Kapitel 256: Cursed (2/2)

Ciprian staggered against the wall of the pub as the Creature poured back into his skull. He forced himself to keep walking until he was out of sight in the alley, where he braced himself against the brick wall with one hand to keep from doubling over.

The Creature's sudden reappearance filled his head with a pressure so intense, he thought his eyeballs might burst out of their sockets. He gritted his teeth and held in his groan of pain, refusing to give the thing the satisfaction of hearing it.

It was even more engorged with energy after its absence than usual. As it drenched Ciprian's thoughts with its presence like filthy water squeezed from a sponge, Ciprian couldn't help but feel that it was showing off what it had stolen.

Finally the pressure subsided enough that Ciprian could feel his own awareness as separate from the Creature's.

"Oh good. You're here," he muttered as he straightened his spine and smoothed down the front of his tunic.

AUTORENGEDANKEN
LivChanin

I think the italics function is finally working. Please let me know if you don't see the Creature's dialogue as italicized.

Alright, friends...I'm doing a little planning for my next book, as this one should wrap by the end of winter (hopefully). I actually have two ideas and am torn between which to start first. Another fantasy-romance that is similar in feel to this story, or something totally different...a super-fun contemporary Omegaverse romance (bear with me if that's not your thing) where I throw the toxic aspects of the sub genre out the window and use the trope to explore gender identity in a more fun and nuanced way? Decisions, decisions. I'll share more about each idea soon if anyone wants to weigh in.