Page 117 of Monsters and Beauties: Complete Series Collection

I smiled at him when his little claws curled around my finger as he cooed, his sharp teeth barely visible as he yawned. He was a mix of both of us, something the world had never seen before.

I brushed my fingers along his cheek, marveling at the warmth of him, the solid weight of his tiny body against mine. He was his father’s son in every way, and yet, there was something of me in him too.

I felt strong arms wrapping around me from behind, and I looked up to see my demon standing there, smiling down at our son. I leaned into his familiar warmth, exhaling softly as the demon nuzzled into my neck.

My mate. My demon.

He’d never been gentle with the world, but with me—with our child—he was softer than anything I’d ever known.

“He’s perfect,” I whispered, looking down at our son again.

My mate reached out, his massive clawed hand dwarfing our son’s tiny form as he brushed a single talon softly over his brow. “He is. In all ways,” he rumbled, the demon’s voice thick with possessiveness and pride.

I smiled, leaning down to press my lips to our child’s head. “I fear for him, though, and this world we live in. I’m afraid the world will try and hurt him.”

My mate growled low in his throat, his arms tightening around me as he settled behind me to cradle my form against his massive body. “Let them try.”

I shivered at the darkness in his voice, at the unyielding promise that no harm would ever come to me or our son. I believed him. I’d seen what he was capable of. I had no doubt he’d do the same for our child.

The world had tried to break me. My mate had wanted to go after my father, to take him out, too. But I didn’t want any more carnage. I wanted to start my life with the monster I’d fallen in love with.

And if there came a time when my father needed to be dealt with, I knew my mate would handle it. I knew he’d keep us safe above all else.

I’d carved a place for myself in the arms of a monster, and in doing so, I’d found happiness for the first time in my life.

I knew one thing with absolute certainty. Our son would never be alone. He’d never know the cruelty of what I’d experienced.

This was the happily ever after everyone deserved.

The End.

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