Leech

What happens when grief leaves someone longing for darkness—and an ancient creature answers? In Leech, a musician’s promising new beginning with the band Shadows in Bloom is shattered by a devastating loss. The pain becomes overwhelming, and the narrator finds himself drawn toward a haunting local legend: a creature said to inhabit the woods, its body formed from bark and vines, seeking out those who are desperate and alone. As grief and trauma consume him, an unexpected presence emerges from the shadows. The creature’s attention is not simply frightening; it is possessive, personal, and difficult to understand. What follows is a supernatural romance shaped by vulnerability, emotional dependence, and an unusual connection between a human and a plant-like cryptid. Rikki Leighton combines monster-romance elements with a hurt/comfort storyline focused on grief, healing, and the complicated ways people seek connection after loss. Readers can expect dark fantasy atmosphere, an unconventional supernatural love interest, emotional intensity, and themes of loneliness and attachment. Part of the Mayhem Manuscripts Season Two: Cryptids shared-world collaboration, this novel is suited to adult readers who enjoy M/M romance, paranormal and monster fiction, interspecies relationships, and emotionally intense stories. It will particularly appeal to readers who appreciate unusual cryptid characters and romances that explore the darker, more complicated sides of affection and belonging.