Page 110 of The Monster and the Masochist

And then, she began.

“Cassandra. I don’t know if you remember this, but when you first came to stay here, I made an off-hand joke about being your knight in shining armor.”

I nodded, and my mouth dried out.

“Do you remember what you said to me? You said, ‘Please, I slay my own dragons.’” Theo chuckled softly, and a strange burning sensation began to form behind my eyes. It took me a second to realize the burning feeling might be tears.

I hadn’t cried since the first time my mother told me she hated me.

I’d tried to cry as an adult, as my therapist told me it would be healthy for me to learn how to ‘feel my feelings’. But I’d never been able to manage it. My monster never let me close enough to the feelings that hurt me for it to work.

“Well, in these last few weeks I’ve gotten to know you… And I’ve never known something to be truer than that statement.

“You’ve always slain your own dragons, Cassandra. You slayed your first dragon at thirteen years old, and you never looked back. With nothing but sheer willpower and determination, you clawed your way out of one of the worst situations any child could ever find themselves in and continued to ruthlessly cut down every single obstacle life has ever tried to throw at you. Your strength is more than incredible. It’s awe-inspiring. You’re one of the most impressive women I’ve ever met, and it’s so clear to me that you don’t need any help navigating your way through this often cruel and unforgiving world we’ve all been forced to co-exist in. You’ve proven time and time again that you’re stronger than the rest of us, and I’m dazzled by you every day. So as I stand here before you, I struggle to find the words to explain what I can offer to someone who doesn’t need anybody.”

“Theo…” I rasped, that burning sensation growing stronger, and my monster growled softly in my chest at the sight of tears forming in Theo’s eyes.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I think I’ve figured it out… So, without further ado, this is what I vow to be, for the woman who needs no one…”

Oh my god.

My throat rolled, and I felt dizzy, but Theo just kept talking.

“After a long day of slaying dragons… when you’ve won the battle, but you’re left bleeding and raw… I promise I’ll always be there to help tend to your wounds. On those days when you’re tired of fighting… When you’re feeling weak, or your sword is too heavy to carry… I’ll be there, every time, to help remind you how strong you are. On your highest days, when you come out the victor and need someone to celebrate with, I’ll be right there, ready to celebrate with you. And on days where it’s all just too much, and you’re afraid that maybe this time, the monsters might win… Days where you’re outnumbered and you need a safe place to rest until you’re ready to fight again… I’ll be there to hold you and remind you that you’re not alone.”

A tear slid down Theo’s cheek, and I was suddenly cupping her face, wiping the wetness away with my thumb.

“Theo… fuck…” I cursed softly, and she gave me a watery smile. The papers fluttered to the ground, and she reached up to cradle my face in return. She leaned forward, hovering inches away from my lips, and the whole world seemed to hold its breath.

“I know you don’t need a knight in shining armor, Cassandra,” she whispered, her minty breath dancing across my cheek. “But I’m hoping you’ll let me be your home.”

Then, she slotted her lips against mine, and the earth tilted beneath my feet as something that felt insanely permanent snapped in my heart.

Fireworks exploded across my mind, and I was so delirious, floating on the cloud of euphoria that only kisses from Theo seemed to give me… that I almost didn’t hear my monster as it rumbled in my chest.

‘Yes… I think we shall keep this one…’ It rumbled ominously.

‘This one is ours.’

After the ceremony, we had a mini photoshoot in Iris’s garden so I could get my Instagram announcement picture.

I let Theo choose the one she thought I should post, and her cheeks turned that delicious pink color I was becoming more and more obsessed with every day.

The picture she ended up choosing was one of us smiling at each other moments before our lips touched. Theo’s hand was cupping my face as she cradled my waist, and we looked deliriously happy.

It didn’t look like we were faking anything, and as I typed out the caption ‘Just Married <3’ before hitting ‘post,’ my monster curled its claws deeper into my heart.

The notifications started coming in immediately. The post hadn’t been up for even a minute, and it was at a thousand likes and counting.

‘Now the whole world knows that she is ours,’ my beast preened.

I glanced up to see that Theo had wandered over to where Callum was enthusiastically barbequing dinner for everyone in his obituary apron.

They were both smiling, and Theo was holding a bottle of water loosely at her side as she laughed at something Cal said.

Mine.

“Her aura is lighter today than it has been in years.”