"You seem to forget, my darling, that I have been a monster for longer than you've been alive," he purred, tucking a strand of sweat-soaked hair behind my ear.
With a flick of his tongue across his teeth, he continued.
"I have seen worlds created and destroyed. I have been the cause of such creation and destruction. I have spent centuries listening to women like yourself scream until their throats bled. It's become a song. The screams, the cries, the whimpers. It's all a beautiful symphony. But you, Fallon my love, shall be the sweetest song I have ever heard. I look forward to your screams. And then you'll beg and it'll become even sweeter. I will smile as you destroy your vocal cords. You will want to kill me and you'll go mad because you can't. I will keep you down here with me until your dying day."
I leaned into his touch, his callused palm rough against my face. My skin wet his with a mixture of the sweat and tears that streamed down my cheeks.
He lowered his head, brushing his lips against mine.
"Thank you," I murmured into the chaste kiss that was so at odds with the words that came from that same mouth.