Page 35 of Stolen By The Beast
After the moon had shifted nearly completely across the sky, my saroque was fully regrown. I touched it gently with my clawed fingers, feeling the cool, smooth surface.
It was a physical representation of my commitment, a reminder that the darkness and the light could coexist within me, and my thoughts turned to Juniper, still asleep in the shelter I’d built.
My saroque was more than just a part of me—it was the very symbol of commitment to her and my decision to finally take a mate.
I considered what to carve into it. It needed to be a design that would capture the essence of our connection and the depth of my feelings for her.
Turning once more to the darkness within, I asked it to guide me as I thought about Juniper—her laughter, her kindness despite her being human, the warmth of her touch.
But most of all, I thought of her trust, and I knew what I needed to do.
With deliberate care, I extended my clawed fingers and began to etch a design into the surface of my saroque.
It was a tedious process that sent prickles of pain shooting through my core, but every nick and mark brought me closer to completion and I poured everything I was feeling into each stroke.
After a time, the artwork emerged, taking shape under my claws. It was a representation of our union, a fusion of our worlds, and a testament to the trials that had brought us together.
My saroque felt cool and smooth under my touch, a canvas upon which I poured my deepest emotions. Each stroke was a connection to Juniper, a promise of my pledge that would bond us together.
If she accepted me.
I refused to think about that. Instead, I focused on the task before me, fleshing out the vision that I held in mind.
For my tiny human, I had carved an intricate pattern that symbolized what I thought our unique joining would represent.
The thick base of my saroque was a tree trunk that evolved into two halves, the branches different yet entwined.
One side was adorned with delicate blossoms and leaves, the very essence of my Chosen. Juniper was as fragile as a flower, but her stem was tempered with a strength that no creature could stomp out.
Not even a monster like me could break her.
The other side was embellished with intricate, shadowy vines and thorns, embodying my world and the darkness within me.
At the base, the roots of the tree intertwined, signifying our connection and the strength that came from our union.
Where the branches at the tip met again, I scored tiny, shimmering stars, as if the head of my saroque were the night sky above.
A crescent moon hovered above the tree, a reminder to me and her of the nights we would have together forever if she chose me.
The combination of these elements created something I never knew I was capable of making. When I finally finished, the sun was just starting to streak the sky.
I stared in awe at my saroque, running a hand over the smooth, yet textured, surface. A shudder skipped down my spine at the thought of Juniper touching it.
Tasting it.
Her sex wrapped around it.
It throbbed with need, but I reminded myself that now wasn’t the time to give into my base urges. Juniper needed to accept my gift and consent to be my Chosen.
Then she would be my mate, and we could join together in the dance more ancient than time itself.
Chapter Eleven
Juniper
Steppingfromtheshelterin the trees, I stretched and looked out over the shimmering water.
I didn’t think I would ever get used to this incredible view, the sound of birdsong in the trees, or the scent of moss and wood.
