’t want Grim kissing me anymore.
I feel Grim’s body tighten at Gunnar’s question. My heart sinks, and I pull back from Grim but keep my eyes focused on him. “Is it happening again?” I can’t tell if I sound angry or worried: probably both. I knew that witch would surface again—the one who taught Vanessa the ritual to steal Charmed magic without taking the backlash on her soul.
Grim turns his head slowly, his eyes already lasered on my other mate, and the mask of apathy slips back over Grim’s features. “You try my patience.”
I peer around Grim’s cloak and see Calix, his face hardened. He’s prepared for bad news, just as I am. His light hair is pulled back from his handsome face, exposing his square jaw and the darker stubble peppering his cheeks. I watch his hazel eyes and note the predator just beneath the surface is visible. I’d always wondered if shifters were real, and now I have one of my very own.
Gunnar crosses his arms over his barrel chest. “Feeling’s mutual.”
“What happened?” I draw Grim’s attention back to me before they devolve into an argument…or should I say before Gunnar starts yelling and Grim ignores him.
“I was called to carry a Kelpie.” Grim laces his fingers with mine.
“I’m guessing they didn’t die of natural causes?” I ask hesitantly. Grim takes a deep breath and slowly shakes his head. “It’s been weeks, right?” I settle my butt against the new couch in my favorite parlor. Suddenly, being annoyed at Calix and Gunnar for getting rid of my furniture and replacing it without my knowledge doesn’t seem worth it.
“We knew this would happen,” Calix remarks, walking over and placing