Page 90 of Primal Hunger
That won’t last forever, but for now, I feel safe. Safe enough to wander around the cabin, picking herbs and wading through the small pool of water that wraps around the structure and connects to a small stream. The water is shallow near the cabin,and only a couple of feet at its deepest point. Surprisingly, the water is clear—almost perfectly see-through.
The scene reminds me of an ethereal painting back home, something you’d see in a fantasy book about fairies and dragons. Only, it’s real, and I get to look at it every day for the rest of forever.
A smile works its way across my face at the thought of spending the rest of my life here, and I don’t hate the idea.
Pausing at the edge of the pool, I untie the dress I made myself and let it fall to grass around my feet. Then, I step in.
Like the air kissing my skin, the water is warm, and I quickly sink down and submerge my body. It isn’t enough to swim in, but it’s perfect for me to relax into and let my mind wander.
Even after several days, my body hasn’t adjusted to my new normal. It’ll take some getting used to.
Not having to constantly worry about paying bills or getting things done is new. So is not having to update my blog or stress about my next big story. It feels like I should be doing something, a nagging feeling in my gut, but for the first time in my life I’m just existing. Existing in a world not made for me, and certainly not welcoming of me, but none of that matters.
Not when my monster is sleeping just inside.
Syros.
It isn’t the first time I’ve been in awe of everything that led us here, and I get butterflies every time I think about it. I gave up my mundane life on Earth for the chance to be with a creature from another realm.
This really is the stuff those monster romance readers pine over, and I gotta say… they’re not wrong to want that.
Once he’s healed enough to move around freely, nothing will come between us. We’ll spend all day naked in his nest, fucking and cuddling until we drift off to sleep every night. We’ll find something else to cover the doorway of the cabin—maybe I caneven help him build a bonafide door. There are enough trees around to make it happen. Maybe we could venture out, as long as we’re on high alert, and he can show me more of his world. Maybe—
Movement sounds behind me and I jump, splashing water as I whip around. Syros is leaning against the doorway, watching me soak.
I slap a hand to my chest, right over my racing heart. “You scared me. You shouldn’t be up. Do you need something? I’ll get it for you.”
He shakes his head and shoves off the frame, wobbling a little as he approaches.
“No, you’ve done more than enough for me,” he says, stopping next to the pool of water.
“But you should rest—”
A growl of annoyance cuts me off. “I have rested enough. Besides, I can’t rest when I know you’re wandering outside the cabin. I…”
“Worry?” I offer, and he nods.
With a smile, I gesture next to me in the pool. “Why don’t you join me then, so you can keep an eye on me?”
He hesitates for a beat before reaching for the fabric around his middle. He undoes it, letting it fall to the ground, and my eyes snap to the bullet wound. It still looks gnarly, the skin barely knitted together and crusted over with blood, but as far as I can tell there is no sign of infection. It has to hurt like hell though.
Syros steps into the water and sinks down next to me. The water barely covers the tops of his thighs, soaking the thick fur covering them. His closeness immediately has heat sinking through me, settling between my thighs, but I shove the thought aside.
He’s recuperating; I shouldn’t be thinking about fucking his brains out right now.
“It’s actually quite pretty here,” I say, dragging my eyes away from him. “Like something out of a dark fairytale.”
He makes a noise, somewhere between a chuckle and a growl. “If only you could have seen it before the Echs destroyed everything. It was much more like your world than it is now.”
At the mention of the Echs, my stomach coils into a knot. I’ve done a lot of thinking while Syros has slept—probably way too much—and considered lots of possibilities, some more dangerous than others. But a singular thought plagues my mind, and I can’t seem to shake it.
“What if you were able to destroy the Echs?” I ask, unable to keep the question inside any longer. “Do you think your world could be saved? Would it go back to the way it was before?”
Syros’ red glowing eyes flicker like he’s blinked. “You’ve seen one of them, but there are hundreds out there. Possibly thousands. What you are suggesting, eliminating all of them… it cannot be done.”
“How do you know that?” I prod.
“Because we have tried.” His tone is flat, edging toward irritation. “We are no match for them, Erin.”
