Chapter 12
Marisol
The Singing Seahorse is packed with creatures in all types of costumes, and everyone’s having a great time.
It’s an even bigger turnout than we expected and I’ve never had so much fun.
My pub looks spectacularly spooky, the music is hauntingly enticing, and the snacks are otherworldly.
This was truly a community project and I’m already looking forward to the next event.
We all cheer as Doc Calla, Annamae, and Lucille climb up onto the stage in their matching ghost costumes, holding the white sheets carefully so they don’t trip going up the steps.
“And now for the finalists in our couples costume category,” Doc Calla calls. The group of tipsy zombies in the back, having come here directly after finishing up haunting Arran’s castle, shout the names of creatures who they think are deserving of the grand prize.
Beryl and Calixta are called up first, taking their place on the left of the stage in their pirate and parrot costumes. Calixta’s balanced on her wife’s shoulder and loving every minute in her colorful outfit, flapping her feathers gracefully as Beryl holds on to her thighs.
Ren and Maisie are next, dressed as a knight in shining armor with his damsel in distress in his arms. He carries Maisie up the stairs and blushes sweetly when she presses a kiss to his cheek, much to the delight of the crowd.
The final couple to be called is Viggo and Juniper, and they might be my favorite.
Juniper is dressed as a kraken, with long purple tentacles extending from her waist. But what makes it even better is that Viggo looks like a treasure chest. His torso is wrapped in an antique-looking box, his head balanced on gold coins and precious gems. Juniper keeps acting all defensive around him, draping her tentacles over him, ready to fight off anyone who dares to come close.
Doc Calla calls for a drum roll and everyone in The Singing Seahorse joins in, hitting their thighs and banging on tables. “Our winners are… Juniper and Viggo.” The crowd applauds wildly as Juniper and Viggo accept their flower crowns from Annamae and shake hands with Lucille and Doc Calla.
The next category gets called and I stop listening, my nerves fluttering in my stomach for what I’m about to do.
Attuned to every minor shift in my body, the guys close in around me.
They’ve been by my side the entire night, helping me serve customers, bussing tables, doing dishes, and chatting with all the locals.
It’s been wonderful to have them behind the bar with me, functioning all together as a team—no, as a pack.
Killian pulls me into his arms, and my fox and panther press closer from either side, all of them laying a comforting touch on some part of my body.
Gazing down at me through the eyes cut into his wolf mask, Killian says, “We just want to remind you that we love your voice, and we think Starry Hill will love it too. But nothing changes for us whether you sing or not. We’re not going anywhere, sweet siren.
We’re here to support you, but the choice is always yours. ”
I lift my chin to look at all three of them from underneath my rabbit mask. “I know. And honestly, if it weren’t for you guys, I don’t think I’d have the courage to do it. Thank you for being here for me.”
“Always,” Bash says without hesitation, adding a wink that’s visible even with his fox mask on.
Silas dips down to meet me at eye level, his green eyes blazing beneath his black panther mask. “As long as you want us, we’ll be here for you.”
When all the costume contest winners have received their floral crowns and returned to the dance floor, I make my way to the empty stage. My nerves dissipate with every step closer, the support of my pack bolstering my spirit.
I remove the rabbit mask the guys prepared for me—a thrilling reminder of what I’m looking forward to after the party—and place it on the stool behind me as I take up my lyre and start strumming an old folk song I’ve been learning over the past few days.
The first chord has heads turning in my direction, but my only focus is Pack Morgan as they, too, remove their masks, laying them on the pub’s counter as they stare mesmerized up at me.
The crowd fades away and I surrender to the melody, surrender my heart to my pack.
My voice dips and rises as I sing a song that tells of how my soul aches for them.
That they’re the breath in my body, and the pulse of my heart.
That nothing can keep us apart—no time, no space, no distance.
I am theirs and they are mine.
They’re my forever.
Thunderous applause follows my last chord and I blink my tears away as I lock eyes with my pack, an intensity there I’ve never seen before. Around me, there’s cheering and clapping and stomping of feet, interspersed with calls for more.
Shocked by the overwhelming response, I stay frozen in my seat, the guys’ fiery gazes never leaving mine. A bandaged hand gently tugs on my wrist and brings me back to the present while someone else restarts the dance music.
I step down and Tilly, dressed as a mummy, cups a hand over my ear. “That was incredible, Marisol, and so touching.”
“Thank you,” I say, squeezing her shoulder as I lift onto my tiptoes to look for my guys.
“If you wanted to slip out early and have a private moment with your pack after that declaration, you totally should.” Sensing my protest, she adds, “Throughout the performance, your guys looked like they were barely holding themselves back from snatching you off the stage and claiming you right here. It’s a look I recognize all too well.
Don’t worry about anything to do with The Singing Seahorse.
Bodin and I will lock up and take care of everything. ”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Tilly answers emphatically. “Bodin is talking to them right now. Look, they just grabbed their masks and they’re heading to the door.”
I squeeze her in a tight hug. “Thank you. So much.”
“You are very, very welcome. Now, go.”
I don’t wait to get told again. I cut through the crowd and head directly to the door where my pack waits for me.
Cool air hits me as soon as I’m outside, then someone yanks me against them, another body pressing against my back.
“Goddess, if you don’t run right now, I’m going to fuck you right here. Knot you. Mark you. Claim you,” Bash growls against my neck, the snout of his mask dragging against my sensitive skin.
Killian wraps a hand lightly around my throat and my breath hitches. “Sweet siren, you have us on the edge of going feral after what you just proclaimed in front of everyone.”
Voice a deep rasp, Silas pants, “A chuisle mo chroí, if you meant it, and if you still want us to chase you, then you need to go now. We’re all hanging on by the thinnest of threads. Our animals are right beneath our skin, wanting to chase you too. To claim you.”
“We want to feast, Marisol,” Killian warns. “And if you don’t want to do that right here, then run, little rabbit, run.”
Not needing any further explanations, I take off.
I race down the cobbled path, past the half-empty tree of potions, and down the hill, ducking cobwebs and jumping over pumpkins.
Guided by the moonlight, I weave through the pumpkin patch at the base of Starry Hill, sprinting as fast as my legs can take me toward Kraken Cove.
Never once do I look behind me, feeling their predatory eyes on my back as they track every step that I take.
My heart drums loudly inside my chest, my breaths coming shallow as I run faster and faster. The sounds from the party fade away and my pounding footsteps echo around me as I will myself to keep going.
I won’t make it easy for them. If they want to catch me to claim me, they’ve got to work for it.
When my feet hit the sand, I strip out of my clothes, leaving a trail on the beach as I head for the dark ocean.
The moment I’m in the water, I shift into my siren form and duck down beneath the surface, diving below the floating jack-o’-lanterns and through the barrier of bubbles Beck created to keep the pumpkins from drifting farther out into the ocean.
Only when I’m on the other side do I dare look back.
On the beach stand three creatures. No, animals. My mouth gapes as I squint at the black-and-gray wolf, the orange fox, and the midnight-black panther as they pace up and down the light sand.
The wolf throws his head back and howls, the territorial sound echoing through the quiet night and sending chills down my back and straight to the tips of my tail.
I only watch them for long enough to see Silas scoop my clothes up with his sharp teeth, and Bash taking off, carving a path through the trees along the coast.
Diving beneath the water again, I swim around the eastern tip of Starry Hill and head north—home. Whenever I come up for air, I search the shore, finding at least one pair of eyes shining in the dark as my pack keeps track of me.
I take a small detour and stay underwater for longer until I’m sure they can’t find me. Surfacing behind a rock, I scan my small island’s beach, finding none of the pack here. Did I finally lose them?
Fairly sure I’m alone, I cautiously swim closer to shore, straining my ears for any sound.
Besides the gentle lapping of waves, everything is eerily quiet.
Too quiet.
My heart starts thumping anew, my senses strained, and my body now on high alert. With small and controlled movements, I slowly inch closer until my fluke drags against the sand in the shallows.
Bam! A naked body crashes into me and I shriek as he flips me over. Bash straddles my hips and grabs my wrists, pinning them to the soft sand in an unyielding grip. His pupils are blown and his chest is heaving, a smug and purely carnal smirk pulling on his lips.
“Got you,” Bash rumbles and licks up my neck, sucking a mark on the sensitive flesh.