“That, darlin’, is the king of the vampires—and unfortunately, my best friend.”
I suppose they’d meet sooner or later, but I was hoping for later—much later.
“Your best…” She gapes. “Wait, king of thewhat?”
I give her an awkward look as Magnus thuds on the dock and starts prattling on about royal politics. As usual, he isn’t payingattention to his surroundings and rants about anything and everything, from his lackluster dating life to court drama. Within milliseconds, he’s spilled that his mother is giving him the silent treatment—again.
I would offer some words of comfort if he’d let me get a word in. But it’s Magnus we’re talking about, which means it’s ages before he looks up. His gaze falls on Marina, and for once in his life, the vampire king is stunned silent.
“Oh…” he begins, his big purple eyes flaring as he examines the two of us. “Don’t tell me my advice worked, and you have yourself a date.”
He’s a little too pleased with himself, and I pull Marina closer, feeling somehow protective in the moment. By human standards, he’s more beautiful than any model—as is she. Hell, by aesthetics alone, Magnus would be better suited for her. I fight the urge to shield her eyes from him, for fear that she’ll be charmed by a single glance.
“I do.” I nod my head toward Marina, who shyly waves. “This is Marina.”
“You’rekidding!” Magnus says, rushing toward the two of us. He moves to kiss Marina’s hand but stops when he notices my warning look. It becomes a lopsided handshake instead.
“Well, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m sure Gil has told you all about me—Magnus, his oldest and most treasured friend.”
“Um, actually,” she squeaks, and he turns a scornful eye toward me.
“Gilbert, really,” he grumbles, “how dare you not tell your dearest about such an important presence in your life?”
“I think you can take it down a notch,” I groan. Magnus is known for being dramatic but…Goddesses.
“Well, you must tell me all about yourself!” Magnus says, taking a seat adjacent to us in a way that feels like he’s trying to wedge himself between Marina and me.
“Oh, well, I…” Marina’s shoulders shrink. I narrow my eyes at my vampire friend, a low growl emitting from my throat, rising in volume with every second he makes her uncomfortable.
“Magnus,” I say warningly, but as always, he’s too oblivious to stop.
“I understand why our dear Gil has thought of nothing but you over the past decade.”
“Magnus,” I growl for the second time, “if you flirt with my girlfriend again, I will push you off this dock so fast.”
“What? I am simply complimenting—” He stops, slowly turning, his purple eyes dancing with pure glee. “Girlfriend?Oh, now, you must tell meeverything. How shall we spend the rest of our daylight hours, hm? Perhaps one of those board games you have been trying to bully me into playing. I do not know if you have heard this, Marina, but our Gil has the hobbies of a grandparent, something you’ll have to become accustomed to as his girlfriend.”
Girlfriend.
I used the word “girlfriend,” and he’s not letting me forget it.
I steal a small look at Marina, who is gaping at Magnus, open-mouthed and wide-eyed. I swallow, trying to glean interest from her expression, but if it’s there, it’s masked by shock.
He continues to tease the word, and as much as I’d like Marina and Magnus to become acquainted, there’s no way he’s staying.
“Girlfriend I am on a date with,” I clarify.
“Yes, yes, and I wonder what we might all get up to next—a round of cards, perhaps?”
I clear my throat as I watch him inch closer to Marina. When I threatened to throw him off the dock, I was teasing at first, but now I truly am considering it.
“A date you haven’t been invited on,” I add, giving him one more chance to take the not-so-subtle direction I’m giving him.
“Oh.Oh!” Magnus says, slowly at first, before a giddy smile spreads across his face. I brace myself for whatever embarrassment is about to follow, but to my surprise, he turns heel. “Then, I take it that’s my cue to leave and return to my life of eternal loneliness?”
“You’ve got it, pal,” I say, still holding Marina tight but offering him a small grin. He’ll have to find someone else to be his personal therapist tonight.
Sorry, Grampy.
