Page 21 of Sacrificed to the Mountain Demon

"Sing?" I lean forward, intrigued. "Sing something for me."

She shakes her head, her cheeks flushing. "I couldn't..."

"Come on," I press, my voice rumbling low. "I want to hear you."

She inhales deeply, then starts to sing softly. Her voice is like nothing I've ever heard before—sweet and clear, filling the cave with a warmth I didn't know was possible.

I close my eyes, letting the sound wash over me. When she finishes, I open them to find her watching me, a hint of a smile on her lips.

"That was... nice," I manage, feeling suddenly awkward. "You can do that whenever you want."

She nods, looking more relaxed than I've seen her since she arrived. It makes something in my chest tighten.

"Look," I say, leaning closer. "I know this isn't easy for you. But I want you to feel comfortable here. With me."

She meets my gaze, her brown eyes searching my green ones. "I'll try," she whispers.

As I watch her lips curve into a tentative smile, something shifts inside me. A warmth spreads through my chest,unfamiliar and intense. Fuck, what is this feeling? It's like nothing I've ever experienced before.

My tentacles twitch restlessly as I struggle to process this new emotion. I want to wrap them around her, to shield her from the world. The urge is so strong it's almost painful.

"You're completely safe with me," I growl, my voice low and possessive. "No one will ever hurt you again."

I brush my hand gently across her cheek. Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn't flinch away this time. Progress. I lean in closer to her, inhaling her sweet scent.

"You understand, right? You're mine at any cost," I state matter-of-factly.

She nods slowly, her brow furrowing. "I... I know. But what does that mean, exactly?"

I bare my teeth in what I hope is a reassuring grin. "It means I'll protect you. Take care of your needs. No one else gets to touch you or bother you. Ever."

The intensity of my own words surprises me. But fuck, it's true. The thought of anyone else laying a hand on her makes my blood boil over.

"But what about my village?" she asks softly. "My friends? Will I ever get to go back there or see any of them again?

I snarl, my tentacles lashing out behind me. "They gave you up willingly. Tossed you aside like fucking garbage. You don't need them anymore."

She flinches at my aggressive tone, and I force myself to take a deep breath. Calm down, you idiot. You're scaring her again.

"Look," I say, trying to soften my voice. "I know it's not what you're used to or what you maybe want. But I can give you everything you need. Food, shelter, protection. Isn't that better than being sacrificed to some monster?"

Her lips twitch into a wry smile. "But... aren't you the monster they sacrificed me to?"

I can't help but laugh, a deep rumbling sound that echoes throughout the cave. "Fair point. But I'm not gonna eat you or some shit. Unless you're into that."

She blushes furiously, and I feel a surge of satisfaction. Fuck, she's cute when she's flustered.

"I'm kidding," I add quickly. "Sort of. Point is, you'll be better off here. And I... I want you to be happy with me."

The words feel strange on my tongue. Since when do I care about anyone's happiness but my own? But as I look at her, I realize it's true. I want to see her smile, hear her laugh. I want to be the reason for it.

"I'll try," she says softly, echoing her earlier words. But this time, there is a hint of genuine warmth in her voice.

I nod, suddenly feeling awkward again. What the hell am I supposed to do now? This isn't exactly covered in the Umbrath guide to human interaction.

"So… do you want to explore the cave some more?" I offer lamely. "There's some cool shit deeper in."

Her eyes light up with curiosity. "Really? Like what?"

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