Wyn (Monstrous, #3.5)

by Lily Mayne

Humans were stupid. It was why the parasites could easily overrun them if left unchecked.

I tried to push the thoughts away, but they consumed me sometimes. Worry pounded through me like a war drum. Deep and constant, inescapable. Thankfully, the state I went into while Danny slept was more meditative, which meant my head remained blissfully blank for those few hours. Even without the dark thoughts, my mind was a cluttered place after living for so long, so I was grateful for the reprieve. Sometimes though, I simply lay awake next to him, breathing in his scent, my blood pounding with the awareness that I would have him for so short a time.

He was so fragile. So vulnerable. I ached to think of him being hurt or sick again. I couldn’t even bring myself to consider what would happen when he was no longer here, and I was left alone again. Without him.

He leaned forward to press a kiss to my mouth. “Wyn, you romantic son of a bitch.” I rolled my eyes. “Focus, my sweet.”

“And you’re really… willing to do that? You’re getting the raw end of the deal here. You’d be…”—he swallowed—“halving what’s left of your life. For me.” That made me wheeze out a grating laugh. “Trust me, Danny, I am not getting the raw end of the deal.” I wrapped my arms tight around his middle, pulling him closer. “I get you.” “Oh my god, Wyn, you’re being so romantic today.”

I wasn’t sure he would appreciate me just killing them all so the path was clear. Maybe I’d gently suggest it when we were closer.

I wondered what had become of the rycke. I had reluctantly freed him from his cell at the Nebraska military base, but I hadn’t lingered to see what he would do. Each rycke had different triggers, but most were fiercely possessive of what they considered ‘theirs’, whether that was a place, an object or a living being.

A reason why the very essence of me had strained for him, desperately reaching out the moment I had seen his face for the first time. I had imprinted on him without conscious thought in that moment, my blood pounding for him. He was mine. He was always supposed to be mine. I had just needed to wait for a long time to find him. But the wait had been worth it.

A pointless waste of life, but humans had always been strangely cavalier about the lives of others, while remaining terrified of death themselves.

“I will protect you with everything I have, Danny,” I told him, tightening my grip on his fingers. “I’ll look after you.”

“You know if I tell anyone all the sweet shit you say to me, no one’s gonna be scared of you anymore.”

I huffed, amused. “I don’t believe I promised anything.” Danny sputtered. “If I’m going to stay alive for four thousand years to keep you company, the least you can do is show me a good time.”

“Jesus,” Danny muttered, tightening his grip on my hand and dragging me forward as he started walking again. “All your friends are so weird.”

The realisation that I might get to have this for the rest of my life made my throat ache. I held him closer and pressed my nose and mouth to the top of his head, content to breathe him in for the hours that he slept.

“Yeah. Our good deed for the day is done.” Danny kept his arm around my waist as we started walking, glancing back at the nask. “Don’t get eaten, little guy.” “We’re supposed to do a good deed every day?” I muttered.

“Children can still be assholes.” I wheezed. “Yes. Edin was barely an adult when I met him, and he was definitely an asshole. He still is.”

“He should respect me,” I couldn’t help but blurt out. “I am his elder.” I had practically raised him through his early adulthood. Insolent brat. “Wyn, you’re everyone’s elder.”

I would never admit it out loud, because he would gloat, but this was more than nice. This was… wonderful. There had never been—and never would be—another being in the universe who I could be this relaxed and content around. Not even Edin, who I trusted with my life. Danny made me feel peaceful.

“We just fucked in a religious place? You had your tongue up my ass on sacred ground?” I huffed and pulled him closer to drop a kiss in his hair. “My sweet, it was a joke.” I would just have to make sure he didn’t see the shrine when we left.

“If you’re sure you want to do this…” “Yes.” Danny let out a hard breath and started walking, tugging on my hand. “I’m going to make sure you’re stuck with me for the next four thousand years.”

didn’t want you to be alone after I’m gone. I didn’t want you to feel that pain. But I should have thought about it more. About what it meant.” This sweet, ridiculous human. I got the sense that this whole experience had overwhelmed him, and he was full of jittery, adrenaline-fuelled nerves. Humans sometimes had these intense emotional releases, I was sure. The mabs’ presence didn’t help—their gazes were making my own head feel heavy. “My sweet.”

“Moric Lor? Is that the ruler’s name?” “His name is Lor. His title is Moric. Like king.”

“Poor Edin. And he lost some of his horn, didn’t he? His horns were cool.” I scowled but said nothing. Mine were better. And my left one had grown back after I lost it.

If he even knew what Edin had sacrificed for him. I also wondered if I should let Danny know that complimenting Edin’s horns was basically the equivalent of stating his admiration for Edin’s cock. I decided against it.

“I love you, Wyn,” he said, voice slightly hoarse. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m so glad I met you. And that I get to spend the next few thousand years with you,” he added, grinning up at me.

I loved him. In that moment, it hit me that I would have him—I would have this—for the rest of my life. Our lives.

I ignored him, taking his left hand and slipping the ring onto his finger. Cradling his hand in mine, I stared at the ring now sitting snug on Danny’s long finger and swallowed, glad he couldn’t see how ludicrously happy it made me seeing it on him.

I tore my eyes away to look at him when Danny grinned up at me, a blindingly brilliant smile, before he looked down at the ring on his hand. “Hey, I’ve always wondered—are these made of bone?”

If Wyn got to have a human pet, I wanted one too.