Page 43 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

I nod, wiping sweat from my brow. "I hope so. Those traps we set outside should slow them down too."

He grunts in agreement, his green eyes scanning our handiwork. "Damn straight. Any waira that gets past those won't live long enough to regret it."

As we continue to work, I can't help but marvel at how much I've changed. Just weeks ago, I was a meek village girl, always deferring to others. Now, here I am, fortifying a cave against monster attacks alongside my Umbrath protector.

"You're really getting stronger," he observes, his tentacles coiling around my waist. "Soon you'll be able to take on anything by yourself."

I laugh, leaning into his touch. "I don't know about that. But I do feel... different. Tougher, somehow."

"Good," he says, his sharp teeth glinting as he grins. "Since you're mine now, I need you tough."

His possessiveness should frighten me, but instead, it sends a thrill through my body. I've never felt so wanted, so protected.

"I never thought I'd feel at home in a cave," I muse, running my hand along the rough wall. "But with you, it feels so right."

He pulls me closer, his black skin cool against mine. "This is your home now. Our home. And I'll kill anything that tries to take you from it."

His words are harsh, but I hear the underlying tenderness. This fierce, monstrous creature cares for me in a way no one in my village ever did.

"I know you will," I whisper, tracing the contours of his face. "And I'll fight right alongside you."

He growls approvingly, "That's my girl," he says, his voice rough with emotion. "Now, let's finish this shit up. I want to make sure you're safe when those waira come sniffing around."

I nod, feeling a surge of determination. This is my life now - dangerous, unpredictable, but filled with a passion I never knew existed.

The cold air of the cave nips at my skin as I work, but I barely notice it. My focus is entirely on Jytos moving with lethal precision beside me. His tentacles glide over the stone and his muscles ripple beneath his black skin as he secures our makeshift fortifications. The sight of him is both terrifying and exhilarating.

I pause, my hand resting on a boulder. "Jytos," I say in a soft voice. He turns to me, his eyes piercing through the dim light. "I don't want to see you get hurt."

A low chuckle rumbles from his chest. "You think those waira can harm me?" He scoffs, the sound echoing off the cavernouswalls. "I've been battling those beasts since before you were born."

His confidence should irritate me, but instead, it brings a small smile to my face. "I know you're... capable. But there are so many of them. What if?—"

He cuts me off with a swift motion, his large hand cupping my cheek. "Bella, I am the last of the Umbrath. I have survived because I am the strongest. I have no intention of dying and leaving you alone."

His words are a vow, a promise etched in the fierce determination of his gaze. I lean into his touch, the coolness of his skin a stark contrast to the warmth brewing within me. "I just... I couldn't bear it if something happened to you," I admit, my voice trembling slightly.

He pulls me closer, his tentacles brushing against my back in a soothing rhythm. "You are mine to protect, Bella. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. These waira are nothing to me."

I wrap my arms around his waist, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. "I know. It's just… I worry about you. I care so deeply for you."

His body stiffens for a moment before he relaxes, his grip on me tightening. "Good. Because you're stuck with me."

I laugh, the sound bouncing around the cave. "I think I can live with that."

He grins, his eyes softening in a way that makes my heart flutter. "Damn right, you can. Now, let's finish up here. I have plans for us once this waira nonsense is over."

My curiosity piques, but I don't press him. Instead, I help him push the last of the boulders into place. Our bodies move in a dance of mutual understanding and respect.

As the last stone falls into place, he turns to me, his gaze intense. "We're ready for them. And when they come, I'll show you just how formidable I can be."

I nod, believing every word. With him by my side, I feel invincible. And in the heat of battle, our bond will only grow stronger.

He leans down, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Stay close to me, Bella. No matter what happens."

"I will," I promise, knowing that with him, I've found my true strength.

As we prepare for the coming conflict, our connection deepens. His confident demeanor is a comfort, a shield against the fear that once consumed me. And in this moment, amidst the preparations for a battle that could very well decide our fate, I realize just how much he means to me.

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