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“Don’t call him that,” I retort. “He could be dangerous.”

“He didn’t feel dangerous. He felt…” he rubs a hand over his chest, frowning before he finally says. “Sad. Lost.” Kiernan perks up. “Maybe I could help him.”

“How do you know he needs help?” I lean back in my chair, fiddling with the hem of my t-shirt.

“Hmm, it’s a feeling.”

“Let me guess. Instinct?”

Kiernan nods. “Exactly.”

“Just be careful, Kee. I feel like the entire world is suddenly a lot bigger than we realised.”

Kiernan smiles. “I know. Isn’t it incredible?”

THIRTY-ONE

CASPIAN

“You don’t have to watch me all the time.” I close the fridge, then nudge Sterling out of the way with my elbow so that I can reach the counter. I set down the grapes, cheese slices and salami that I’ve taken out for our picnic.

“I have to keep you safe. I don’t like other creatures near you. We don’t know what it wanted.”

In the week since the shadow creature visited the bakery, two things have happened – Sterling has become ultra protective and more stalkerish than he was before I knew he was watching me and Kiernan has become a master in all things cryptid. He could write a series of encyclopaedias with the amount of knowledge he’s amassed, all with the goal of finding this elusive creature he is certain needs his help.

“Kee thinks it’s lost. He says he can feel its sadness. Maybe the way I can feel you?” I shake my head. “I don’t know. But perhaps it doesn’t want anything from me and it really is just aimlessly wandering around Newbridge. I should ask Mrs L if she’s heard anything about strange happenings in the village.” I think about the times I've seen it. How it’s never hurt me. Scared me, yes, but never harmed me, and I find I agree with Kiernan that it's nothing more than a creature who has lost its way.

Sterling hums, spins me around and lifts me onto the counter. He slides between my open legs, leaning in to kiss his bite mark on my neck.

“I still don’t like it.”

“I know. But if it wanted to hurt me, surely it would have done so by now?”

“Maybe. But what if scaring you is its goal? I don’t like that it was with that man at your house. I can’t explain it, but I feel they’re connected in some way.”

I frown. “What would a property developer want with a shadow monster-demon creature?”

“To scare you,” he answers. His point is valid. I was scared for a time and Sterling told me that Eugene had paid the man who cut the fences to do so to bully me into selling. Could he have sent this creature after me, too? But how? Do supernatural beings willingly do the bidding of nefarious businessmen? It feels too far-fetched, even for a man with a literal monster standing between his legs. I haven’t even heard from Eugene since he last came to the bakery, so I suspect he’s moved on, realising my land is not valuable enough for all the hassle.

“Well, joke’s on him then. Because I’m not scared and I have my own, bigger, badder monster to protect me.” Now that I know it was my sneaky mate watching me from the shadows, I’m no longer afraid.

Sterling brings his nose to my neck and sniffs. “I want to be the only monster in your life.”

“You are. But you said it yourself. Monsters are everywhere – you just have to look.”

“I changed my mind, sweet mate. Don’t look.”

I chuckle. “I like you jealous, even if the constant watching is a little creepy.”

He nips my neck. “You love it. Remember how hard you came when I sat and watched you fingering your sweet hole?”

My cheeks flush. “Behave and go do something else while I prepare the picnic.” I kiss his nose. “Tonight, I want to see you in the water.”

A rumble vibrates from his chest, happiness bright on his face.

“Are you purring?” I ask, and I swear a blush blooms on his cheeks.

“I don’t purr.”