Page 196 of Sorrow & Strangers

“Jealous?” I ask, leaning lightly against the kelpie.

“Of a kelpie?” he asks, throwing me a look.

I quirk a brow at the obvious jealousy in his voice, though I know he’s not jealous that the kelpie seems to prefer me. It’s because it’s taking my attention away from him. The kelpie tosses his head and whinnies, and I swear he is laughing. Grumbling, the stranger crosses his arms over his broad chest. The kelpie sinks lower in the water, offering me his back. I glance at the stranger and grin when he nods in approval. Excitement fills my cells as I climb on, situating myself on his back.

“Better hold on tight, princess,” he says. Any jealousy he felt seems to have melted away as he smiles at me.

Then the kelpie is on his feet, lurching into action as he runs on the surface of the water, his tread so gentle that there is barely a ripple in his wake, only a fine mist of water. The speed incites a scream from me, and I lean forward to wrap my arms around his neck, to hold on to him as we dart over the surface of the water toward the sparkling night sky. We run faster, and after a moment of letting the terror maintain its hold on me, I start to loosen my grip on him, his steadiness giving me confidence. I sit up slowly, knowing the stranger wouldn’t let anything happen to me, that he knew this would be okay. He wanted this experience for me and knew it would bring me joy. The ocean air blasts past me as we run, and cool water sprays at me as he dashes into the darkness. Blue and green lights illuminate the night sky as we move farther from the light pollution produced by the resort. The feeling of weightlessness, freedom, and the magic of it all takes my breath away.

The stranger has freed me, and not just from Torin. In this moment of magic and wonder, I feel so alive, so awake. It’s so liberating that my chest aches.

Slowly, I loosen my death grip on the kelpie and sit up completely. Holding my arms out, I throw my head back, sinking into the feeling.

The kelpie huffs, and I pant as we slow. He trots to a rock that is propped in the middle of the ocean, with two stunning mere women resting on it. They are brushing their long hair, the moonlight flashing against the scales of their iridescent blue and purple tails.

I pat his neck as he chuffs at them, neighing softly. He trots around the rock, his head held high. The mermaids vocalize, clicking and hissing, obviously communicating with him. The kelpie’s ears droop a little, and one of them tuts, shaking her head at us.

My brows furrow and I stroke his neck, trying to console him, though I have no idea what they’re saying. The kelpie huffs sadly and trots away from them, back toward the resort. I glance over my shoulder at the mermaids to see that they are still watching us as if making sure he is following their instructions. One even plunges into the water, and I notice her swimming beneath us. The second we start running again, that sense of freedom envelops me once more, and my heart races from the rush of it.

The lights of the resort come into view, along with the darker smudge of the shore, and the kelpie slows, seeming almost reluctant to return.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, stroking his neck.

He neighs softly, and I scratch his neck. He chuffs and then sets off again. The stranger is right where we left him, but he looks angry, and as we approach, he starts clicking in the same tone the mermaids used when they were talking to him, clearly admonishing my new kelpie friend.

The stranger reaches up and grips my waist in his large hands, pulling me from the kelpie’s back. The kelpie neighs defiantly and rears up.

“It’s okay. I’m okay,” I say to the stranger, placing my hands on his shoulders, both of us ignoring the beast.

The stranger blinks, looking at me. “Are you reassuring me?”

I nod. “He was just playing. It was amazing, and I am safe.”

“You speak Mermish?” he growls, pulling me to him.

“No, I⁠—”

“So you’re going off my tone?” he asks, waving the kelpie away as the beast buries his nose in my hair and huffs. The kelpie doesn’t move, completely unconcerned.

“It sounds similar to what the mermaids were saying, and you look angry like they did.”

“Well, he was trying to take you home with him.”

“Why?” I ask, my brows drawing in confusion.

“Because kelpie are fae, and based on his reaction to you, I believe he may be a member of your court, not Kai’s.” My frown deepens. “I think kelpies are subjects of the Seelie Court. I think . . .” He glances at the kelpie. “Speak to him in Daoine Sith.”

“Hello,” I say in the language of my people.

The kelpie looks at me and steps back before lowering into a deep bow. “Your Majesty,” he says, the words projected straight into my mind.

My lips part on a gasp.

“What is it?” the stranger asks, grabbing me, ready to whisk me away to safety.

“We . . . I have to go.” I turn away from both of them, nearly running up the beach, my heart thundering in my chest, and my mind swimming. I don’t get far before his hand finds mine. His warmth seeps into me, granting me a sliver of clarity amid the chaos of my mind, but I keep walking.

“Princess,” he says, tugging my hand.