Page 35 of Casting Butterflies

We drove in mostly silence until we reached the port with the ferry. Seeing the city of Hull, I did perk up a bit. So many cool-looking old buildings. The place reeked of history, and I wanted nothing more than to explore.

“Ooh, what’s that place?” I asked, face plastered to the window eyeballing a structure with minarets.

“Hull Minster, an old church.”

“Can we go take a peek?”

“No.”

Despite knowing the answer when I saw a sign advertising The Deep, an aquarium, I still had to ask. “Ooh, fishies! Can we?”

“No.”

I got the same answer for the Dinosaur Museum, and every other place I pointed at. Spoilsport.

When we arrived to find out we’d just missed the last ferry, which had departed at eight thirty p.m., and the next not schedule until the next evening, I bounced and clapped my hands. “Yay. Since we’re stuck here until tomorrow night, I wanna go exploring.”

“Oh no we’re not. We’re booking into a nearby hotel until it’s time to leave.”

My turn to offer a much nicer, “No. And before you say it’s not safe, you told me it takes a bit for the monster to reform.”

“Yes but⁠—”

“No buts! I’ve never been to the UK, and I am not wasting a chance to do a bit of sightseeing.”

Cedric cleared his throat. “I think it’s best if you give the girl this chance because if you don’t, she’s liable to put you to sleep and go off on her own.”

It wouldn’t have occurred to me, but now that the cat had suggested it…

Misha sighed. “Fine. But in bed by midnight and, tomorrow, I want us waiting at the port by seven p.m. at the latest.”

“Hell yeah!” I could do a lot in that time.

We started first by finding a room, where Cedric chose to stay and nap since we couldn’t exactly bring a cat to a pub. Because, yes, I went to an authentic British pub and had fish and chips and absorbed the cockney accents and got tipsy on ale.

Like a good girl, I was in bed by midnight, but up and ready to go by eight a.m., dragging a grumbling Misha to all the places. Although, to his credit, he didn’t grouse for long. He lit up at the aquarium. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who liked to see the fishies. I even caught him smiling a few times when we went to check out the dinosaurs. By dinner time, which we did early, given our itinerary, I daresay he’d enjoyed himself, seeing as how he leaned back in his seat, cradling a mug of ale.

“Thanks for letting me see the sights.” Knowing how against it he’d been, best to throw him a bone.

“It did prove to be more enjoyable than us staying enclosed in that room all day.”

“I don’t know. I’m sure we could have found something fun to do.” I winked, expecting him to bluster or blush, but Misha leaned forward and purred, “We would have, but I doubt Cedric would have appreciated it.”

My cheeks heated because, hot damn, the sexy elf had just flirted with me. But I couldn’t let him have the last shocking word. “Don’t we have a cabin on board the ferry?” A must since the overnight trip would take twelve hours. “I’m sure Cedric wouldn’t mind roaming the ship to give us privacy.” Bold, but then again, on vacation—of sorts—such things were expected.

“Our room has bunk beds, but I’m sure we can make it work,” Misha drawled, a statement that gave me the most delicious tingles.

“It’s after six now. Should we be grabbing our things?”

“Let me settle our bill and we’ll head out.” Misha left to hunt down the waitress rather than wait for her to make her rounds. Impatient? Good. A girl liked to feel wanted.

As I waited and finished my drink, someone bumped into my chair.

“Apologies, I didn’t mean to jostle,” said a deep voice.

I partially turned to see a tall dark-haired man offering an apologetic smile. “It’s okay,” I said. “The bar is rather crowded.”

“You don’t sound local,” he noted.