The Hated (Sleeping With Monsters Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

though, I promise?” I amended. I was almost done, determined to finish reading quickly.
    “Of course, my Queen.” Joshan smiled and nodded, and I found my page before he left the room.
    Airelle was quickly married to a Zaibann, Zaan, in an elaborate ceremony – elaborate not because of the cost or expense, but because of the magic involved – sealing her fate to his. I could tell throughout the course of the book – the history in it spanned at least ten years – that Airelle had always been closest with Zaan, of all her advisors, and the historian – if he could be believed! – was not shy about sharing that fact. He also did not back away either from their wedding night, saying in his dry way that the entire palace shook from the ‘force of their bond’.
    But mere days later, the real ceremony began. Whatever members of the army they could spare began digging a vast and deep hole. And when it was finished, the Zaibann flew into it, landing one-by-one, standing in rows of a hundred men each. Airelle kissed Zaan, then stood on the edge of the excavation. She promised him – she promised all of them – that this wasn’t ‘a good-bye, but merely a parting’.
    And then, through some combination of her personal power, mirrored and magnified through their own willingness to lend her theirs, the shield was cast – but at great cost. Because inside the pit, every single Zaibann in existence was turned to stone.
    And that was the book’s last page.
    I twisted it, as though more pages might fall out if I shook it roughly.
    “That’s…all?”
    I couldn’t believe there wasn’t more. It had felt so real it was like my life – it was better than my life, honestly. I was lost now that it was gone.
    Joshan cleared his throat from the hallway. “If I may, my Queen?”
    I looked up, and knew what he wanted. I didn’t want to sleep now, but it was time. It was what Airelle would have done, if she were me. “Please, Joshan.”
    He crossed the room and lifted me, carrying me to the cradle and settling me gently inside before closing the lid. Its walls started to pulse in colors and I fell asleep inside the cradle with the book over my heart.

Chapter Three
    When I woke, I was exhausted. I peeked out, Joshan rescued me, and this time when he offered food I ate everything on the plate. The story I had finished was still rolling in my head just like the pearl – and I wanted to give chase.
    I had to know if the book was real – or just another fiction with enough reality to give it bite. The easiest way would be to find the Chamber of the Zaibann with my own eyes. Not my Zaibann’s chamber – but the one where he had come from, where the rest of them were stored. So when Beza returned to my room with a fresh dress for me, I sent her off to pack the three of us meals for our journey.
    We traveled in silence down the longest of the halls. I usually told my slaves about the stories I’d read, sometimes even going so far as to read to them myself – but there was something about Airelle’s that made me want to keep it hidden. It didn’t feel like her story – it felt like it was mine.
    Which was foolish, and I knew I only thought that because of how quickly I’d devoured the book. Still, though – we’d traveled an hour, me mostly lost in deep thought. I looked around to get my bearings, and found we were near the Map Room – and I had a sudden idea.
    “Beza –“ I grabbed her wrist and hauled her into the room. I’d been here before with Yzin, as he lovingly showed me maps of Aranda. It’d been deadly dull, I’d paid attention only to humor him, but now I knew what I was looking for.
    I pushed wall after wall of plastiglass covered maps aside, centuries of Arandian history, until I reached the lowest, oldest, ones, where only fragments of their maps remained – and then I turned to my slave girl.
    “Kiss me,” I told her, and she nodded, agreeably.
    She stepped forward and I wrapped my arms around her,