He’smessing with my brain.
Something’s not right.
“No!” I throw my head back in the hopes it collides with his nose—if monster-him has one of those—but it has the exactoppositeof my intended effect. He nuzzles his face against mine. His warm breath fans my cheek, holding me in place. Vibrations start up my back, an odd sound that warms my stomach and sends soft tingles down my spine.
Is he… Is that apurr?
“We will go home now.”
What does he mean by?—
Movement at the door catches my eyes.
“What the fuck is that?” I screech, thrashing harder to get away.
The shark-dog peels its lips back around the coconut in its mouth, continuing his trot into my living room.
“His name is Vasz,” the voice comes from behind me.
It—Vasz—lowers his ass to the rug, swishing his shark-shaped tail behind him, giving me what can only be described as a nod of confirmation.
I swing my gaze from the shark-dog to the tentacles feeling me up, then backward to the open suitcase on my bedroom floor. Laughter bubbles up my throat. This is actually happening. “Oh, God. I’ve gone insane. I have fully, completely, and utterly lost it.” Wave after wave of hysteria hits me.
“I do not understand.” I can hear his frown. “What is funny, Cindi?”
Oh my God, he speaks.
The tentacle monster thing fucking speaks.
And he knows my name.
Of course, he does. I obviously widely advertise it. The whole countrydefinitelyknows who I am. So whywouldn’tthe ten-foot-tall, clawed, eight-tentacled monster with pointed ears know my name?
Laughter turns into heaving. Tremors rack my body. This is happening. It’s actually happening. My lungs scream with desperation as I try to suck in oxygen.
“She is not crazy,” the man-monster thing hisses. “She’s perfect.”
And he talks to himself too.
This is great. Amazing. Splendid.
“It’s okay.” The words come out gentle, like I’m a delicate thing he’s trying to appease. And the—thepurrdeepens.
The tentacles dip beneath my dress, winding around my legs, writhing in an almost…exploratory motion.
I shake my head.No, no, no.Thiscan’tbe happening.
“Please don’t take me to them.Please.I’ll give you whatever you want,” I beg.
I know what the Gallaghers are capable of—the level of hell they’d inflict on me. But maybe this monster will do me the kindness of killing me quickly.
My back snaps straight when his hand skims the line of my jaw. His scent changes from fresh sea breeze to the oaky cologne Tommy always wore. I suppress a whimper, stilling, because maybe then, he won’t feel as compelled to strike out. Maybe it’ll hurt less.
His purring grows louder as he turns me in his arms and tucks me against his chest, legs curled bridal style as he moves us to the door. “Once we bond to each other, there will be no more reason for you to feel fear.”
Bond to each other?
“The Goddess chose you for me. The Curse will finally be ended, and it will all be because of you. My family can rest in peace, and we can enjoy our time together. I will protect you as any mate should.”
