I laugh. “Those two? Oh, then you’re so fucked,measma.”
“I guess.” She sighs as if only now realizing how much so.
“Want to make another deal,measma?” I ask without meaning to. I haven’t left my home for centuries, and never voluntarily before that, but for her, maybe I will, because this is the most entertained I have been in ages.
My cock pulses in agreement, hardening once more. My stilma, my tentacles as she called them, wiggle in anticipation of locking onto her skin and tasting her, right between those delectable, pale human thighs and the warmth she hides there with silly garments I never understood the need for.
“No offense, but can you even be on land? Don’t you, like, need water?” she inquires, making me grin once more—a foreign reaction. Even before our lands died, I was as sullen as they came. I was always withdrawn, but that was because of the humans here and what they did to us.
To me.
“I like water, it’s true, and I couldn’t shift on land with my large body, but I’m a fighter even in my weaker form—this one, which seems to please you. So what do you say, human? A deal?” I step closer, desperate for another whiff of that intoxicating aroma, and I’m not disappointed. My eyes close on a groan. “You smell delicious.”
“Not weird at all,” she mutters. “What is it with monsters sniffing me?”
“Because we can smell every inch of your delectable cunt,” I reply, making her eyes widen. “Now, Cora, stop hesitating. A deal or not, because I do nothing for free.”
Lie. For her, I would, but I find myself liking this deal idea better. It would make her indebted to me, which I can use as an excuse to get closer.
“Fine, deal,” she mutters, and before she can even scream, I shift once more and grab her. She closes her eyes and lips as I dive back into the water. She’s as smart as she is beautiful. This time, I keep my tentacle above the water, like a boat holding her up as I cut through the waves. I show off for her and the others on shore, revealing all my power. She smiles in delight as we rush through the darkness.
Once on shore, I put her safely on the sand and shift back until I stand behind her, grinning at the fey and minotaur. “I guess we will be working together.”
“We leave you alone for two seconds, and you almost die and make a new friend, Goldie. You are a busy little human.” The fey smirks at her. She flips him a finger, which I don’t understand, and he looks at me. “Sorry, I don’t do anything with tentacles.”
I raise my eyebrow at him. “I only fuck females,” I mutter, not understanding why he chuckles. Clearly, I am not in on the joke.
“He’s with us now, so let’s get moving. I can’t sleep here anymore,” Cora mutters at them. The minotaur watches me warily, obviously understanding the threat I am, but he nods his head at her, his eyes moving across her body as if to check for injuries. I watch those orbs soften before filling with heat and kindness. Even the way the fey watches her is hungry—not just for magic, but for her body.
Interesting, and she doesn’t exactly seem like she is against it.
I smell the desire pouring from her, and so must they. My grin widens.
Oh yes, this sweet little jewel will be mine, like no other human ever has been. Not in the way they once owned me.
Monsters, as they called us, were an oddity even back before the wall. The humans fucked the pretty ones for our magic or for a wild story to tell their friends. We were ordered by the king to pleasure them, left with no choice if we wanted to survive. Even to this day, I bear the scars of what they did to me in those dark years.
My measma is not like that though. She wants us, monstrous sides and all, and the kindness in her eyes tells me she would never enslave those she cares about.
“You are collecting quite an array of monsters,” the minotaur grumbles unhappily.
He’s stoic, protective. The fey is a flirt and almost clingy, reaching for her constantly. I want to as well, needing to feel her skin again, but I’m very aware of our size differences and how easily I could hurt her.
“You should sleep.” I lift my eyes to the sky. “I will keep watch while you all do. I was slumbering when you called to me, so I do not need to rest.”
She glances back at me, her eyes softening as she smiles, and it’s like a physical blow. I stumble back, and I know without a doubt I would do anything to see that smile directed at me again.
“We’ll find another place to settle down,” she replies, her smile still brightening her eyes. “Thank you, Zetros.”
The way she says my name nearly makes me come undone, but I nod and follow the strange group farther along the beach, farther from my home.
ChapterFifteen
The blisters on my feet are almost welcome after the shredded slippers, but at some point, I start to slow yet again. I’ve never been more aware of my humanity as I am surrounded by these monsters. Every single one of them moves around me as we walk, one in front, one in back, and one on the side, and I can’t tell if they are protecting me or checking me out. Bracken, to his credit, is very open about his appreciation. Zetros is more coy but still open with his admiring glances. Grimus, on the other hand, mostly pretends I don’t exist. If not for his constant care and appeasing grunts, I’d think he hates to be here.
Sometimes, though, when Grimus looks at me, his eyes soften, and I realize just how much he doesn’t hate it. Maybe he’s even starting to like me…not that he will ever admit it.
The mountains are beginning to loom closer on the horizon, but after another day of walking, it’s clear we’re still not going to make it any time soon.
