Page 53 of Mated to the Monster Under my Bed

Warm, golden radiance bathed the room.

For a long, breathless moment, Danni just stared at me. I waited, my heart beating hard, to see what she would say. Was I too monstrous for her to love? Would she find me too ugly…too alien?

“Oh,” she whispered at last. “You’re…really handsome.”

I let out a rumbling laugh as relief swept over me.

“For a Creature,” I said.

“No,” she said softly, reaching up to trace my features with gentle fingers. “For anyone.”

“Thank you, little witch.” I caught her hand and kissed her fingertips, nuzzling my face into her palm. Her touch made my soul hum with contentment.

“I want you to be able to be with me,” she said. “Not just at night…during the day too. I want you to walk with me in town, and sit with me by the fire, and hold my hand in the sunshine and…and everything.”

I froze.

Her eyes searched mine.

“Shadow? Did I say something wrong?”

“No. No, little witch—you weren’t wrong to say it. I want what you want, too.”

I looked away, jaw tightening.

“Tell me,” she whispered, clearly sensing my turmoil. “How can we make that happen? This is a magic town—there must be a way.”

“There is, but…” I closed my eyes. “It’s not a simple thing.”

“Please,” she said, and I felt her pressing a kiss to my chest. “I need to know.”

I sighed and held her tighter. My heart thudded loud in my ears. What would she say when I told her? Well, there was only one way to find out.

“In order for me to be completely real—to come out into the light and leave the cottage with you—we would have to form a Heartmate bond,” I said at last.

She sat up a little, eyes wide.

“A Heartmate bond? I’ve heard other women in town talk about that—about having ‘Heartmates.’ What does it mean exactly?”

“It means you’re mine,” I said, voice low. “And I’m yours. Forever.”

She swallowed, but her eyes never left mine..

“But I already feel that way about you. So…what does the bond do?”

“It’s a sacred tie,” I said softly. “A blessing from the Goddess and the Fates. Your Heartmate is the one you’re destined to be with—the one who was made for you. You called me into being with your need, Danni. And years later, your need brought me back to you. And I…I’ve loved you from the first moment I saw you.”

Her breath caught in her throat and her small hand trembled against my chest.

“Oh, Shadow…” Her voice cracked. “It’s been so long since anyone…since I…”

“So long since you felt loved?” I finished for her, raising an eyebrow.

She nodded and swiped at her eyes.

“Since I felt seen. Wanted.”

I cupped her cheek and kissed her tears away, tasting their salty flavor on my tongue.