I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!

He led her up the winding path behind the castle, up the mountain that overlooked the valley. The night air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of pine and earth and something else, something sweet like wildflowers blooming in the dark just for them.

When they reached the top, Alina stopped.

The view was breathtaking. The valley stretched out below them, dotted with tiny lights from the villages and towns, each one a small heartbeat in the darkness. Above, the stars were scattered across the sky like diamonds, so bright and so close that she felt like she could reach up and cup them in her hands.

But that wasn’t what made her breath catch.

It was what Dante had prepared.

A thick blanket was spread out on the grass, soft and warm, with pillows piled at one end like a nest built just for her. A basket sat nearby, no doubt filled with small treasures. And there, set up on a small stand, was a screen glowing softly.

He had done this for her.

"You did all this?" she asked, her voice soft.

"I had help," he admitted, his lips curving into a small smile. "The shadows are very good at setting up blankets."

She laughed, and the beautiful sound floated into the night air.

He led her to the blanket and they sat down together, close enough that their shoulders touched, close enough that she could feel the warmth of him seeping into her skin. The screen flickered to life, playing some old black and white film that she didn’t recognize. She didn’t care.

She was too busy watching him.

"How is your arm?" he asked, reaching out to gently rub her head, his fingers threading through her hair.

She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed. "I’m okay."

"I still remember," he said quietly. "That day when you used ribbons and blankets to save the children."

She shrugged. "I did what I had to do."

"You did what no one else could do." His hand moved from her hair to her cheek, cupping her face. His thumb brushed lightly over her skin, tracing the curve of her cheekbone, then down along her jaw, slow and gentle, like he was memorizing the shape of her. "If not for you..."

He didn’t finish. Alina reached up and placed her hand over his, pressing his palm more firmly against her cheek. "But I did. And we’re here. And everyone is safe."

He looked at her for a long moment, his dark eyes searching hers. Then he leaned in and kissed her.

His hand slid to the back of her neck, his fingers pressing lightly into her skin, and she felt her heartbeat stutter in her chest. His lips moved against hers, slow and deep, and she felt like she was drowning in him. He tasted like the wine they had with dinner and he smelled so good that she wanted to stay in his arms all day.

When he finally pulled back, her heart was racing. His eyes were dark, intense, almost intoxicated.

"Alina," he said, his voice rough.

"Hmm?" She was breathless, dizzy, completely lost.

"Do you know what my assumption was? The one that turned out to be correct?"

She blinked, trying to focus. "Your assumption?"

"Yes." He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his fingers trailing down the side of her neck, feeling her pulse jump beneath his touch. "I’ve known for a while. But I needed to be sure."

"Sure of what?"

He kissed her again, quickly, almost impatiently, like he couldn’t help himself. When he pulled back, his thumb traced her lower lip, soft and lingering.

"That you’re my mate."

Alina’s heart stopped. Then it restarted, pounding so hard she was sure he could feel it.

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"My mate," he repeated, his voice softer now. "My other half. The one the heavens chose for me."

She stared at him, her chest rising and falling with quick, shallow breaths.

"Before I met you," he continued, his hand moving to cup her face again, his fingers tracing the line of her jaw, then down to her collarbone, featherlight. "I thought I would never have a mate. I had met so many women who would have done anything to be with the Shadow Lord."

His thumb traced small circles on her shoulder.

"But none of them felt right. None of them made me feel... this." He pressed his hand over his heart. "And then you came. A human teacher with no magic and no power. Yet you are more powerful than anyone I have ever known."

He shook his head, almost wonderingly.

"I didn’t expect it. I didn’t want it. But my soul... my soul was preparing for you."

Alina’s heart was pounding. "How is that possible? I’m human."

"It’s possible," he said, pressing his forehead against hers. Their breath mingled in the small space between them. "You clearly have a gentle soul.. The soul of a mentor. A teacher...A healer."

He pulled back just enough to look at her.

"The heavens don’t care about species. They care about the soul and yours..." He kissed her forehead, soft as a whisper. "Yours is the most beautiful soul I have ever known."

She didn’t know what to say. Her heart was too full. Her throat was too tight.

He stood up, pulling her with him. His fingers laced through hers, warm and steady. She stumbled slightly, still dazed, still processing everything he had said.

He led her to the edge of the mountain, where the world dropped away into darkness and the stars seemed close enough to touch.

Then gentle shadows swirled around her feet, curling up her legs, wrapping around her waist. They lifted her off the ground and she gasped, clutching at Dante’s arms. Her fingers dug into his sleeves, feeling the strength of him beneath the fabric.

He smiled. "Trust me," he said.

She did. He didn’t even need to ask. She trusted him with everything.

The shadows lifted them both, spinning slowly, twirling them in the air like dancers. Alina’s hair floated around her face and the stars spun above her and Dante was there, holding her, watching her. His hand pressed against the small of her back, pulling her closer. Her heart skipped again, a flutter low in her stomach.

He lowered them back to the ground, his hands sliding down her arms, his fingers tracing the inside of her wrists where her pulse beat wildly.

And then, in front of the stars, in front of the mountains, in front of everything, he knelt.

Alina’s breath caught. Her heart lurched.

"Alina hart," he said, his voice unsteady. "Are you willing to marry me?"

She stared at him.

He looked nervous. The Shadow Lord, the most powerful being in the region, was nervous. His hands were trembling slightly. His jaw was tight. His eyes were filled with something that looked like fear.

Fear that she would say no.

"I had a speech prepared," he admitted, his voice low. "I researched, I practiced.. I wanted it to be perfect." He shook his head. "But I forgot everything, every word, every line."

He looked up at her.

"The only thing I remember is you."

Behind him, his shadows were moving. They swirled around him in restless circles, darting toward Alina and then retreating, as if they were afraid of being rejected.

One shadow curled around her ankle, soft and tentative. Another wrapped around her wrist, gentle as a caress, and she felt a shiver run up her arm. A third formed a small heart in the air between them, glowing faintly in the darkness.

Dante saw them and groaned softly. "They’re nervous," he said. "They think you’ll say no."

Alina looked at the shadows, at the heart, at the gentle touches, at the anxious swirling. Her heart swelled.

"They love me," she said softly, with wonder.

"Yes," Dante admitted. "They’ve loved you longer than I have."

She looked at him, kneeling in front of her, vulnerable and uncertain, the most powerful man she had ever known waiting for her answer.

Her heart skipped again.

"Yes," she said.

He blinked. "What?"

"Yes. I’ll marry you."

His eyes widened. For a moment he didn’t move.

Then the shadows exploded. They shot into the air, spinning and twirling, forming hearts and stars and flowers. One shadow formed the words "OUR MATE" in elegant script. Another spelled out "FOREVER."

Dante stood up, pulling her into his arms. His hand slid to the back of her head, cradling her, and she felt his heartbeat against her chest, strong and fast, matching her own.

"Thank you," he whispered against her hair, his voice breaking. "Thank you."

She held him tightly, her fingers tracing small patterns on his back.

"Always," she said.

He pulled back just enough to look at her. His hand came up to her face, his thumb tracing her cheekbone, then the curve of her lips, then the line of her jaw. She shivered under his touch.

"I love you, Alina," he said.

Her heart skipped. Then skipped again.

"I love you too, Dante," she whispered.

He kissed her, soft and slow, and she felt his hand slide down to her waist, his fingers pressing gently into her hip. Her own hand came up to his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heart beneath her palm.

The stars watched over them. The shadows curled around their feet, warm and content.