Page 58 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

As I gather the pungent leaves, my mind wanders to our first days together. The fear, the uncertainty... and now? Now I can't imagine my life without him.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" he asks, his tentacles wrapping gently around my waist.

I lean into him, savoring his warmth. "Just realizing how differently I feel about you."

He chuckles loudly, the sound reverberating through his chest. "You're not scared of me anymore, that's for damn sure."

"No, I’m not," I agree, turning to face him. "I'm yours now, very willingly yours."

His eyes darken with desire. He leans down, his sharp teeth grazing my neck. "Damn right you are," he growls.

A shiver runs through me, but I force myself to focus. "We should finish packing."

Releasing me reluctantly, he grumbles, "Always the voice of reason."

I laugh, tossing him a bundle of furs. "Someone has to be."

As we continue our preparations, I can't help but marvel at how natural it feels. Working together, planning our future. It's so far from what I'd imagined when the village chose to sacrifice me to him.

I kneel down in the corner of the cave to grab the last of our supplies. The cold stone beneath me is a stark reminder of the life I once knew. From a village girl who flinched at every shadow to a woman who's stood shoulder to shoulder with a being born of nightmares, I've certainly come a long way.

I watch Jytos across the cave, his hulking form aglow in the firelight, as he meticulously packs the last of his artifacts. His tentacles dance with precision, wrapping items with the same care I've seen him use when handling me. It's a stark contrast to the raw power he wields in battle, the alpha strength that has slain countless waira to keep me safe.

"You're staring," he rumbles, a smirk playing on his sharp features.

I flush, caught in the act. "Just thinking about how strong you are and how you taught me your skills to survive out here."

He pauses, his eyes locking onto mine. "You've learned well in a short amount of time. You're not that same frightened and uncertain girl."

I can't deny that I've become stronger, braver. I've learned to wield a bow, to track, to fight. I've learned the language of the wind through the mountains and the subtle shifts in the air that speak of danger long before it arrives.

Yet, a sudden pang of nostalgia washes over me. It's a fleeting whisper of my old life. The warmth of the village hearth and the chatter of Mara and Tomas as we prepared meals. It's a distant memory now, replaced by my new reality with Jytos.

"Sometimes," I confess, "I miss the simplicity of my old life. But then I remember what it cost me – the fear, the loneliness. And I realize I wouldn't trade this for anything."

He moves to me, his large hand cupping my cheek. "You're mine now, Bella. And I am yours."

He leans down, his lips brushing against mine in a promise of protection, of passion, of a future. I yield to him, to the creature who claimed me as his own, who taught me to fight, to love, to live.

As we break apart, I turn back to the corner of the cave. "I really should gather the rest of our food and water stores," I mutter.

As I work tirelessly, I can't help but reflect on the journey that lies ahead. New lands, new dangers, a world beyond the confines of this cave. But with Jytos by my side, I suddenly feel invincible.

He soon joins me, his presence a comforting shadow. "You're lost in thought again," he observes, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I smile softly, meeting his gaze. "Just thinking about the road ahead. About all the things we'll face together."

He grunts, a sound that's become endearing. "We'll face them as we always have. Together."

And with that simple truth echoing in my heart, I know that no matter what trials we encounter, we will endure. For we are more than the sum of our parts: I am his heart, and he is my strength. Our love is the forbidden fruit, blooming in the harshest of climates, defying the world that would see us torn apart.

I am Bella, once a meek village girl, now a warrior, a lover, a partner to the monster who reigns over my soul.

We soon take a break from our packing and sit down for dinner. The flickering glow of the fire dances across the cave walls and casts shadows that twist and writhe like living things. Jytos sits across from me. His green eyes reflect the flames like twin emeralds. The scent of roasted meat fills the air, making my stomach growl.

I pick up a piece of the meat and take a small bite. Suddenly, I blurt out, "I used to think my life was set in stone. That I was destined to be the lonely spinster of the village, tending to everyone else's needs but my own."

He growls as his sharp teeth tear into a piece of the meat. "Sounds like a pretty miserable existence," he remarks, his voice low.

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