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“I’m not one of the attractive monsters,” I sigh, waving a hand at him. “I’m not sexy or cool. I’m weird-looking and way too big.”

I expect a sympathetic nod, but Max shakes his head and laughs. “You’d be surprised what humans are into. Being big and weird isn’t always a bad thing. Besides, you’re being really hard on yourself. Looks aren’t everything. You have so much to offer to a partner of any kind. We keep trying to tell you that in group meetings, but it doesn’t seem to get through your thick giant skull.”

His slight jab at me catches me off guard, and I snort despite my morose thoughts. “Itispretty thick. Has to be to have survived all the sparring and bullying growing up.”

Max gives me a considering look. “Well, if you let one thing through, I hope it’s what I’m going to say now. You’re enough. You can spend a lifetime trying to hide or fight who and what you are, but the people who you want in your life are the ones who will love youbecause of who you are, not in spite of it.” He lets out a wry chuckle. “Trust me, I know from experience.”

Right. He’s mentioned that in our meetings before. He almost lost his mate because he wasn’t honest about his nature. And here I am, blubbering because some woman I’ll never meet saw my cyclops form and didn’t even say anything beyond being surprised.

I didn’t give her a chance.

Dammit. I assumed she’d hate me, like I always do when I’m interested in someone. I’ve had nice conversations with plenty of humans on dating apps, and they weren’t the ones who stopped messaging. It was me. I get scared, and I cut things off before they have a chance to reject me.

What if I hadn’t run away? What if she’d had a moment to get past the shock, take in the sight of my big, dopey eye and gargantuan dick, and actuallylikedme?

“Well…shit,” I mumble, a surge of frustration with myself flooding my mind. “You think someone would like me? Susan’s always saying?—”

“Susan’s an asshole,” Max says dismissively. “I know I’m not supposed to say things like that about a fellow group member, but she is. She’d be the first person to admit it. She fucks with you the most because you don’t fight back.”

“Story of my life,” I grumble. “I don’t like to fight. Idon’t want to be hurtful to the people that are supposed to be my friends.”

Max smiles. “And that’s one of the reasons why you’ll find someone. You’re the most generous, gentle person I’ve ever met. You go out of your way to help people without asking for anything in return. Like when Nic had surgery, and you brought him food and kept him company for weeks. Or when Susan’s car broke down in the middle of the night and you hauled it all the way to a mechanic with your bare hands. You’re a great guy. Anyone would be lucky to have you as a partner.”

I’m tearing up yet again. “Thanks, Max. I hope you’re right.”

“I have to admit, I’m a little confused. If you don’t go out with humans, how did one end up seeing your true form and your…” His eyes dart down to my crotch and his cheeks flush slightly.

“Oh. That. I, uh… the thing is, I get lonely and, um, there’s this girl I watch… and she was showing things to me and I accidentally turned on my webcam.” I feel my face burn, no doubt turning as red as Max’s hair.

“Right. Well…” I can tell he’s struggling to come up with something reassuring to say, but I’m too embarrassed to help contribute to making the conversation less awkward. Max clears his throat. “Wanna go get a beer? Mona is hanging out with friends tonight, so I was going to go run some errands, but they can wait.”

I can count the number of times I’ve had a beer in my life on one hand since I’m not a fan of the way alcohol makes me feel, but I immediately nod. I’m not giving up the chance to become better friends with this cool as hell demon witch. “Yeah. Sounds good.”

I’m still mortified and slightly heartbroken about what happened with Tiffany, but at least the fiasco has shown me that maybe I’m not as alone as I thought.

CHAPTER 6

EMMA

“CanI get a virgin mojito and a glass of water?”

“Sure thing.” The pretty, petite bartender with sharp, almost elfin features gives me a bright smile and heads off to mix my drink. A man down the bar from me with a sharp jaw and oddly prominent sideburns tries to catch my eye, but I quickly pull out my phone and pretend to look busy and check my messages.

Dammit, Noah.

I drove all the way out to Moonvale after a restless night, hoping to talk to my brother about what I saw last night. If I’d tried texting him about it, he’d assume I was joking, and I needed him to see the sincere shock and awe I’m experiencing at the revelation that monsters are real.

Of course the one time I decide to be impulsive and visit him without confirmation that he’s available, heisn’t home. He’s always home! I don’t know where the hell he is, and I don’t want to go back to the city and stew in my agitated thoughts, so I’m sitting here at Moonvale’s only bar, waiting for my damn brother to text me back.

At least it’s a nice place. I came to Nightlight the last time I visited, and under other circumstances, I might enjoy the cozy, welcoming atmosphere.

I check my phone again. Nothing.

“Here you go, sweetie. Water and a virgin mojito.” I pay the bill and tip the bartender, not bothering to open a tab, since I hope to god I won’t be here longer than it takes me to nurse my drinks.

I grab both glasses and turn away from the bar, scanning the space to figure out where I want to sit. It’s fairly crowded for a Thursday night, with only seats at the bar or a small booth available. If I stay at the bar, muttonchop man will take that as a sign I want to chat, so I make a beeline for the booth before someone else snags it. If I’m going to be stuck waiting for Noah, I’d rather do it in relative peace.

Twenty minutes go by. Then twenty more. At the hour mark, I send another frustrated text to my brother, grumbling down at my phone. The longer I wait, the more worried I get that something is wrong. Did the mysterious women he’s seeing lock him out of his house again? Is she secretly a murderer and has him tied up in her basement somewhere and this whole timeI’ve been pissy because I wanted to tell him about my monster encounter?