Page 16 of Loched in Love

My heart halts in my chest at the way her brow pinches in loss. “But I do know of another large body of water, that truly is untouched. Nary a soul’s been there for years, and it’s just what you’re looking for. I could show you.”

“Really?” she asks, her gaze turning bright with interest.

“Yes really, it’s completely undisturbed and you can take all the samples your heart desires. It’s on my property in Scotland. You said you’d planned on visiting a few spots in Europe, aye? Well, why not travel with me, and I can show you the place,” I say.

“Completely uncontaminated?” she asks, tilting her head to look up at me, studying my face.

“Aye.”

“This is so freaking weird, but very cool,” she mutters, not seeming put off by the idea, a faint smile breaking through her hesitation.

Thank the gods.

“Just think on it. We’ve time,” I say, thanking my lucky stars she’s not outright told me no.

Damn and blast, why didn’t I spend more time thinking on how to convince her to come with me in the first place?

Whitley pokes her head into the hallway from the dining room door, stealing my attention. “Not to interrupt, but if you guys want to take a seat in the dining room, I’m going to go let Vlad and Aubrey know lunch is ready. There’s a plate of sandwiches waiting and cabbage rolls on the sideboard. I’ll put your phone in some rice, Elena, hopefully it turns on soon.”

“Thanks, Whitley,” Elena answers, her expression genuine.

Relief courses through me. So far, she doesn’t seem to be looking for an escape route to run for the hills. It’s a good sign and gives me hope we may have a chance after all.

I flex my hand, relaxing a bit when no scales appear and a normal skin tone remains. With no real idea what’s happening, or why, I’ve no choice but to lean on my new friends for assistance if my body really is betraying me.

Now just to make sure the rest of the motley castle crew doesn’t muck it up.

Elena Pierson

“My lady,” Lachlan says, standing in front of the dining room chair, waiting for me to sit like a gentleman.

His deep red hair glistens in the sunlight from the row of windows spread along the castle dining room wall, and my fingers itch to touch the silky strands again.

Get a grip, Elena. And not on him.

“Thank you,” I murmur and move to sit down, smiling up at him as he helps me push my chair to the table.

As soon as I touched him earlier I became aware of two things. One is that fish men are real. And two, I’m undeniably attracted to him.

Of course who wouldn’t be?

My brain acting like a sieve, I struggle to keep up with the many sudden questions that I have for him. Like what does he eat? Was he born this way?

How did he get stuck in the moat? How long was he in the moat? Does he have peculiar eating habits? Does he sleep in water??

I rub at my arms before pulling my hands under the table to twist them nervously. Everything in the dining room looks equal parts expensive and old, like most of it came out of a history book.

Hell, so far since walking through the back entrance, I’ve noticed at least four chandeliers. I take a minute to gawp up at the intricate ceilings and all the elegant finery before the chef comes back.

“The castle is so pretty,” I say, trying to fill the silence.

“Vlad’s owned it for years,” he says, turning to look at me from his seat at my side.

I fight to keep myself from fidgeting in my chair as he turns those bright green eyes on me.

“Did you guys find the phone?” Aubrey asks, a bright smile on her face as she flounces into the room, her hair in a bun atop her head looking like a sports gear ad. She takes a chair at the end of the long wooden table and meets my gaze.

“Lachlan did yeah, and I think Whitley’s gone to put it on rice,” I say, giving her a friendly smile.