21. Bella

21

BELLA

T he morning sun filters through the cave entrance, casting long shadows across the rocky floor. I push another heavy boulder into place and my muscles strain with the effort. Jytos moves beside me, his powerful form dwarfing mine as he effortlessly lifts stones twice my size.

"That should hold off those bastard waira," he growls, his deep voice laced with irritation.

I nod, wiping sweat from my brow. "I hope so. Those traps we set outside should slow them down too."

He grunts in agreement, his green eyes scanning our handiwork. "Damn straight. Any waira that gets past those won't live long enough to regret it."

As we continue to work, I can't help but marvel at how much I've changed. Just weeks ago, I was a meek village girl, always deferring to others. Now, here I am, fortifying a cave against monster attacks alongside my Umbrath protector.

"You're really getting stronger," he observes, his tentacles coiling around my waist. "Soon you'll be able to take on anything by yourself."

I laugh, leaning into his touch. "I don't know about that. But I do feel... different. Tougher, somehow."

"Good," he says, his sharp teeth glinting as he grins. "Since you're mine now, I need you tough."

His possessiveness should frighten me, but instead, it sends a thrill through my body. I've never felt so wanted, so protected.

"I never thought I'd feel at home in a cave," I muse, running my hand along the rough wall. "But with you, it feels so right."

He pulls me closer, his black skin cool against mine. "This is your home now. Our home. And I'll kill anything that tries to take you from it."

His words are harsh, but I hear the underlying tenderness. This fierce, monstrous creature cares for me in a way no one in my village ever did.

"I know you will," I whisper, tracing the contours of his face. "And I'll fight right alongside you."

He growls approvingly, "That's my girl," he says, his voice rough with emotion. "Now, let's finish this shit up. I want to make sure you're safe when those waira come sniffing around."

I nod, feeling a surge of determination. This is my life now - dangerous, unpredictable, but filled with a passion I never knew existed.

The cold air of the cave nips at my skin as I work, but I barely notice it. My focus is entirely on Jytos moving with lethal precision beside me. His tentacles glide over the stone and his muscles ripple beneath his black skin as he secures our makeshift fortifications. The sight of him is both terrifying and exhilarating.

I pause, my hand resting on a boulder. "Jytos," I say in a soft voice. He turns to me, his eyes piercing through the dim light. "I don't want to see you get hurt."

A low chuckle rumbles from his chest. "You think those waira can harm me?" He scoffs, the sound echoing off the cavernous walls. "I've been battling those beasts since before you were born."

His confidence should irritate me, but instead, it brings a small smile to my face. "I know you're... capable. But there are so many of them. What if?—"

He cuts me off with a swift motion, his large hand cupping my cheek. "Bella, I am the last of the Umbrath. I have survived because I am the strongest. I have no intention of dying and leaving you alone."

His words are a vow, a promise etched in the fierce determination of his gaze. I lean into his touch, the coolness of his skin a stark contrast to the warmth brewing within me. "I just... I couldn't bear it if something happened to you," I admit, my voice trembling slightly.

He pulls me closer, his tentacles brushing against my back in a soothing rhythm. "You are mine to protect, Bella. And I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. These waira are nothing to me."

I wrap my arms around his waist, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. "I know. It's just… I worry about you. I care so deeply for you."

His body stiffens for a moment before he relaxes, his grip on me tightening. "Good. Because you're stuck with me."

I laugh, the sound bouncing around the cave. "I think I can live with that."

He grins, his eyes softening in a way that makes my heart flutter. "Damn right, you can. Now, let's finish up here. I have plans for us once this waira nonsense is over."

My curiosity piques, but I don't press him. Instead, I help him push the last of the boulders into place. Our bodies move in a dance of mutual understanding and respect.

As the last stone falls into place, he turns to me, his gaze intense. "We're ready for them. And when they come, I'll show you just how formidable I can be."

I nod, believing every word. With him by my side, I feel invincible. And in the heat of battle, our bond will only grow stronger.

He leans down, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Stay close to me, Bella. No matter what happens."

"I will," I promise, knowing that with him, I've found my true strength.

As we prepare for the coming conflict, our connection deepens. His confident demeanor is a comfort, a shield against the fear that once consumed me. And in this moment, amidst the preparations for a battle that could very well decide our fate, I realize just how much he means to me.

He catches my gaze, a question in his eyes. I answer with a smile, letting him see the truth in my heart. He may be a monster in the eyes of the world, but to me, he's everything. And I'll stand by him, no matter what.

My heart races as I watch him move around the cave making his final inspection of our fortifications. It's not fear this time that courses through my veins—it's a fierce, all-consuming love. And in this moment, I can't deny it any longer. I love him, this dark, terrifying beast who has become my protector, my confidant, my everything.

I step forward, my hand reaching out to him, my voice a whisper of need. "Jytos."

He turns to me, his eyes questioning. I don't need to say more; the look in my eyes must betray my thoughts. He moves towards me, a predatory grace in his step, and I'm reminded of the first time I saw him, a shadow among shadows. Now, he's the light in my darkness.

My hands tremble as they touch his chest, feeling the cool, slick texture of his black skin. He's watching me, giving me the space to explore, to take what I need. I rise on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to his. The kiss is hesitant at first, but then he responds with a fervor that leaves me breathless. His tentacles wrap around me, pulling me flush against him. I can feel the evidence of his arousal, hard and insistent against my belly.

He growls into the kiss, a sound that vibrates through me, setting my nerves alight. "Bella," he murmurs against my lips, "you have no idea what you do to me."

I pull back slightly, looking up into his eyes. "I want all of you, Jytos. No holding back."

A flash of something—surprise, maybe—crosses his face before he crushes his mouth to mine once more. His kiss is demanding, dominating, and I yield to him, letting him take control. His hands roam my body, tugging at my clothing, impatient to claim what's his.

He breaks the kiss long enough to strip me of my gown, the cool air of the cave pebbling my skin. But I don't feel the cold; I'm burning up from the inside out. He lifts me effortlessly, his tentacles supporting my weight as I wrap my legs around his waist.

I can feel the rough texture of the cave wall against my back as he presses me against it. His mouth trails a path of fire down my neck, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin. I'm panting, moaning, my fingers tangling in his tentacles, holding on for dear life as he drives me wild with desire.

"Mine," he grunts, the word a primal claim that resonates deep within my soul.

I nod, beyond words, lost in the maelstrom of sensation. He enters me with one powerful thrust, and I cry out, the sound echoing off the cavernous walls. He stills, giving me a moment to adjust to his size, his eyes searching mine for any sign of discomfort. But there's none; there's only a desperate need for more.

"Please, Jytos," I beg, my voice hoarse with longing.

With a growl of approval, he begins to move, each stroke stoking the fire that threatens to consume us both. His rhythm is relentless, driving us higher and higher, until I'm teetering on the brink of ecstasy.

"Come for me, Bella," he commands, his voice a harsh rasp in my ear.

And I do, my body shattering into a thousand pieces, my cries of release muffled by his kiss. He follows me over the edge, his own climax a guttural roar that seems to shake the very foundations of the cave.

We stay there, locked together, our bodies slick with sweat and the aftermath of our lovemaking. He gently sets me down, his tentacles caressing my skin in soothing strokes. I lean into his touch, feeling cherished, protected.

"I love you, Jytos," I murmur, the words feeling right, true.

He gazes down at me, and for a moment, I see vulnerability in his eyes, a softness that he reserves only for me. "I love you too, Bella. More than the darkness loves the night."

And in this moment, with the echoes of our passion still lingering in the air, I know that we'll face whatever comes our way—together.