Some Kind of Monster (Friends with the Monsters, #2)

by Albany Walker

“I know you don’t hate me, Kitten. I would never let someone who hated me touch me like that. I would only let you touch me like that, because I trust you.” Gunnar does a double take, as if he can’t believe what I just said, but his eyes are still narrowed, making me feel like he still doesn’t understand what I’m saying. I reach for him again, and this time he doesn’t pull away. “I want all of you, Gunnar, not just what you think I can handle. Your monster doesn’t scare me. I love all of you.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not having an existential crisis here, Loverboy. I’m asking what I am. What kind of monster am I?” I clarify. Grim lifts his chin in understanding. “You are the daughter of Lilith, a goddess of life.”

“Yet you are, just as I am Death. Consuming sins doesn’t make you evil, any more than reaping souls makes me evil. It just helps you thrive on the perception of those that believe there is more to this world than what is clearly visible. Without that belief,

“So, is she still alive?” I bite my lip. I’m not sure I ever want to meet the woman Grim described as beautifully chaotic. “In you. When you chose to be born here, she ended and you began.”

“If they piss me off too much, I’ll just kill them all and let the chips fall where they may.” Gunnar lets out a soft sigh. “She really is perfect.”

Gunnar swoops me up in his arms and nuzzles my neck. “Stop threatening to maim people—you know how excited I get.”

“Try not to kill anyone,” he tells me. I hook my thumb in Grim’s direction with my mouth hanging open. “He’s literally Death, and you’re telling me not to kill anyone? Pshh.”

“They were witches—witches who were performing rituals on baddies to steal their powers. Should I have let them go around killing my friends?”

“Stars, don’t you have someone who can take one for the team and fuck the stick out of her ass?” I direct my question to Torin. “I will donate a ball gag to the effort.”

“Your dick, my mouth, interested?” His eyes dilate and his head moves up and down as he swallows. “There will never be a time when the answer will be anything but fuck yes.”

“I apologize. I lost control last night. I shouldn’t have allowed myself to get so angry.” His eyes are trained over the top of my head.

“I’m not going to pretend that I would be happy about it. There are a lot of people I care about in this world, Grim.” I fist the fabric of his shirt. “But when it comes down to it, I care more about you. I would forgive you, still love you, even if you did do it. That probably makes me a psycho or unhinged or some shit, but it’s the truth. Want to know what else I know is the truth?”

With a whispered confession, I give Grim my truth, and it rings with certainty in my soul. “I would burn the world for you too.”

Aeson places the back of her hand on her forehead like some old-fashioned cinema damsel. “And that’s what killed her, folks. The rampant rumors of her dry pussy. She eventually succumbed to her plight and shriveled up and died from lack of dicking.”

“You may not possess me, because I am my own, but I give myself to you freely. I pledge your name will be the only name I cry out for.” “Did you just marry her?” Calix stomps over, incredulous. “Aye,” Gunnar confirms. “You didn’t even ask her.” “She’s accepted my gifts, and I’ve spoken the vow.”

“What do you want?” She swipes her hand under her nose. Messy. “What every girl wants. To stand on the bones of my enemies, and to look fabulous while doing so.”

“What do I need to pack?” Gunnar’s smile grows until the scar marring his lip is barely visible. “Absolutely nothing.” I toss my head back and laugh. “Sounds like my kind of party.”