Page 3 of To Love A Monster
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The sun was high in the sky when the air left my lungs as I saw Aylin sitting against a stone wall surrounded by flowers. Her long dark brown hair sat loosely over her shoulder in soft curls, and I wished to run my fingers through it. As I slowly approached her, I left my horse to graze by the stream and tried not to let my legs get carried away. I wanted to take her in my arms and taste her lips, but I knew I had to remain patient.
“Mi Lord—uh—I mean Daegon.” The stumble of her words was incredibly charming as I could not help but smile, my fangs showing as I watched a curiosity rise on her face. “I was afraid that I would never see you again. I am happy that my thoughts were fool-hearted.”
“Aylin, why would you think such things?” I asked as I sat beside her on the soft tall grass surrounded by wildflowers, my heart galloping in my chest as if I was facing a hundred men in war. I took one of the pink flowers and plucked it from the ground, her fingers brushing mine as she graciously accepted it. “Did I do or say anything that made you feel unwell around me?”
“Of course not; I was just worried that I had dreamt of you. I have not known many others in my life, and I was worried you were a part of my imagination.” I chuckled at her innocence as I held my large hand for hers and slowly gazed into her eyes. I brought her hand to my face as her fingers hesitated, my eyes closing as her hand gently rested on my face after a few moments. Her touch was soft and warm, my heart fluttering as I imagined what it would be like to bury my cock deep inside her. To hear my name whispered on her lips as I claimed her as mine.
“You are real, and I feel so silly for thinking otherwise, Mi—Daegon.”
“Do not feel foolish, Aylin. I was worried you would be frightened of me or my intentions.” I watched as her expression turned confused at my words, as I knew they would, but I had to be truthful with her. I could not lie to her or mislead her in any way. “It is my intention for you to be—my mate.” I waited with bated breath for her to speak, my words disturbing her as I had to watch her rise to her feet and step back from me.
“Your—mate?
But I am nobody but a simple peasant, and I know nothing of the world. How could I be deserving of you? You are a Chief and a great warrior from the scars that cover your arms and face. What could I offer you?”
“Do not think so low of yourself, Aylin. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever had the privilege to see, and your heart is one of the kindest I have felt. You knew nothing of me and saw only an Orc approaching you, yet you did not run from me screaming. Why would you run from me now that you know I wish for more than just a friendship with you.” Rising to my knees, I took her hands in mine, her gaze one of worry and confusion as I wished nothing more than to ease her mind. “Do you only see a monster when you look at me?”
“No, but I fear you see one when you gaze at me. I am not a full human Daegon; what if our union does not bring joy to your people? What if my mother disapproves and whisks me away in the middle of the night, never to be seen again.”
“I would search for you until the day I die, Aylin. My heart has chosen you, and it will not choose another. If you wish me to leave you be, I will retreat to a life of solitude.” I gasped as Aylin wrapped her arms around my neck, embracing me; the mere thought of me leaving her side caused her great pain, a pain I wished to take away.
“Please do not go away, Daegon. I feel as if I am losing any sense, for I barely know you, and yet—I feel as if I have been waiting for you, as if our hearts were once one but were split in two, destined to be apart until this very moment.”
“I was so scared that you would run from me, and I would spend the rest of my life yearning for you and wishing for death to take me. Let me meet your mother if you think she will reject me. Let me assure her that you will be safe with my people and me, and she is welcome to come and live among us.”
“My mother will see you only as a monster, Daegon. I am sorry, but I fear she will never allow us to be together,” I called out as she rushed from me, my brow furrowing as I tried to run after her, but she had the speed and swiftness of the high elves. My heart sank as I watched her disappear into the wildwood once more.
“AYLIN!” I called out. My voice was carried away by the wind. Had I missed my chance to be with my mate? I grew frustrated with myself as I knew my mother was right. I had to be patient and calm, but how could I be patient now that I knew for certain that Aylin was my true mate?
A YEARNING HEART
AYLIN
“Child, are you ill? You have barely touched your food.” Her words pulled me from my troubled thoughts as my stomach felt knotted. I knew I had to tell my mother of Daegon and his intentions, but I feared what she would say. I wanted to live in secret, but my heart was pulling me toward Daegon in a way that I could no longer ignore.
When my hand touched his skin, a vision overtook me, a vision of Daegon and me lying naked in a bed of soft furs. I blushed each time I thought of it since we were both lost in sweet lovemaking, the butterflies in my stomach overtaking the knot as I turned my gaze from my mother.
“I have something to tell you, mother.” My words caused her soft expression to change and fear to fill her eyes. My mother worried more than she deserved, but I knew that we would be safer in the village of the Ironshield clan. “Mother, I traveled beyond the forest on one of my outings to pick wildflowers.”
“Aylin!” She gasped. The look in her eyes was not one of pure shock but almost relief.
“Mother, I was safe and careful, but that is not what I had to tell you. Please do not be angry with him or with me.” My words caused her mouth to drop open and tears to well up in her eyes. I hated seeing my mother look concerned, but I knew that once she met Daegon, her mind would be at ease.
“While picking flowers, a sweet and gentle Orc greeted me. He was not like those orcs that tried to kill us, mother. He is so kind and gentle. His name is Daegon, and he—well, today he told me that he has chosen me as his mate, and he has invited not only me but you as well to live with him and his people until we have properly courted.” I stopped speaking as my mother stood and walked over to the large fire, my heart sinking as I feared she was angry with me. “I cannot stop thinking of him, mother. It was as if nothing else in this world mattered when I met him.”
“You say you met this orc while picking flowers? Was it near a glorious weeping willow tree, near a large river?”
“Yes, I wandered there many times before meeting him, as if I was drawn there,” I said as I sat up from the chair and approached her, a smile crossing her lips as she turned to face me. Seeing her smile brought a small hope to my heart that my mother would accept Daegon.
“I met your father there by that very stream, and just like you, I was drawn there. I knew your curiosity would take you from me one day, but I had hoped it would not be so soon.” The moment she hugged me, I felt relief, the moment making our bond stronger in ways I had hoped it would. I knew I had been foolish for being afraid she would hide me from Daegon, but I knew if she had, he would never stop searching for me.
“Daegon said that you are welcome to live with us in the village, they will keep you safe, and we will never have to be cold again for the long winters. It sounds incredibly foolish, but something is drawing me to him. Even now, I feel sad that he is not near.”
“I know that feeling all too well, my child. The moment I met your father, I felt it too—and every day since. If that is your wish, my child, I will honor it.” I could feel the fear in her words, but this fear was not for me but herself. What secret was my mother hiding? I knew in my heart it was about my father, but at that moment, I dared not ask.
DAEGON
