I watched Taylor walk out of my...our cave, and I stood there in shock. She’d kissed me. I rubbed my cheek where her lips had been. I wish her lips could have been made of fire, sowhen she kissed me, it would have left as much of a brand on my body as she had left on my soul.
I was convinced now more than ever that I was cursed. I was so close to having everything I’d ever wanted, and yet it still remained out of my reach. It was like my nightmare all over again, constantly searching but never finding.
I was happy to settle for friendship if that was what Taylor wanted. She had already shown me more kindness than anyone else I’d ever known. Which was why it nearly ripped my heart out when I realized Taylor thought I didn’t want to be mated. Iwantedto be mated, but I would not force my cursed existence on anyone else, especially not Taylor.
I was starting to believe that she truly didn’t see me as a monster, and I was even starting to question it myself. But until the day comes that I truly believed that I wasn’t a monster made for killing, I would not even think of being mated to Taylor.
Which is why when she said her assumption out loud, I didn’t correct her. It was better this way.
The last time I was in this room I didn’t anticipate coming back with a mate. I took stock of the space and decided some changes were needed.
I dumped the contents of a few of my storage baskets together and placed the empty ones along the opposite wall for Taylor to have.
I took all of my spare furs and a few from my bed and placed them on the floor beside mine. It would look to obvious if we had two separate beds, but no one would question us having one large bed. This way, Taylor could have all the space she wanted.
I placed some candles on her side as well as my large bone carving of a flower. It resembled the one she’d pointed out on our walk, and I thought she might like it.
I looked around the room at all my bone carving trinkets that littered the space and wondered what Taylor thought of them. Would she find my hobby strange? Should I hide them?
I liked carving things. Using my hands to create things out of shapeless bones helped me feel less anxious when life got difficult. The world would fade away as I whittled the bone piece by piece until it was something new, something beautiful.
Taylor returned before I could contemplate further.
“I got my stuff.” She held up her basket and furs with a smile that warmed my heart. What I would give for this to be the moment she moved in as my real mate and not as a fake one.
“Oh wow, is this corner of the room for me?”
She set her basket down next to the empty ones I’d provided for her.
“I want you to be comfortable while you stay here.”
“Thanks,” she gave me another warm smile.
“Mmm, I’m so looking forward to sleeping in a proper bed piled high with furs.’
Her little moan of pleasure made my cock rise and my knees weak. Goddess help me, I silently prayed.
As she laid out her extra furs, she noticed the flower carving that I’d placed on her side of the bed.
“This is pretty. Can I touch it?” She asked, turning to me with hopeful eyes.
“It’s yours, you may do as you wish.”
She delicately picked up the object and turned it over in her hands. “Did you make this?”
“It is my hobby,” I admitted nervously, not sure how she’d respond to this information.
“You’re very good.”
She gently set the flower carving down and walked over to my shelves.
Her finger lightly danced along the stone as she slowly walked along the wall, looking at each of my carvings.
“How long have you been doing this?”
“Since I was a child.”
“It’s a nice hobby to have. Why I haven’t I seen any of your carvings before? Are you not allowed to display them in the main cavern?”
