Page 101 of An Inheritance of Monsters

My beautiful little mate took one of my claws, and I purred with pleasure.

“Rask… what’s the best way to bring him through to the Void? I don’t want him caught by Dagonites now that we’ve made up…” She cast a wry look at the round man. “But really, if he wants to see it, who am I to tell him no?”

“We will go beneath the bed. My caverns are safe.” I pointed to the narrow gap, then remembered the offenses this male had visited upon my person, and glared at him. “You should leave better offerings. I do not want your cast-off underwear. My Juno leaves offerings befitting a king.”

“Oh, it was just a hairclip…” she muttered, covering a smile with one hand while Porter quailed under my stare.

“I… didn’t know they were offerings?” he said in a tiny voice.

“Now you do.”

I led Juno to the bed, cradling her in my arms, and spared one claw for the round man. The less of me he touched, the better.

“Hold tight, human. You do not want to be stuck in the doorway.”

One of his greasy little hands wrapped around my claws, and he let out a shuddering breath. “Fuck. This is real. I am touching a monster.”

“Yes. Now we go.”

I didn’t understand how Juno could be so lovely, soft, and warm, and this man was… not. His touch made me shudder with disgust.

But nonetheless, my mate had asked, so I pulled him through the door into the Void, bending space to bring him through.

We landed near the entrance to my caverns, amidst a scattering of coins.

The human was hyperventilating, goggling around at everything and clutching the sides of his skull again. His fingers dug into his hair, threatening to tear out what remained of it.

“Porter? You okay?” Juno slid easily out of my arms, reaching out to touch the man’s arm.

He whirled around, gazing at her with crazed eyes. “It’s real.”

She nodded, watching him with alarm. “Yes… I kinda felt the same way the first time I came through.”

I snorted. “This is one small part of the Void, little man. Its depths are beyond your comprehension.”

“Oh, Jesus.” He raked his fingertips down his cheeks, dragging his face down. “Oh, God.”

Juno scoffed. “Bitch, please. You’re an atheist.”

The human shook his head slowly, his gaze trained on the cavern entrance. “What’s… outthere?”

My mate smiled.

She led the human out onto the beach, and with every step the man took, his shoulders hunched lower and lower.

Finally he collapsed to his knees in the sand, staring up at the sky, mouth hanging open.

I settled on my haunches, keeping a watchful eye on my Juno and the gently lapping waves. The Sea of the Void could hide unseen enemies, stirring along with their Elder Gods.

She knelt next to the man, resting a hand on his back.

A sound shivered through the air, rising in intensity.

He was laughing.

Clawing at his own face and laughing, the hysteria breaking through.

Juno looked alarmed, patting his back. “Hey, hey… come on. It’s gonna be okay.”

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