All Chapters of I Returned to Kill Monsters, and Created the Worst One: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Elara VeyneI was trying to decide whether the crown prince looked like the kind of man who would enjoy honey cakes when I stole one from a tray cooling in the kitchen.Technically, it was not stealing. I worked there, and I was taking it to the prince.That argument probably would not survive Samira, so I wrapped the cake and slipped it into my pocket.I had promised Kian something that actually tasted good.More importantly, I needed to talk to him.I was certain the substance removed from his body was not poison. It was some kind of suppressant. It wrapped itself around his mana and tightened whenever whatever lay beneath tried to respond.And after his body’s strange reactions the night before...I thought I knew what it was suppressing.A wolf.The absurdity of that conclusion was precisely what made it so difficult to ignore.“Elara!”I nearly dropped a spoon.Samira stood behind me, looking toward the rest of the servants.“The king is hosting a luncheon for the remaining candi

Elara VeyneI spent the rest of the day pretending no one had entered my room.I discovered it was much harder than it seemed.Every time someone passed too close, I looked.An assistant carrying plates.Suspicious.A maid who asked where Samira had put the spices.Also suspicious.A guard standing near the exit.Extremely suspicious.At one point, I realized I was considering a woman almost seventy years old guilty because she had taken too long choosing a tray.Maybe I was becoming paranoid.Unfortunately, paranoia did not necessarily mean I was wrong.Whoever had entered my room would not attack me in the middle of a crowded kitchen.They would probably wait until I was alone.When it was time to take Kian his meal, I checked every dish twice.Then I found the honey cake I had hidden before lunch.At least one of my problems that night could be solved with sugar.I put it in my pocket, picked up the tray, and left.On the way to the royal wing, I forced my breathing to remain slow.

Elara VeyneKian remained over me.He didn’t move.One of his hands was wrapped around my wrist, pinning it to the mattress above my head. His other arm was braced beside my face, but the weight of his body alone made it perfectly clear that I would not simply be able to sit up and leave.His forehead was too close to mine.I could feel the warmth of his breath.“Kian?”Those red eyes stayed fixed on my face.And there was no anger in them.That was perhaps the strangest part.He was watching me with silent concentration, as if trying to find something in me he couldn’t quite make sense of.“What... what are you doing?”I almost stammered from nerves.I twisted my wrist.His hand didn’t move.I pulled harder.Nothing.My heart was pounding so hard that no one needed to be a wolf to hear it.Days ago, that man could barely keep his own weight on his legs.Now I couldn’t move a single hand unless he allowed it.“Kian...”He tilted his head.A chill went through me.That gesture again.I

Elara Veyne“I did that?”I stared at Kian.He was still sitting on the floor.His robe was still far too open, damp hair falling over his forehead, and his breathing still hadn’t completely returned to normal.One of his hands remained near his mouth.His face and ears were still red.And he couldn’t look at me for more than a few seconds.I was certain.He remembered.Maybe not everything.But that part?Without a doubt.“You don’t remember? You were treating me like a piece of meat.”Kian finally raised his eyes.“I…”“You smelled me.”Silence.“Pinned me to the bed.”He swallowed.“And licked me.”His fingers touched his own lips again.That was answer enough.I took a deep breath.I didn’t know whether I was more irritated, embarrassed, or simply trying to understand how a healing session had ended that way.Then I remembered the teeth.My gaze went to his mouth.“Open.”Kian frowned.“What?”I climbed off the bed and walked over to him.“Your mouth.”“No…”Of course. Now he had

Elara VeyneI realized immediately that I had said too much.Damn it.Kian did not move.He froze in the chair, his eyes fixed on me as though I had struck him across the face.“Imprisoned?”I picked up the box.“That doesn’t matter right now.”“Elara—”“No.”I looked directly at him.“That is not part of our agreement.”He kept watching me.His breathing was deep, his expression far too serious, and for several uncomfortable seconds I expected him to demand an explanation.He didn’t.Kian leaned back slowly, his head resting against the chair.“Fine.”The ease with which he gave up made me even more suspicious.“Fine?”“You don’t want your name connected to my recovery.”“Exactly.”“It won’t be.”I blinked.“That easily?”“Did you want me to argue?”“Normally, that’s what you do.”He blinked slowly, visibly unimpressed.“I can start, if you prefer.”“No need.”Finally.Something resembling normality.I exhaled.“Just keep me safe until we discover who is behind this.”Kian nodded onc