Juno looked up at her, eyes wide with mischief.
Tiffany stared at the cup. Then at him.
Her jaw dropped.
“You’re not lying.”
He grinned. “Told you.”
She blinked again, then nodded—once. “Okay. I’ll help you. You’re the first interesting thing that’s happened on this whole stupid trip.”
She looked around. Her mom was still talking with a crew-member and frowning toward the back of the boat.
Tiffany stood and touched Juno’s wrist. “Wait here.”
“What’re you doing?”
“Causing a distraction.”
She ran up the stairs to the upper deck, turned once to look down at him, then drew in a deep breath and shouted, “HOLY SHIT! I SEE NESSIE!”
The effect was instant.
A stampede of tourists and half the crew bolted for the opposite railing, cameras in hand, shouting questions and trampling over one another in their rush.
As they passed, Juno slipped silently to the edge.
He perched on the boat’s rim, threw Tiffany a grateful wave?—
Then jumped off the side.
The blanket fluttered into the air like a discarded flag to the deck of the boat before he vanished as quickly as he appeared—back into the dark waters of Loch Ness.
The swirling colors of the portal released Orion into the dark waters of Loch Ness. He pulled the trident from his back and immediately expanded his senses, searching for Dolph, the alien boy, and the sea creature. Distant voices floated across the loch, sharp with alarm and confusion.
He exhaled slowly, remaining just below the surface. Overhead, grey clouds floated, casting shadows across the water. He turned his focus to the bobbing boat.
Lifting his hand, he called on the water to come to his aid.
Mist thickened.
Fog rolled across the surface of the loch, curling and rising until it swallowed the boat whole, cloaking it in a dense white veil. Lights dimmed. Shouts turned uncertain. Confident that the humans wouldn’t be able to see a thing, he sent a pulse.
“Dolph, Juno, come to me,” he murmured.
“I need to free the boat. Thank you… for the fog. That was a good idea,” Dolph replied, his voice hesitant.
“Be safe. I’m proud of you.”
Through the swirling haze of water, shapes emerged.
A long neck. Gleaming green-silver scales. Huge luminous eyes.
Nessie.
And riding her back—the alien boy who had appeared out of nowhere. The boy held himself with the poise of a young warrior, even as exhaustion clung to his shoulders.
Juno hugged the creature’s side, practically glowing with glee.
