Lor (Monstrous, #7)

by Lily Mayne

“I’m happy with you,” I mumbled, squeezing his hand tighter. “I’ve never been happier than when I’m with you, Lor. I want us to be together forever.” He stared at me, brows pinched with anguish. Then he blurted, “Unite with me.” I blinked, mouth opening and closing wordlessly before… “Uh.” It sounded like some… Like he was asking me to go on some epic fantasy quest with him. Unite with him… in battle? In… bed? My dick twitched at that idea, but I was pretty sure that wasn’t what he meant. He scrambled up to kneel opposite me, still clutching my hand. “Unite with me,” he repeated, tone pleading. “Lawfully, with witnesses, so everyone knows that we only want each other. That you are mine and I am yours. So the whole fiefdom knows.” My stomach flipflopped with a rush of nerves, mouth suddenly as dry as the desert. “Y-you mean like… get married?” I stuttered, not quite able to catch my breath. I wasn’t sure if it was terror or pure joy making me fidgety. Maybe both. “Yes, yes, like that.” Lor nodded frantically and knee-walked closer, kissing the back of my hand again and again. “Like what you told me humans do. It is similar for vints. I want that, Jugs. I want you by my side always.”

“Okay,” I said, feeling strangely shy as I smiled at Lor. His breath caught, eyes glimmering in the dark as he gripped my hand tighter. “Yes?” he whispered fearfully, sounding like he wasn’t sure he’d heard me right. “Yes.” I leaned in to give him a deep kiss. “I wanna marry you. Um, unite with you.” Lor let out a hoarse sound and flung his arms around my neck, burying his face in my throat. “Jugs.”

“I cannot wait to tell Seis that you have agreed to unite with me. I thought I was cursed when I was without you. When everything—” He stopped and took a breath. “But how can I be when I get to have you? I am the luckiest creature in this entire world. In both worlds.” I bit my lip, clutching him tighter. “Lor.” “I cherish you like nothing else, Jugs. I cherish every moment I have with you. I will do my best to make you happy. I will do anything for you.”

“You don’t have to do anything for me,” I mumbled, feeling overwhelmed. “I just want you.” “You have me,” he breathed, wrapping his arms back around my neck and hugging me tight. I felt his lips move against my skin as he said, “From the moment we met, you have had me.”

“Well, we’ve brought back some humans. They’re setting up camp a short distance from the city. But we should probably get back to take them to Honra.” I blinked. Blinked again. “You’ve what?” I asked faintly. “Well that was the plan, wasn’t it?” Lyri threw his arms up. “And it’s not even that many! Plus, they’re well-protected—half of them have mates from this world, including the fucking rycke—” I choked on a breath and stumbled back, lifting a hand to my forehead. “What?” “He’s alright,” Lyri said gruffly. “Quite timid, actually. But anyway, we’ll have one drink then go back to take them to Honra—” “There are more humans?” Jugs asked in disbelief. “Here? Right now? Like… really close?” “Yes.” Lyri glanced at me, before giving Jugs a big, wicked grin. “Want to go meet them, old sport?” I was still reeling, trying to keep up with everything that had just happened, when I heard Jugs laugh and say, “Heck yes I do.” Oh Mabs.