Epilogue
LACHLAN MACBETH
Three Weeks Later…
“Are you sure this is what you need, my flower?” I send the thought to Elena, the bond between us alight with the affection I feel every time I look at her. “It’s definitely big enough, but I’m no expert on modern technology.”
The many textures of the ocean floor are illuminated, made to glow by the deep sea creatures’ bioluminescence around us. I shift my coiled body, trying to keep my movements slow so my big tail doesn't stir up the silt and hover easily over the rusted, barnacle encrusted iron anchor.
Elena cuts through the water with effortless grace, her powerful iridescent mermaid tail swishing in sync with the current as we swim.
“It’s perfect. The anchor is pure early 19th century forged iron.
Not stainless steel like most used today.
The stove works in a pinch, but this is going to make the internet in the cave flawless, which means no more buffering. ”
She swims closer, the gills on her neck flaring slightly as she rests her small warm hands against my scaled flank. She taps at the rusted heap, her glittering green tail catching the faint light.
I let out a low rumble of approval that turns into a deep purr when her dainty hands scratch at my shoulder, and lean down to gently nudge her shoulder into the gentlest hug I can manage. “We can't have my mate living without her favorite television shows.”
“Exactly, and you know you love Naked and Afraid too,” she says, amusement clear through the bond as she presses a warm kiss just above my eye. “Modern monsters should at least have high-speed internet.”
“Aye, those poor lads are completely out of their element.
It's a miracle they last at all.” Grinning to myself, I call upon the deep magic of my lineage and manifest my trident.
The prongs hum with power as I level them at the anchor.
With a swift pulse of blue green light, the anchor magically breaks down to its elemental parts, turning into a weightless orb that floats effortlessly in the current.
“Alright, my flower, let's head home.”
With our prize in hand, I pull her to me and begin our ascent, swimming upward into the dark waters to reach the small pockets of underground streams that lead back home to Loch Ness.
Eventually, the dark freezing ocean gives way to the warmer waters of the loch, and we glide through the hidden rifts before rising into the massive cavern.
Elena breaches the surface first, and lets out a long happy breath as she hauls herself up onto the flat rock of the cave.
“Oh, it's good to be back,” she sighs, looking up around the cave walls. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my family, but they can be exhausting. And I'm glad the detour to save Vlad’s nanny didn't take too long, but I’m looking forward to some time off again. Thankfully, with my findings, I’ve months of vacation time. ”
In a fluid shimmer of green, her scales recede and her mermaid tail splits back into two smooth bare legs.
I follow her out of the water and let my serpentine form shrink and melt away into skin, then raise my trident once more, reversing the spell.
The anchor becomes solid and lands with a loud thud onto the Spanish galleon deck.
“I enjoyed your brothers,” I say, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind and pulling her back to my chest. “And you smashed your wee beasties review while we were there. I've never been so bloody proud.”
She leans back into me with a beautiful but tired looking smile on her bonnie face.
“They really loved it. The professors were blown away by the data comparison.
Of course they're all still wondering how I managed to get such pristine untouched samples. But I just told them I have a very dedicated diving partner.”
I kiss the top of her damp head. “A very proud diving partner, and Vlad is an absolute ass. I'd happily drop the vampire into the deepest trench in the Atlantic, although I’m glad his nanny is safe. But you're shivering. Go ahead and go get a shower. I’ll tidy up and secure the anchor to the bow of the ship.”
“Okay.”
I watch with a stupid and helpless grin as she disappears towards the captain's quarters, the tinkle of her soft laughter echoing back up to the deck.
The moment she’s out of sight I move into action. I've only minutes to get together what I’ve been planning.
And I need it to be perfect.
Elena Pierson
Pulling on an oversized sweater to cover my leggings, I step back out onto the deck and the cavern's usual lantern light that sweeps along the ship's sails has been dimmed.
Instead, the decking is lit up by the dancing glow of dozens of candles, and in the center, Lachlan stands waiting by a table dressed in a Highland kilt and a crisp white shirt that makes his broad shoulders look impossibly big.
His smile is warm when he moves to pull out a chair for me. “Your dinner is served, my flower.”
“Oh my god, Lachlan. This is so beautiful,” I breathe and take a seat, wrapping my hands around a flute of what looks like champagne, while my gaze traces the lines of his blue and red kilt.
Lachlan smiles and raises his fingers to his lips to let out a sharp and cheerful whistle that echoes through the cavern.
A moment later the quiet water beside the ship breaks and three river otters scramble up the side of the hull, their tiny sleek heads bobbing as they make their way over. They scurry excitedly over the planks in a tiny parade.
The leader of the group pauses in front of my chair and stands up on its hind legs holding a small velvet box perched on its nose.
My heart starts hammering in my chest as I gasp and take the small box. Inside, resting on a bed of blue velvet is a delicate diamond ring that catches the candlelight.
By the time I look up, I find Lachlan already down on one knee beside my chair. The heavy fabric of his kilt swirls around him on the floor. He takes my hand in his, while his blue eyes brim with an emotion so fierce it steals my breath away.
“Elena, for centuries I was trapped in the dark,” he says, his voice a low purr.
“I always knew someone would come along and eventually break my spell. But I never expected you. The moment you freed me, you became my reason for breathing and I don't want to wait for the rest of our lives to start. You’re my mate, my heart, my flower, my whole world. Will you do me the great honor of marrying me?”
Tears prick the corners of my eyes as I look from the sparkling ring to the beautiful protective man kneeling at my feet.
“Yes,” I whisper, a breathless laugh escaping my lips. “Yes, Lachlan, a thousand times yes.”
A brilliant smile splits across his face as he slips the ring onto my finger before rising to his feet and pulling me into his arms for a kiss.
When he finally pulls away, his arms stay wrapped tight around me.
“Now,” he murmurs, resting his forehead against mine. “What do you think of having a big wedding at the castle? I've got a best man in mind, and she just so happens to be a fantastic caterer.”
I laugh. “I think Mom is going to be ecstatic.”
The end.