Page 56 of Demon Monster's Little Human

"Don't you dare ignore me!"

A muscle ticks in my jaw. I grip the nearest rock, digging my claws into it. "You started this."

Her breath hitches, just slightly. But then—defiance.

"You dragged me into the water!" she snaps.

"You were staring," I say, voice low, dangerous.

She flushes, and some twisted, primal part of me likes it.

"And you kissed me," she fires back. "You?—"

I am on her before I even register moving. Too close.

Her breath stutters, but she does not move away.

"I stopped," I growl, voice tight. "I pulled away. So what does that say about you, little human?"

She glares, but I see the conflict there. The raw, simmering heat neither of us have the luxury of entertaining.

I can’t do this.

I need to move. I need to think.

A sound.

Deep. Wrong.

Liora hears it, too. Her shoulders go rigid, her eyes flicking toward the cave entrance.

My muscles coil, every instinct screaming danger.

The dark presence.

But no, it is something else.

Something inside this place.

I gesture for her to move, to stay behind me, but she’s already creeping forward, stepping deeper into the cave.

Foolish girl. But I do not stop her as something inside me whispers,Follow.

The stone walls stretch ahead, narrowing into an arched corridor, leading into something bigger. After minutes of walking, we arrive at what seems to be the dead end.

A dwelling.

Old. Forgotten.

The remnants of a life once lived remain here, long-decayed furniture, discarded relics, the crumbling remnants of parchment.

This was someone’s home. But whose? Why is it here, hidden deep beneath these cursed mountains?

Liora gasps.

I whirl, claws raised, only to see her holding something.

A notebook.

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