The Last of the Monsters Read Online Free PDF

talking almost made it sound like she didn’t think he was committed to the project, but he was, and she had to know that. He’d never been late to set, never complained about the long days or about how many times he had to shift in order to get a shot, even when shifting hurt.
    “Akta, I don’t understand.”
    “That’s funny, because I don’t either.”
    Henry hadn’t been paying attention and had ended up on Hollywood Boulevard. The street was jammed with traffic, even this late at night.
    “What don’t you understand?” he asked.
    “I don’t understand why you’re here if you hate humans.”
    Henry stamped on the brake and the car behind him honked. He stared at Akta, waiting for her to smile, to laugh, for her eyes to sparkle the way they did when she was teasing him. There was no smile—she was serious.
    A car on the right pulled out of one of the few meter spots on Hollywood and Henry zoomed in, throwing the car into Park.
    “What did you say?” he demanded.
    They both turned in their seats to face each other. “The past few months, your opinion of humans has been more than clear. You don’t like us, don’t think we’re equal to you.”
    “That’s not…” Henry stopped. What could he say? The things he’d been saying had made it sound like he didn’t like humans.
    “And all that makes me wonder if you didn’t come to LA only because you assumed no one would agree to make the movie.”
    “You don’t think…”
    “I think that at least Runako was up front with his dislike. It’s pretty clear that you haven’t been happy, and I can only assume that’s because now the movie is actually happening.”
    She tipped her chin up, the picture of beautiful defiance. “And I think that you might be trying to sabotage the movie.”
    Her words were like a blow to the stomach. Henry sat back in his seat, staring at her.
    “You think I leaked the photos.”
    “I think that you want the movie to end, you want to get away from me, from all us humans.”
    Henry felt as if he were free falling. This conversation couldn’t be real; she couldn’t really think he would have done something like that.
    “Please tell me you’re joking.” His voice was rough with suppressed emotion.
    “I’m not.”
    “Akta, you know I would never do that—you know me.” He reached out to take her hand and she pulled back, looking at him suspiciously.
    “I thought I did, but that’s all changed. You’re not who I thought you were.”
    “I am. I’m the same.”
    “Then why did you do this?”
    “I didn’t. I wouldn’t .”
    “Henry.” She shook her head, shifting to look out the window and not at him. “You hate humans. If you admit that, it will be easier.”
    “Look at me, please.”
    “I can’t.” There was a little hiccup in her voice. “I can’t look at you. I’m so angry.”
    She didn’t sound angry; she sounded sad. Henry would have rather that she be angry.
    “Akta, look at me.”
    She faced him, her beautiful brown eyes shiny with tears.
    “I don’t hate humans. Nothing could be further from the truth. What I said, what I’ve been saying.” Henry stopped and considered what he should say. He hadn’t realized what the cost of his lies would be. He needed to come clean to her, but this wasn’t the time or the place. “Akta, I don’t hate humans. I never have, and I never will.”
    “So you just think that we’re not good enough to be mates.”
    “That’s… No…” Henry scrubbed his fingers through his hair. “I don’t think that either. I was…protecting myself.”
    “Protecting yourself? From what?”
    He turned to face her, cupped her cheek in his hand and forced her to look at him. “From you.”
    Akta blinked, confusion wiping away the sadness that blanketed her features. “From me?” Henry dropped his hand from her cheek as she looked away, then back, head shaking. “I don’t understand.”
    “I didn’t realize how bad this would get, and I’m sorry. I was