Page 86 of An Inheritance of Monsters

Zirin wrapped his arms around me, drawing me close.

His tentacles crept over my face as I closed my eyes and leaned in, brushing my eyelashes, exploring my cheeks and chin. Beneath them, his lips were much like mine: soft and warm, his tongue slipping out against mine.

I felt him relax, the tension melting from his shoulders as I kissed him.

When we broke apart, my breath was shallow again. I touched his face, drawing my thumb along his cheek.

“If I’m going to be your mate and beg for you, you have to understand: I’m here because I want to be. There is nothing about you that will drive me away.”

He nodded, tentacles pulsing with pink and peach lights.I believe you, Juno. I feel the same.

I smiled, but even as the ripplings of the first craving for more came back, I felt Rask reach out for me.

“She has experienced much.” He picked me up, stroking me from shoulder to thigh. “Our mate must sleep, and her body will recover so she can take more.”

I felt like my body was pretty damn well recovered and ready for more, but nothing seemed to stop aMlul’draintent on caring for his mate.

And then my wide yawn betrayed me.

Voraal reached out, brushing my cheek. “Go to sleep, Juno. We will come for you when the sun has gone.”

I nodded, my worn-out muscles already relaxing into sleep as Rask carried me back to my bed.

Chapter25

Juno

Iwoke up bundled in a nest of blankets and pillows, my curtains thrown back and rain tapping softly on the glass.

A vague memory of Rask arranging everything in a neat, comfortable circle on my bed came back to me. I’d been half-asleep by the time we made it back to the manor, and he had cuddled me and purred while building my nest.

I’d slept like the dead, my body feeling vaguely sore from the strain of taking so much.

It was a good thing he was so protective or I might’ve pushed past my limits.

My excitement over mating these monsters was so intense, I kept forgetting I was new to them. Even though my body would eventually grow accustomed to handling their size, it was hard to just be patient.

But as I got showered and dressed for the day, I realized that for the first time since arriving on Duskwood Island, I’d woken uphappy.

I paused in front of the bathroom mirror with my toothbrush still in my mouth, staring at my reflection.

The dark circles under my eyes were gone—even though a good night’s sleep now seemed like a fleeting fever dream.

In fact, unless I was imagining things, my skin looked almost… glowy. Even my hair seemed thicker and glossier.

And I hadn’t been barraged by an immediate deluge of worries the moment I’d opened my eyes.

The concept of the Sci-Fi Network, YouVid views, and evenSpirit Squaditself, seemed distant and unimportant.

All I cared about was the monsters… and solving the mystery of the island.

For once, the constant gnawing thought of ‘I will never be good enough’ had been relegated so far in the back of my mind it wasn’t even a consideration.

I grinned at myself, blue bubbles still in my teeth, and laughed out loud.

That good mood lasted all the way into the kitchen, even though Carson, Jack, and Porter were already up and making coffee.

“Morning!” I said, pouring myself a cup and refilling the coffee maker.

---