I have a feeling anything living here wouldn’t hesitate to eat me. The top of a head rises until a pair of yellow eyes stare into my soul.
“Ah!” I scream, swimming faster toward the dock. I flutter in a vain attempt to fly, but my wings are soaked and heavy. Oh my god, whatever is coming for me is fast. I don’t think I can outswim it.
The creature glides like a gator cruising toward its prey before it rises from the water. I reach the deck’s ladder, but barely have a chance to climb it before a man covered in green scales rises from the water.
“Well, howdy.” And damn, I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t a southern accent. The man’s frog-like yellow eyes blink at me, one eye at a time.
“Oh, um… hi.” I pull myself onto the dock, slumping over as I catch my breath. The fish man follows suit, and I wonder if maybe this place is his.
“In a mighty hurry, are you?”
“You could say that.” I shake the water from my wings. “You don’t happen to know how to get to the mortal realm, do you—ah!” A sudden pang shoots through me, and I fall with a thud onto the dock. I gasp, realizing it’s not a hair straighter or an oven I want to turn back for… it’s Magnus.
Gross.
I hate him. I think. I mean—I don’t want to fall into his arms or kiss him, but there’s a need that spreads through me. I feel likeif I don’t get back to him, my chest is going to explode. It is as though he is the sole key to my survival.
“Okay, hang on here, ma’am. Take a deep breath—you hurt?” the fish man asks. While I don’t know how I feel about being called “ma’am,” I can’t exactly object to the help. My heart races as he bends low to get a look at me. I manage to take a breath, scanning my surroundings to try to ground myself.
I breathe in the scent of salt water, touch the rough wood below me, and note how beautiful my surroundings are. A cottage sits at the edge of the dock. I think it might look like the kind of place mermaids live, but I don’t have the luxury of marveling at it, not when it still feels like my chest is going to explode.
“One breath at a time,” the fish man urges, his southern twang oddly comforting. He splays out his webbed hand as if to reassure me that he means no harm. “Just stay right here,” he orders before running inside. He returns with a glass of water.
“Gil, pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” He hands me the glass, and despite how shaky I feel, I manage to drink.
“Heather—you don’t need to call me ‘ma’am.”Please.
I’m not sure if it’s the water, or the breathing, but the pressure on my chest lightens. It’s not exactly the ideal time for an anxiety attack, but then again, it never is.
“There a reason why you look like you’re running for your life out here?” Gil studies me as if to check for damage.
“Well, I kinda… you wouldn’t happen to have a portal to the Moth Court, would you?” I sigh. “Or the mortal realm?”
“Depends on how long you can hold your breath.” He looks down into the deep crystalline water—and oh my god, yeah. Unless magic is involved, I don’t think I can swim down to the bottom of the ocean. “You in some kind of trouble, miss?”
“I’m literally being chased by a vampire who is holding me captive right now… so, yes.”
“Avampire—” He draws in a deep breath. “Okay, Heather, is it? Don’t you worry. I happen to know exactly who to get to help—”
Suddenly, we’re eclipsed by a shadow, and when I spin around, Magnus lands on the dock with a thud. The lingering ache in my chest dissipates.
I take a step behind Gil, choosing to trust a stranger over the vampire who has been keeping me against my will. The pain on Magnus’s face makes me almost feel guilty.
“By the four sisters…” Gil groans. Even with his fishlike appearance, I can recognize the posture of someone who is fed up. “Please tell methatisn’t the vampire.”
“That’s him.” I groan, not having time to linger on who “the four sisters” are and what swamp monsters might worship. I cowerbehindGil. Not out of fear; I know Magnus won’t hurt me, but I want to do everything I can to create distance between the two of us.
“Why would you act so recklessly? You know the terms of our deal!”Magnus pants. He looks worn out and more than a little disheveled. “Do you not value your life?”
Okay, that’s a tad dramatic, even for him.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, the ache in my chest finally lifting now that he’s back and—oh my God.“You’re the reason my chest felt like it was going to explode?”
“Magnus, you didn’t!” Gil shouts. No title. Just pure exasperation. Gil blinks a few times before turning his attention to me. “You’rethatHeather?”
Great,they know each other. As if that isn’t bad enough, the vampire king’s pining has gone beyond daydreams and a wedding playlist. It’s all a reminder that while I might be counting down to my wedding in the mortal realm, Magnus has sent out his own invitations—and my name is written underbridein both.
“Is she not perfect?” Magnus says softly, and while he still looks unbelievably angry, his gaze softens when his eyes find mine.Gross.
