Page 64 of Love & Monsters
“When I left, I was still coming to terms with the realization that my mate was human. It terrified me to think that such a small, fragile creature was bound to me for life. Days on the battlefield, and sometimes I know it was the thought of you that kept me going. I needed to stay alive no matter what, if only to keep you alive. There’s been no greater relief in my life than to see you again, knowing that you’ve survived and gracefully taken on the role of Lady. Not only that, but you’ve excelled at it.” His roaming hands again passed over my stomach, feeling the blossoming life within. The life we miraculously created together.
“Still, while knowing you were my mate, I never thought this would be possible. It’s what I would have wanted more than anything, and now that I face this reality, I can’t seem to fathom the truth of it.”
Nodding my head, I thought back to the month where I discovered the truth myself. Minak was already a few months old at the time the physician confirmed my suspicions. “Do you remember that old book I found mentioning the last human to fall through a portal here?”
“How could I forget when you were glowing over every book you read?” Vadric gave me a dark, cheeky grin that caused me to purse my lips in the attempt to hide a smile.
“Alright, well, Ilya and I did some digging through the library. She helped me learn more than I thought possible, honestly. I’m very grateful to call her family now.” It was funny to think the initial animosity faded as quick as it had.
“You do not know how much it means for me to hear that. I’m ecstatic that you and my sister grew close after Minak’s birth. Hearing that you pulled him out with your own hands was astounding.” Vadric beamed at me like I was a witch performing magic.
“It was crazy,” I laughed. “I can easily say Ilya is my friend now. A friend that helped me find more information on that human and what happened to him.”
I let the silence stretch, making Vadric’s anticipation swell as he waited with bated breath. He lost a heavy breath through his nostrils to show his frustration with the wait. His pinched brow and frown made me cave in and share what I learned.
“His name was James Bracknell. He fell through a portal near Nadirn over two-hundred years ago. At first, monsters captured him, plaguing his days and nights as they fought over him. Until a female warrior crossed paths with the Nefellim tormenting him. She knew on the spot that James was her mate and took him away. They wound up living long, happy lives and having five children together.” As I said that last part, Vadric’s eyes widened, and his yellow pupils dilated. “So, it was always possible. Just incredibly rare.”
“You’re telling me that humans can fall into Nadirn, find a mate and have families?”
“Yes. I believe we’re fated to find one another, and that’s why it happens. Our souls fated us to be together, and not even separate worlds could keep us apart.” I grabbed two of his fingers, pulling them up to my lips and pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles.
“Nothing could keep me from you, little one. Nothing.” The sudden tenacity of his words caught me off guard. In a blink, Vadric pulled my body. A squeal slipped from me as I landed, straddling his waist.
“I fought with fury just for you. Killed my brother and shoved his corpse into the freshly dug earth with my bare hands. Not only to save my people, but to ensure that I remained alive to keep you safe and create a world where you could be happy. It was the thought of you that kept me going, Mina.” I saw it then. The darkness hidden in the depths of his eyes. Sorrow and anguish for what he’d done, on top of his unwavering resolve.
The sight of it was thrillingly terrifying. Knowing that Vadric would go to such ends for me made my heart soar and twist in a muddled rush of emotions. He was a frightening creature, but he wanted to protect me. And he was mine.
Mine to hold. To love. To stand beside through the rest of our lives.
“Vadric,” I sobbed, unable to control the rising tide of feelings swarming me. Hot tears spilled over my cheeks. His hands rushed up from my hips to cradle my face, swiping the tears away with his thumbs. “Oh, Vadric.”
My hand wrapped around one of his wrists, holding his palm against my face. I pressed soft kisses to his wrist between shaky sobs. The feelings within me were stronger than the warmth of the sun. I felt the glowing heat of Vadric between my thighs and I needed to connect with him, to be one with him. After months apart from my other half, I needed to be one with him again. Right now, in this heated, tense moment with my monstrous mate, I wanted to feel him inside of me, loving me.
“Mina.” My name was a desperate sound from his lips. Full of longing and desire, mirroring how I felt.
Reaching back with my free hand, I pulled down the front of his soft breaches. Without breaking eye contact with Vadric, I grabbed his hardening cock in my hand. At the contact, his length jerked with excitement, becoming impossibly hard. A groan hissed through his fangs as I stroked his ridged dick, reveling in the feel of him.
“Vadric.” So much went unsaid because we could see it in the other’s eyes. However, right now was a moment where I needed to say it. “I love you.”
“I love you too, my beautiful, glowing little human mate. More than the moons in the sky and the all the water in the sea.” His head fell back into the pillows, gaze never wavering from mine.
Since I was bare after my nightly bath, it was all too easy to shift my hips and position his dick until I could grind on it. I watched his abdominal muscles tense when he felt my slick pussy rubbing along his ridged shaft. I loved the sight of his dark skin against mine and the feeling of his heat even more.
His tail curled around my ankle, and I smiled. I hadn’t realized just how much I loved that, too. His tail always curling around me in brief moments when we were together, as if Vadric subconsciously needed to always touch me. Even now, when we were on the verge of something erotic, he couldn’t stop himself from carefully holding me.
“Is this alright?” Vadric stopped my grinding hips. His black and yellow eyes dropped to my stomach. “I don’t want to hurt you, little one.”
Rubbing my hand over my abdomen, a genuine laugh burst out of me. His concern at this moment was priceless, and unsurprising. As intimidating as he appeared, Vadric had always been a gentle giant with me.
“It’s perfectly safe.” I lifted myself, using one hand to position his tip at my entrance. “I’ll try to go easy on you.”
“Easy on me—Ah!” Vadric moaned. His tail tightened around my ankle and his claws dug into my hips as I sank down on him. “How are you so wet already?”
“Vadric, I’ve been burning up for you since the night you left. Seeing you today reignited the fire in my belly, and it’s been killing me for hours.” My head arched back as I felt the delicious sensation of those ridges rubbing my inner walls. “Sitting through dinner with everyone was agonizing when all I wanted was to pounce on you.”
“Shit. You’re gripping me like a vise. It’s been so long since we’ve—I might not last long.” He released his grip on my hips to run his palms over my body with adoration. Up and down my sides, then down to my thighs, tensing as I rode him. As if he worshipped every inch of me in each touch.
“You don’t need to last long, my love. Just long enough to come with me.” I leaned forward, bracing my hands on his chest, where I felt his heart thundering against my palms.
