Page 56 of Monster's Pet

“I don’t believe you have a secret,” he says.

“Oh, of course you don’t,” I return. “Nice try. You’re just choked up that I’ve managed to turn the tables on you.”

“You just made up that you have a secret. Five seconds ago.”

“Well, maybe I don’t believe that you have a secret anymore. Maybe you made it up right before I came into the room.”

“There is something that I want to do once I’m better.”

“Oh, sure there is,” I reply. “Something you just can’t tell me about now, but it’s definitely real, and you didn’t just make it up. I believe you.”

With this, we both crack up. For a few seconds, we’re just lying on the bed next to each other, laughing.

I’m lying on a bed with a sea monster, and we’re both laughing, I think, and that only makes me laugh harder.

The very next day, I walk in to find Laiken removing the last of the bandages on his body. At first, I’m skeptical, but he shows me the wounds. They’re all well closed, and in many cases, totally invisible.

“You weren’t kidding when you said you healed quickly,” I say.

“This is quicker than even I’m used to healing,” he answers. “And I’m sure I owe that to you. To your medicine. To your kindness. But of course, most of all, to your love.”

I blush slightly. It’s not the first time that love has come up, but until now, it’s been in extreme moments or there’s been some kind of excuse for it. Here, now, it feels different. It feels more real than it ever has before.

And that doesn’t make me frightened. It makes me excited. Because I do love him. And even if I’ve been nervous about saying it, I love hearing it from him.

“I do love you,” I tell him somberly.

“I know,” he answers. “And I love you, too. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“You mean your secret?” I ask. “If you have one, of course.”

He smiles. “It’s not a secret, really. I may have even mentioned it before, I’m not sure. I have a mating ritual. It is written deep inside of me. And I’ve dreamed of it ever since I saw you for the first time on land.”

This is a more serious thing than I had realized. “What is it?”

“A mark. Given by my mouth, and not the human one, to show that you are mine forever. My love. And my mate.”

I feel a warmth in my chest. That word. Forever. I’ve wanted something like that, too. A way that I can commit myself to Laiken and the life that I’ve slowly become used to. Something that will be permanent and real.

“Will it hurt?”

“For a little,” he admits. “Like anything that matters. But only for a little bit. And I can produce a gel that will stop the bleeding and ensure that it heals well.”

“When would you do it?” I ask.

“Whenever you want me to.”

I don’t have to think about it for long.

“Then let’s do it now. Right here.”

“Not here,” he says. “In the water. That’s why I needed to wait to get better. Otherwise, I would have done it as soon as I woke up and those elves were gone.”

And I probably would have accepted it then, too. But the days of healing Laiken will make it even more meaningful. They’ve brought us much closer together. I’ve seen him when he’s at his lowest, and he’s seen me when I’m not sure what I’m doing.

I’m almost glad we had that time together, even though it wasn’t always easy. I know it will make the time we have together in the future that much better.

“Then let’s do it,” I say. “I’ve wanted to go swimming with you again for a long time.”