Page 88 of Tenebrous

The tension drains from my body all at once, even though the timing throws me off. There can't possibly be a heartbeat to hear so soon, but what the hell do I know anymore? Not a whole hell of a lot, really.

The only thing that makes sense is that Orion loves me, and I can live with that. No matter what else follows.

Letting out a shaky laugh, I throw my arms around my monster's neck. “I'm done running. You'll never have to be without me again, I promise.”

“You are certain?” he asks, rubbing a cheek against my hair.

“I don't know what the hell is gonna happen, and I have no idea how to raise a human kid, let alone a monster one.” When I pull back slightly, the hope shining in his golden eyes sends my heart rate skyrocketing. “But either way, we'll figure this out together. Okay?”

My mate leans forward to brush his lips against mine. “Together.”

I smile into the kiss, my hand absently drifting down to rest over my stomach. God, this is unbelievable.

When I showed up in Deadfall over a month ago, I had no idea that I'd end up here. Or even that monsters were real. All I wanted to do was make some easy money, skirt by with easy work, and continue screwing around just like I've always done.

Life with Orion isn’t going to be easy. Hell, it probably won't even make sense. People will ask questions, and we'll have to figure out where to live. Also how the fuck to raise a child without completely screwing up. It sounds impossible.

But then again, so does falling in love with a monster.

A laugh bubbles out of me before I can stop it. “What does one name a half-human, half-cryptid baby, anyway?”

Orion's expression turns thoughtful. He glances around the clearing, as if searching for the answer. When his gaze catches on my jacket, he lifts a claw to trace the word stitched into the fabric. “This?”

I glance down at the embroidered name, and my chest tightens.

Of all the people Deadfall lost, this one in particular deserved so much better than becoming another sacrifice. He never got the chance to grow up, to fall in love, or to have a family of his own. Maybe I never knew the kid, but there's something to be said about naming Orion's child after the last descendant of his mother's bloodline.

With a bittersweet smile, I rub my thumb over the stitching. “That's actually perfect.”

Orion's eyes brighten. “Good name?”

“A really good name.”

He says it quietly, as though testing the sound. “Dennis.”

The name hangs between us, carried away on a cool mountain breeze. Behind us sits the mouth of the mine, now completely entombed beneath a pile of rock. Beyond, the mountain stretches endlessly for miles. Nothing but trees and hills ahead, more land than either of us could explore in a lifetime.

But I'll sure as shit try, anyway.

When I glance sideways at Orion, he's already watching me with a gentleness so profound that it tugs at my heart.

“Come on,” I say, rising to my feet. “We've got a long walk back.”

A rumble vibrates his chest when he stands before picking me up off the ground. “To the den?”

Smiling at my monster, I link my arms around his neck and press a kiss to his soft, warm cheek. “Yeah. To the den. Let's go home, Orion.”

Epilogue

Dennis

The fire has almost burned to nothing by the time I finish my story.

Some of the younger campers have pulled their sleeping bags so close together they’re practically sharing one. Even the older kids who spent the evening rolling their eyes have gone strangely quiet.

Finally, one little boy clears his throat. “Was any of that even true?”

I smile into the fading embers. “Everything has a little truth hiding inside it.”