27. Jytos

27

JYTOS

I stand at the mouth of our cave. My muscles are taut and ready for action. The crisp mountain air fills my lungs as I survey the landscape. My wounds have healed, leaving only faint scars as reminders of the brutal battle. Bella's unwavering care brought me back from the brink, and now I'm stronger than ever.

"You're looking fierce today," Bella says, approaching from behind. Her scent, a mix of something floral and uniquely her, reaches me before her words do.

I turn, my tentacles curling with pleasure at the sight of her. "Feeling fierce," I growl, pulling her close. "Ready to hunt."

She laughs, a sound that still surprises me with its lightness. "Just don't bring back anything too disgusting this time. I'm still having nightmares about that slime beast."

"Picky eater," I tease, nipping at her ear. She shivers, and I feel a surge of possessive pride. This human, this incredible woman, is all mine.

As I prepare to leave, my thoughts drift to how much my life has changed. Before Bella, my existence was a monotonous cycle of survival and solitude. Now, every day brings new challenges, new joys. She's given me purpose beyond mere existence.

"Be safe out there," she calls out as I start down the mountain path.

I pause, turning back to her. "Always am. This territory is mine. Ours. Nothing out there can touch us."

Her smile is radiant, and for a moment, I'm tempted to forget the hunt and stay. But the need to provide, to protect, drives me forward.

As I move through the forest, my senses alert for prey, I reflect on the transformation Bella has wrought in me. The rage that once consumed me has found focus, channeled into defending what's mine. The loneliness that gnawed at my soul for centuries has been replaced by a fierce, burning love.

I spot a tusked boar rooting in the underbrush. It's massive, easily twice Bella's size. Perfect. With silent grace, I stalk closer, my tentacles twitching in anticipation.

The boar senses me a moment too late. I launch myself at it and my claws sink deep into its hide. It squeals and thrashes, but I've already won. My teeth find its throat, and I taste the coppery rush of blood.

As the beast's struggles weaken, I feel a familiar thrill of victory. But it's tempered now by thoughts of Bella, of sharing this kill with her, of seeing pride in her eyes when I return.

I hoist the carcass onto my shoulders, already imagining Bella's reaction. She'll pretend to be disgusted, but I've seen the way her eyes light up when I bring home a worthy prize.

The journey back to our cave is swift. My steps are light despite my burden. As I approach, I hear Bella humming, a habit she's picked up since coming to live with me.

"Honey, I'm home," I call out, my voice a rumbling growl of satisfaction.

She emerges from the cave and her eyes widen at the sight of my kill. "Wow, Jytos! Did you wrestle a mountain?"

I drop the boar at her feet, puffing out my chest. "Just a little something for dinner. Thought you might be hungry."

She laughs and shakes her head. "You're impossible. And amazing." Her hand reaches out and brushes my cheek. Her touch sends sparks through me. "How are you feeling?"

"Strong," I reply, pulling her close. "Unstoppable." I nuzzle into her neck, inhaling her scent. "All thanks to you."

She wraps her arms around me, and I feel something inside me settle. This is home. This is where I belong. With her.

"Come on, mighty hunter," she says, tugging me towards the cave. "Let's get that thing cleaned up before it attracts every predator in a ten-mile radius."

I follow, my tentacles curling possessively around her waist. As we work together to prepare our meal, I'm struck again by how much she's changed me. The solitary beast I once was seems like a distant memory.

Before long, I tear into the succulent boar meat and savor the rich flavor. Bella sits beside me, her small frame dwarfed by my massive bulk. She's eating more delicately, but I can see the hunger in her eyes. Good. She needs to keep her strength up.

"Fuck, this is good," I growl. "Nothing like a fresh kill."

She smiles, a bit of grease on her chin. "You're right. I never thought I'd enjoy boar meat, but... well, things change."

Her words stir something in me. I lean back, and say, "Things do change. But some things stay the same."

She looks at me curiously. "What do you mean?"

I take a slow, steady breath, memories flooding back. "This land, Protheka. It's always been wild, always been dangerous. But it wasn't always like this for my people."

She leans in, her warmth against my side. "Tell me more about it."

"We were kings once," I say, my voice low. "The Umbrath. We walked these lands without fear. From the Crimson Deserts to the Whispering Woods, we owned it all."

I can see it in my mind's eye. The vast expanse of Protheka, untamed and beautiful. "We had cities that would make your human villages look like ant hills. Towers that scraped the sky, built from living stone that pulsed with our magic."

Her eyes are wide. "That sounds incredible."

"It was," I nod, a mix of pride and bitterness in my voice. "We were magnificent. The other races looked at us with awe and fear."

I pause, remembering the glory days. "There was this place called the Obsidian Citadel. It was our greatest stronghold, right in the heart of the Shadow Mountains. The walls were so high, they say birds would fall exhausted before reaching the top."

She laughs softly. "That's hard to imagine."

"It was a sight to behold," I say, my tentacles tightening around her. "But more than that, it was home. A place where every Umbrath could feel safe, powerful."

I look down at her, my green eyes meeting her brown ones. "That's what I want to give you. That feeling of safety, of strength. You're mine now, and I'll be damned if I let anything threaten what's mine."

She blushes, but I can see the spark of desire in her eyes. "I feel safe with you, Jytos. Safer than I ever felt in my entire life."

I growl with satisfaction, pulling her closer. "Good. Because I'm not letting you go. Ever."

As we sit there, the remains of our meal forgotten, I think about my new life. The world outside might be different, more dangerous than in the days of the Umbrath's glory. But here, in this cave with Bella, I've found something I never had even then. A home. A purpose. A reason to fight.

And fight I will. For her. For us. For this new world we're building together.

As the day wears on, I pace the cave. My tentacles twitch with a restless energy. The icy wind howls outside. It's a constant reminder of the dangers lurking in this frozen wasteland. Bella sits cross-legged by the fire, her brow furrowed in concentration as she sharpens an arrow.

"We really should think about getting out of here," I growl, running a clawed hand through my hair. "These waira are getting more aggressive by the day."

She looks up, her brown eyes reflecting the firelight. "I agree. But where should we go?"

I crouch beside her. "South," I say decisively. "Away from this fucking ice and snow. Somewhere warm, where we can build a life without constantly looking over our shoulders."

She nods in agreement. "What about the Whispering Woods? I've heard stories of ancient ruins there, hidden deep in the forest. Maybe we could find a place to call our own."

I grunt, considering. The Whispering Woods are treacherous, full of dark magic and creatures even I'd rather avoid. But they're also far from the waira's territory, and the dense foliage would provide cover.

"It's risky," I admit. "But so is staying here. At least in the Woods, we'd have a fighting chance."

She leans gently against me, her warmth seeping into my cool skin. "We make a good team, you know. Between your strength and my... well, my ability to not piss off every living creature we meet, we might just survive."

I chuckle, a low rumble in my throat. "Damn right we do."

As we continue plotting our escape, my mind wanders to the gift I've been working on for Bella in secret. It's time, I decide. Fuck waiting for the perfect moment.

"Stay here," I order, rising to my feet. "I've got something for you."

I duck into a hidden alcove at the back of the cave, where I've stashed my creation. It's a necklace, crafted from the teeth and claws of the waira leader I killed. The centerpiece is a polished obsidian stone, dark as night but shot through with veins of deep crimson.

Returning to Bella, I hold out the necklace. "Here," I say in a low voice, suddenly feeling awkward. "I made this for you. To show that you're mine. Forever."

Her eyes widen as she takes in the savage beauty of the piece. "Jytos," she breathes. "It's... it's beautiful."

I fasten it around her neck, my tentacles brushing her soft skin. The obsidian gleams against her pale throat, marking her as mine for all to see.

"You're mine completely now," I growl, pulling her close. "No matter where we go, no matter what we face. You belong to me, and I'll tear apart anyone who tries to change that."

She reaches up, her small hand cupping my face. "And you're mine," she says softly. "My fierce, impossible monster."

I lean down, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. As we sink to the floor, our bodies entwining, I know without a doubt I'm stronger because of her. She's given me a reason to live, to be more than just the last of a dying race.