Liam leaned against the rough wooden table in their dimly lit inn room, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air. His heart hammered against his ribs as he faced the three women who had become his unlikely anchors in this chaotic new world. The faint scent of roasted herbs from their earlier meal still lingered, mixing with the tension that crackled between them.
"I'm being targeted by the Devil Queen," he said quietly, his voice steady despite the knot in his stomach. "She won't stop coming after me. My plan... we need real protection, something that buys me time."
Astoria, Laila, and Medusa exchanged glances. Astoria sighed first, crossing her arms. "Why do the monsters keep coming after you, Liam? It's like you've got a beacon strapped to your back."
He tried to laugh it off, flashing a lopsided grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. 'God, if only it were that simple.' "Maybe because I'm just too handsome?"
