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But this was real.

The horns. The claws. The darkness engulfing the bed.

My monster.

Caligo paused, waiting despite the hunger on his face.

“Yes,” I told him.

He took me with the same wildness with which he’d chased me, driving me into the mattress while his tail held me open and his claws scored harmless lines down my sides. I clung to him, staring into those burning eyes as pleasure built until there was nothing left but him.

Afterward, he gathered me against his chest, both of us tangled in the sheets.

“You destroyed another shirt,” I murmured.

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

“With what money?”

“Yours.”

I laughed and rested my cheek against him. “I love you.”

His tail curled around my ankle, possessive even now. “I love you too, my pretty Rowan.”

Outside these walls, he could smile, shake hands, and pretend to be human. We could give the world Pascal and let them believe whatever made them comfortable.

But I was going to spend forever with the monster, and I couldn’t be happier about it.