Moth (Monstrous, #5)

by Lily Mayne

Searing jealousy made me tighten my grip on his hand, wanting to tug him closer. I pictured us walking back into camp and Moth striding off at the sight of Ghost, leaving me behind. Everything in me rebelled at the thought of him even talking to the quiet, unassuming raider, which was ridiculous and needy and way too possessive—worryingly possessive. He’s mine, my brain snarled anyway.

aww bb he loves you its ok

I had an overwhelming urge to spin Moth around and lead us away from the camp—away from unfriendly raiders, away from judgemental monsters. Away from the person he wanted more than he wanted me.

sobbing

“Have you thought about what you’re going to do?” he asked, keeping his eyes on the ground. “After we get back?” “No,” I said quickly. “No plans yet.” Ask me to stay with you.

When he didn’t say anything, I licked my lips and nervously said, “I liked your safehouse.” I’d live there with you. Just ask me. Fucking ask me.

It blinked at me, one eye framed by a curling strip of white in its grey fur, before looking at Moth. Its face twisted, and it let out an ear-splitting hiss followed by a trilling chirrup as it clambered down from the truck. “Chuck!” Moth suddenly cried, confusing the shit out of me. He lunged forward then stopped dead, face flaming pink as he looked at me.

CHUCK OH THANK GOD

I could feel Moth physically restraining himself, before he gave up and ran toward her. She chirped excitedly and scurried up his legs the moment he was in reach, clinging onto his front like a baby spider monkey. He patted her back, avoiding the spikes. “You okay? No other humans got to you?” She chirped again and climbed up onto his back, tail whipping happily through the air as her long arms twined around his neck. My heart freaking melted. Moth slowly turned to face me with his cheeks still adorably flushed pink but his chin raised defiantly. “So… this is Chuck.”

cutest fucking thing ever

“I was replaced so quickly.” I sauntered forward and grinned at the buggy eyes peering at me over Moth’s shoulder. “By an upgrade, apparently. I can’t ride on your back like that.” His mouth stretched into a wide grin. “You can if you want.” I laughed. “No need to show off about your monster strength, baby. Besides, I think the seat has been taken.”

I smiled at Chuck, wondering if she was going to whip that tail around and embed those wicked spikes into my skin if I got close to Moth. She stared back at me, then let...

She chirruped and rubbed her face against the tattoos on the back of his hand. “That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” I told him solemnly, and his face flamed even darker. “Shut up.” “I mean, you have to keep her, right?” I took a step closer, but didn’t reach to touch her yet. “She’s clearly already in love with you.” You and me both, girl.

Once we’d reached the camp and delivered our news, I planned to talk to him. To tell him exactly how I felt when he would be free to give his honest answer without fear of making it awkward. We wouldn’t be travelling together anymore, having to rely on one another. He’d be able to reject me and go on his merry way without a look back. I really, really fucking hoped he didn’t do that.

I really wanted to reach over and thread my fingers through his, but his hands were stuffed in his coat pockets. I tried to ignore the part of me that was hurt by it—hurt by the idea that maybe he would be embarrassed to be seen with me in that way. That he wouldn’t want Ghost to see.

My throat bobbed, fingers twitching by my sides with the overwhelming urge to grab Moth and run in the other direction. To stay, just the two of us, out here where nothing could change.

I exhaled and forced myself to turn away. Ghost seemed like a nice person. It wasn’t his fault Moth was in love with him and not me.

“Charles Dylan Keane.” The sweet, familiar roar of my best friend boomed across the camp, bringing a tiny smile to my lips and chasing away the gnawing ache in my gut. “Where the fuck have you been?”

My brows twitched with confusion at that, but I shot Edin a smile as he reached us. “Hi, Edi—guh—” I was yanked off my feet yet again by giant purple arms. Edin rubbed his cheek against my hair frantically.

I shot Edin a smile as he reached us. “Hi, Edi—guh—” I was yanked off my feet yet again by giant purple arms. Edin rubbed his cheek against my hair frantically.

“Don’t worry about Moth’s lack of horns, Charlie,” he told me earnestly. “I’m sure he is still very virile. Well, you’d know, anyway. Is he? Virile?”

Gloam watched me carefully. His fanged mouth tilted into a tiny smile. “You have come to care for him.”

The rejection was even more painful than I’d anticipated. He wasn’t in love with Ghost anymore, but evidently he didn’t feel anything like that for me either. “Okay.” I tried to keep the devastation out of my voice as I nodded, reaching up to scrub roughly at my face. “I understand. Sorry for… Sorry.”

“Thanks for everything. Thanks for keeping me safe out there, Moth. I’m glad I could get to know you. I don’t… I don’t think I’m going to stay here. So… I hope things get better for you now the Herald’s gone.”

“You’ll find someone,” I croaked. “Someone who’ll see how amazing you are.” I do. I see it.

My eyes got hot as she gazed up at me and clutched my wrist with both flat little hands. “Bye, Chuck.” She chirruped sadly as if she knew what was happening, fingers clinging on as I straightened.

Moth strode along the walkway, dragging me behind him, but halted when Edin’s booming voice called down to us from the wall. “I told you, Charlie!” I could see his fangs flashing in the dark even from this distance, a huge grin on his face. “Enjoy yourselves!”

i fucking love edin hes such an idiot

“So.” I smirked at him, sauntering forward to slip my hand beneath his shirt and run it up his side. I traced over a little patch of scales. “You love me, huh?” He huffed. “Shut up.”

I yanked my boots off and stood between his legs, cradling the back of his head as he looked up at me and rested his hands on my hips. I saw his tattooed throat bob as he swallowed. “I love you, Charlie,” he said quietly in his husky voice. My chest went tight, something inside me clicking into place. Finally. “I love you too.”

My chest ached with almost overwhelming want, despite the fact that I was inside him. It was like I couldn’t get deep enough. Close enough.

“Will you teach me to read?” Moth asked quietly, laying his palm on the centre of my chest and stretching out his long, tattooed fingers. I nuzzled into his hair. “Of course.”

“Danny needs food.” Daisy tutted, not even looking at him as he loomed over the counter with his hood up and his face concealed by impenetrable darkness. “We’ve talked about this, scary man.” His blackened fingers flexed, and he was silent as Daisy ladled stew into two bowls and passed them to me and Charlie. “Please,” he snarled eventually. “Danny needs food please.”

i fucking love wyn being domesticated djvbjfxmbku

Thinking about Charlie made my chest get hot and tight and my stomach twist with pleasant nerves. Made me feel a little jittery, like I had to make sure I did everything in my power to keep him with me.

I tangled my fingers with Charlie’s on top of his thigh, and he laughed when Chuck tried to yank my hand back so she could hold it instead.