Page 77 of Monster's Obsession

“This is the dress that a queen of Wyld would wear. You will wear this, Blake.”

“Well, I think you must have me confused for someone else. Because I’m not your queen,” I snapped back, feeling irrationally angry.

Angry at the thought of being bared like that in front of the whole party.

Angry at the thought of him mocking me by having me go to such a party in the first place.

Just…angry.

I turned my back to him and crossed my arms while I walked towards the window, intent on just ignoring him.

He may be king, used to getting his way, but this was one thing he was not going to win on.

“Why are you pouting like a petulant child?” he asked calmly…only stoking the flames of my fury further.

“I can’t believe you would want me to wear that. To be bared like that in front of everyone important in your world.

I heard his footsteps behind me as he walked towards me, obviously not going to allow the little hissy fit I was currently throwing.

“By wearing this dress, you are ensuring that everyone knows who their queen is. It’s a gown of honor. No one is allowed to wear it except for the queen.”

He slid his claw gently down my nape and across my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

“I don’t want to be made a fool,” I whispered, realizing why I was so upset.

Because I would be nothing but a figurehead, a joke as I met all the dignitaries.

“And why exactly do you think you would look like a fool? You know by now that nudity means nothing to our kind.”

“Because I’ll never be your queen,” I finally cried, turning to face him. “I’ll be your mistress. Your pet. But I’ll never be anything more to you.”

“What are you talking about?” he huffed.

"You don't love me," I said, my voice shaking. "Somewhere along this crazy ride you've put me on, I fell in love with you. But you'll never love me back. I'll be your food source, your toy…your pet. But I'll never get what I want."

I was suddenly against the wall, his clawed hand around my neck, his golden eyes glowing.

"And who says I don't love you, Blake? Who told you that? I'll kill them."

I froze, my mind having trouble wrapping around his words, what he was saying.

"What did you just say?"

His grip tightened and he rolled his eyes.

"Blake, I’ve been fucking you for over three years. I've been inside your head. I know every inch of your body. I know every inch of your heart. Three years of that…and I've been in love with you almost that long."

I lost the ability to speak. Never in a million years had I thought he would say that to me. I know I’d wanted him to say that, obviously, but the reality was so much more than I could've imagined.

His face was smug now as his tongue slipped out and lapped at my lips. " Are you going to say it back?"

I probably should have, but the more I thought about it, the more I was just mad he hadn't told me before this. He’d let me go all these years thinking I was just a toy to him.

He needed to work for it.

"No. I don't think I am," I said stubbornly.

His annoying grin just widened.