Chapter 12
Istand at the edge of the thick forest, gazing out at her dreamscape, which has only grown darker over the years. It was once lush and green, with sunlight filtering through the canopy and the air filled with birdsong—a delicate place full of wonder and innocence.
But now? Only the light of a bright, full moon casts shadows on the cold, hard ground. That naivety and joy have faded, and she is now filled with sharp branches and thorns, catching and tearing open old, festering wounds.
To most, the change might seem alarming, but for me, it’s perfection. Nicolette has been burned far too much in her life, and she bears the scorch marks as proof. Yet, just as I can easily walk through snow heaps, she can run through flames that lick her skin and emerge shining like blown glass.
I keep my hooves silent as I stalk through the forest, cloaking myself in shadows, and begin my hunt.
Her scent surrounds me, but she’s still far ahead as she races through the thickets, knowing the hidden shortcuts in her mind.
Her heart beats in sync with mine, and her rapid breaths feel like she’s breathing down my neck, even as she tries to run.
But she can never escape me.
“I love the chase, little vixen,” I say in my mind, letting it whisper into hers. “But you know... no matter how far you try to run, I’ll always catch you.”
I’m met with only silence, but her scent of fear is carried in by the winds of the storm that clouds her mind. My rabid side is emerging, darkening my veins and sharpening my teeth. If it's the monster she wants, then it's the monster she’ll get.
The trees move and bend out of my way, creating a clear path directly to her and making this far too easy.
I step over the stream that cuts through this part of the forest, careful not to disturb the water that rushes through it, frost forming like crystals on the banks.
Her pulse thrums through me, vibrating to my core as I pick up my pace.
Her scent is wildly intoxicating, filling the open air as I step through the tree line into a dark valley. I see movement below as Nicolette stumbles naked through the lush, knee-high grass. Fireflies drift around her, illuminating her fiery red hair—guiding her like a beacon in the night.
My lips curl into a fiendish grin, and I slow my pace even more, still hiding beneath my shadows, letting her believe she’s made her escape. I can’t help but give her a false sense of security, letting it wrap around her like a plush blanket, shielding her from the cold, cruel world.
She slows to a stop, looks around with bright, wild eyes, and leans against a large boulder, trying to catch her breath. I don’t miss the pair of glowing orbs on the other side of the clearing, a horrific Nightmare waiting to devour her—one that doesn’t stand a chance against me.
I am her sweetest dream and her darkest nightmare.
I am her shield and the knife at her throat.
I am her salvation and ruin.
And she is mine.
I watch as the Nightmare creeps closer, stepping into the clearing and drawing nearer to her.
It’s more terrifying than any monster that could emerge from Hell.
Its coal-black skin is stretched taut over its body as it constantly shifts into different creatures, changing even faster the closer it gets.
It senses her fears, its long, gray tongue dripping with saliva as it licks its lips, nicking its rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Dank, black blood begins to drip down its jaw.
I cast my shadows wide, keeping them close to the ground so as not to attract attention.
These fucking Nightmares are clever, knowing exactly how and where to strike, and where there’s one, there are usually many more.
I need to be strategic in hunting it down before it tries to consume Nicolette, not letting her go until it has had its fill of her terror.
But what this Nightmare doesn’t realize is that I’m far worse, and I'm the only monster allowed to sink its teeth into her and devour her, basking in the blood and carnage.
Nicolette Evergreen is mine to destroy, mine to fuck, and mine to protect—especially from herself.
My shadows slither like vipers, ready to bare their fangs and inject their poison into our enemy.
They silently surround the Nightmare, one lifting itself just high enough to strike, wrapping around its maw like a muzzle to silence its screams as the others follow.
They pile on and bring the Nightmare down in seconds, wrapping tightly like a boa constrictor, squeezing until it combusts into a cloud of inky black smoke.
The commotion draws Nicolette’s attention, her head whipping around to glance over her shoulder, her body leaning against the boulder—perfect distraction for me to make my move.
My cloak of shadows falls away as I step into the clearing, quickly closing the gap between us as I approach from behind her.
She doesn’t sense me coming until it’s too late, my claws itching to sink into her skin and leave more of my marks, ones to remind the Nightmares that they are no longer the worst thing lurking in her mind.
Nicolette screams as I pull her to me, her back firmly against my chest. I clamp my hand over her mouth to silence her, pressing her ass against my hard cock.
“Did you think you could escape me, little vixen?” I say into her ear, my breath clouding and tickling her skin.
“Did you think that you could fall into your dreamscape and take respite in your naughty fantasies?” I tsk. “So naive.”
I run my hand down her body, taking my time to explore her curves before I slide my finger between her folds—her cunt dripping.
“You like the chase, do you?” I breathe in the scent of her hair, her curls cascading down her back and tickling my chest. “And you were so desperate to be caught. I can smell it.” I flick my tongue out and lick up the shell of her ear. “Fucking taste it.”
She melts into me, a moan slipping out between my fingers where I still cover her mouth.
Her muscles twitch, resisting the pleasure; her instincts are urging her to run.
I lower my hand, dragging my fingers over her full lips and scraping my claws down her throat, across her collarbone, and to her breast, rolling her nipple between my finger and thumb, giving her exactly what she wants.
Her hips buck as I swirl my finger around her clit, pressing her ass against me. “Kryx,” she moans, her head falling back against my chest, her knees nearly buckling. “Please.”
The desperation in her voice as my name slips from her lips nearly makes me come. “Tell me what you want, Nicolette, and I just might give it to you,” I say smoothly, listening to her quiet gasps as they fill the cold air like puffs of smoke. “What’s at the top of your list?”
“You,” she breathes as she arches her back, pressing her breast further into my hand and grinding her ass into me. “I want you.”
“Oh, my little vixen, you already have me,” I say before dragging my tongue down to her jaw. “Tell me what you want me to do to you.”
“I want you to fuck me, Kryx,” she says with a gasp, even as her voice becomes more commanding. “I want to feel your cock as you pound into me. Claim me. Make me yours.”
My cock twitches with her every word, and I nearly come apart at the seams. I spin her around and force her onto her knees.
“On your back with your knees up,” I grit out as I fight the urge to just fuck her senseless.
She lowers herself back onto the grass and takes her position.
“Such a fucking good girl,” I croon from where I still stand over her. “So good, yet so fucking bad.”
I drop to my knees, lift her legs over my shoulders, and bring myself down to her pussy, where it glistens in the moonlight like the most precious gem.
She watches me down her body as I tease her with my tongue, her thighs tightening around my head.
She runs her fingers over one of my horns, curling them tightly around it.
My body shivers at her touch, but I refuse to let her flip the script and tear me apart like a present on Christmas morning.
She moans as my shadows lower her back to the ground, pinning her hands above her head. “Let me touch you,” she begs, but I know better than to let her continue—I’d be a fucking goner.
I flick and swirl my tongue, bringing her higher and higher, preparing to push her over the edge just as I did before she became lost in her dreams. Her thighs clamp around my head, keeping me in place as my name becomes a soft chant.
I slide my hands under her ass and let my claws prick her skin.
Her back arches and her breaths become erratic as she nears her release.
My aching cock presses against my pants, staining them with my precum as it begs for her pussy.
She tastes so sweet on my tongue—like sugarplums—that it makes my teeth hurt.
The near constant urge to bite into her soft, supple skin is almost overwhelming as her legs tighten and her hips buck against my mouth.
“Fuck,” she bites out, squirming in my hold. “I-I’m going to come.”
My cock twitches with each panting moan she makes, my own release tingling at the base of my spine.
“Come for me, little vixen,” I say into her mind.
“Scream my name and remind every monster here who you belong to. Tell them who is the only one who can hurt you and save you. The only one who can push you over the edge of insanity and catch you before you fall.”
She shatters in my hands; her cum coats my tongue as she screams my name, shaking the ground beneath us while the edges of the clearing start to blur. A curtain of darkness falls over us, turning the inside of her mind black—tearing her away from me as she snaps awake.