Page 3 of Monster Mate

“Hmmm. I think we already established that’s not happening. What I want to know now is how many other women you’ve hurt?”

If possible, his ugly face got even uglier. “What does it matter? You human women don’t mean anything,” he spat at her. “Monsters are stronger and better than you in every way. Why shouldn’t we take whatever we want whenever we want it?”

Here’s where she had a decision to make. Every self-defense instructor she’d ever had—and she’d had a lot of them—told her to run once her attacker was on the ground. She’d already ignored that advice by questioning him.

She supposed she could call the police. Of course, with him on the ground and her standing here unharmed, that tactic might not end well for her. Or she could pepper spray him for fun. She had a canister in her pocket.

But before she could make up her mind, the decision was taken out of her hands. Permanently.

That wasn’t hyperbole, either. Something had literally stopped her from doing anything to her would-be attacker.

It was a giant red hand, so huge the fingers could wrap around her wrist at least twice, with two-inch-long, pitch-black talons straight out of a dystopian nightmare.

Another fucking monster. Just…hell.

What an absolute clusterfuck of a night she was having.

CHAPTER 2

His mate was magnificent.

Riordan Merrick hadn’t known much happiness in his long, long life. His people weren’t known for joy. They were hard people who lived hard lives. He’d always hoped, though. Hoped for a life full of love and simple pleasures.

With one look at the stunning, fierce, black-haired beauty who’d just crossed his path—guided by fate, no doubt—he knew his dreams were finally being realized.

He’d crossed time and dimensions to escape his dying realm and find a mate. Everyone left on his side of the veil between the human world and the demon world had called him a fool. Why would the fragile, delicate looking human females want to mate with hulking, soul-reaping demons from a hell dimension?

But Roxie Rowe was proof he’d been right all along.

The only thing he’d been wrong about was the Monster Match event. It had seemed like the perfect place to find a mate. Where else would he find a room full of human women who were actively seeking monster husbands?

But none of the women he’d met were right for him. They were all lovely and pleasant enough. But he’d know his mate when he saw her—and none of the women he dated that evening were meant to be his.

Then he heard a heavenly voice telling a gargoyle he’d lose a fucking hand if he touched her again, and he knew.

This was the woman the gods meant for him to find all along.

She was tall for a human woman. Probably 5’9” with long, slender legs and a lean, athletic build. She wasn’t especially curvy, but the black, button-down shirt and straight-leg black trousers she was wearing hugged the curves she did have in a very flattering way.

Roxie looked strong and healthy, with espresso-colored eyes and a smooth complexion that spoke of plenty of time spent outdoors, soaking up the sun. He could easily imagine her hiking the lush green paths that circled the mountains around Sanity Falls and enjoying the fresh, clean air. And he could just as easily imagine himself at her side, enjoying her.

He wanted to learn everything about her. Her past, her hopes, her dreams, her likes and dislikes…he wanted to know it all. If it took him a lifetime to learn all her secrets, he’d never complain.

What a strange feeling this was. To be so enamored of a total stranger.

It wasn’t love. Obviously, he had to get to know her before that could develop. But there was a strange kind of connection between them that was wonderful and terrifying and absolutely surreal all at the same time.

In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to grab her, toss her over his shoulder, and get her out of there before any other monsters could lay eyes on her. Just the thought of them thinking they had a chance with his mate made him want to rip their hearts out and offer them to his new human queen as a sign of his devotion.

But he didn’t want to frighten her. She was working at this event, serving drinks and food. She wasn’t there to find a monster husband, let alone a soul mate. And she hadn’t glanced in his direction once. He wasn’t even sure if human women believed in fated mates, or ever experienced the kind of bone-deep longing he was currently feeling. He couldn’t risk ruining his chance with her by frightening her.

So, he watched.

He watched her fiery rage when she quit her job and left the gargoyle scrambling to finish the drink service alone. He watched her smile warmly and speak with the other human woman—the one that was married to the strangest monster Riordan had ever seen. (And that was saying something, because he’d seen just about every type of monster imaginable). He watched the moonlight dancing across her delicate features and thick, wavy hair as she crossed the parking lot to her vehicle.

He watched as an orc grabbed her from behind and wrapped his arm around her slender throat.

MINE.

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