Page 44 of Captured By the Monsters
“I can’t wait to see Paratiisi restored,” I told him in an upbeat manner, attempting to be positive about the situation. Although the three men were hopeful, I could tell whenever they talked about their land that deep down, they didn’t think it would ever be recovered. That as a species, they were doomed. It hurt my heart because I’d come to care for them, and I didn’t want anything to happen to them.
Squinting into the darkness surrounding me, I tried to pierce the shadows with my eyes, but I could only see so far, and I wondered what my monsters could see. I knew that they had mentioned before being able to see easily in the dark.
“How far can you see?” I asked no one in particular, wanting to learn as much as I could.
“Very far,” Axton answered. “Rumilus senses are much more heightened than a human’s. We can see further, jump higher, run faster. You get the idea.”
I rolled my eyes, poking him in the back. “You don’t have to rub it in,” I teased. “I’m sure there’s something humans do that is better.”
Behind me, Rowen laughed, and I turned to watch him shrug.
“I don’t know about humans as a whole, but there is one in particular who’s pretty amazing. She has a smile that lights up a room and is the most beautiful creature in all the lands. Her heart far outshines any of our kind.”
I glared at him playfully. “Are you trying to flatter me to get in my pants?”
It was totally working, but he didn’t need to know that.
Sylan murmured under his breath, “But you aren’t wearing any pants,” making me laugh at his constant confusion of human sayings.
Rowen touched a hand to his chest in mock offense. “I was not. I was being sincere. I’m just biased that we have the perfect mate.” He punctuated his words by delicately running a finger down my spine. The ensuing shiver nearly brought me to my knees, and a lust so strong it nearly blinded me came out of nowhere.
Sylan and Rowen both reached for me, but I arched out of their reach, falling instead into Axton’s arms.
My skin was so sensitive at the contact, it felt like an electrical livewire beneath my skin jumping around. I wrenched out of Axton’s hold, wrapping an arm around my midsection in protection, as if to ward the others away.
“Sera, is everything all right?” he asked, extreme concern lacing his tone.
Taking a deep breath, I dropped my arms and shook them out. “Yes, everything’s fine,” I lied, hating feeling like I was doomed to be broken forever. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be so clumsy.”
Sylan shifted closer, but made sure not to touch me. “It’s okay, Sera. Let us help you.”
“I would really like it if you could tell me about everything in the land. What’s what and what you call it. If this is to be my home, I want to know too,” I answered, breezing over the issue at hand.
Sylan looked torn, as if he couldn’t decide what to do.
I stepped lightly around Axton, continuing to walk in the direction where he had been leading. They easily caught up with me, and Axton took the lead once more.
Rowen pointed out things in the landscape, thankfully dropping my issues. “So over there to our left is a huge mountain range that used to bloom with the most vibrant flowers.” He gestured with his hand in the direction, but all I could see through the dark haze was a glob of dark black terrain, so I closed my eyes for a moment and imagined it.
I pictured the wind blowing through my hair, caressing my skin as I leaned down to smell an exotic purple flower with eight petals around a glimmering silver center that reminded me of the ash beneath my feet.
“I can’t wait to see it one day,” I breathed out as I opened my eyes and smiled at him. Grabbing his hand, I enjoyed his shocked expression at my open intimacy. “What else is there?”
Clearing his throat, we continued on, hand in hand as he pointed in the opposite direction. “Over there was an endlessly long river that flowed with the same healing waters of our grotto, but the water was refreshingly cold.”
This time I pictured immersing myself in the cool water after a hot day and splashing around with my monsters. I smirked, thinking of how funny it would be to see these three hulking monsters splashing around like children.
“That sounds lovely,” I sighed wistfully.
“Do you like animals, beauty?” Sylan asked, slowing his pace to come grab my other hand.
It was like a sharp dagger to the chest, thinking of Gizmo.
Coughing slightly to cover my emotions, I answered, “Yes. I’ve always loved animals and feel like they’re too good for humans. Their love is unconditional. I have a big, fluffy white cat named Gizmo at home.”
I hadn’t realized I’d allowed my head to droop down until Sylan’s free hand crossed over to tilt it back up. “Once these lands are restored, he can come live down here with us.”
My eyes widened as my heart soared. “Really?” I asked excitedly. “He wouldn’t be in harm’s way?”
