The Last of the Monsters Read Online Free

Akta.
    “You’re here.” Her voice trembled, her eyes were wide and beautiful.
    “I said I would be.”
    “Let me see you.” Need was thick in her voice and Henry had to focus on his anger to keep his skin black.
    He stepped out of the darkness, moving slowly. Little by little he came into the light, letting it reveal him. As he did, he released his anger, focusing instead on a complex math problem. It was a way to keep himself focused, to keep from feeling anything powerful as skin faded from black to its default blue.
    Akta—no, Padma—looked him up and down, her hands falling to her sides.
    “Ebon.” There was relief and joy in her voice. “I’ve missed you.”
    She took a step, arms open, ready to be swept up in the kiss. Henry reached for her and saw that Akta was not as immersed in her character as he’d thought.
    Anger burned in her eyes. Anger at him, anger at what she thought he felt and believed.
    If only she knew the truth.
    But the truth wasn’t something he was willing for her, or anybody, to know.
    He couldn’t tell her, but maybe he could show her just how much he wanted her. And if he did it here, in front of the cameras and crew, it would be Ebon, not Henry. Only he would know what his real motivations were.
    Henry dragged Akta to him. Lifting her with a hand under her ass, he brought his wing around to cradle her back and to hold her in place. She let out a little gasp, a soft, needy sound that made him want to do outrageous things to her.
    Their gazes met, and sparks jumped between them. Henry could see her surprise a moment before he brought his lips to hers. The kiss was not the soft celebration the script called for, but a fierce claiming. Akta clung to his shoulders as Henry used his free hand to cup her head. Her skull felt small and delicate in his hand, her whole body did, and yet she kissed him back fearlessly.
    It was Akta who pulled back, gasping for breath. Her lips were shiny, eyes wide and surprised.
    Desire sparked to life in his belly.
    Shit.
    Henry shifted his gaze to her shoulder, hoping it wasn’t obvious on camera, and started a long division problem in his head. He couldn’t, wouldn’t , lose control.
    “Cut. That was perfect.”
    Henry lowered Akta to the ground. A grinning Cali ambled over.
    “That was really great, both of you. Let’s do it one more time.”
    Henry retreated into the shadows. He’d almost lost control there. He had to be more careful.
     
     
    Over the next few days they shot scenes that included running, hiding and talking about what their characters had been through while they were apart. Though the backstory scenes, most of which would be overlaid with flashback footage, were emotional, they didn’t test Henry’s control the way the kissing scene had, and it was a welcome break.
    The worry that he wouldn’t be able to keep his feelings for Akta hidden gnawed at Henry, but it was the worry that once he admitted those feelings his secret would be exposed that kept him from sleeping.
    The reprieve ended today. They’d come to a new location where they’d stay for a week or two. It was a construction site, complete with a ten-story building that was nothing more than steel and concrete. The floors were there, but there were no walls yet, making it look like a massive backless bookcase.
    The climactic scene that propelled the movie from the first to second act would be filmed here. It was also one of the most emotional scenes. Ebon must rescue Padma, who’d been kidnapped by Seling’s character and held as bait by Runako. In the battle, Seling is killed before he could reveal that he’d had a change of heart about humans. The battle ends with Henry and Runako fighting their way up the outside of a building, where Ebon is caught on video by news helicopters. Having killed one of his own people and exposed himself to humans, Ebon forfeits any chance of ever returning to his home.
    There was one particularly emotional scene in this shooting