Chapter 6
Gil
Ihate to leave the springs for even a second.
While I don’t want to get ahead of myself, there’s something I need if I’m going to make good on the promise I made to Marina so many years ago.
It would be a damn shock if this wasn’t a frequent occurrence. Considering the whirlwind of an evening I’ve had, and the long swim through the portal back to my realm, the last thing I want is a night filled with whatever is bothering the great king Magnus.
But his charm is on full display, along with his fangs, as he waves me over. I climb up the ladder and resign myself for a night of acting like his unofficial royal advisor. Though, the small cat on his shoulder may be angling for my job.
If Marina is the childhood best friend I lost so long ago, Magnus is the one I can’t seem to be rid of. The vampire king’s long red hair blows back in the breeze as he casts a steely gaze toward me.
“You’re usually back from work by now,” he says with an annoyed huff. “I have been waiting for ages.”
“Wasn’t at work.” If he paid attention, he’d know that accounting for my family’s charter business is the last thing on my mind this time of year. I don’t bother to hide the way I’m grinning from ear to ear; I won’t let his sour mood spoil mine.
“Oh, do forgive me, I’ve forgotten this is the time for your yearly sabbatical.” Magnus’s usual eye roll is replaced with a slack jaw as he zeroes in on my blissful expression. “Don’t tell me you actually found her this time?”
“What if I have?” I let out a swoon-filled sigh. “There is a problem though.”
“Oh?”
“I think she might be afraid of the real me. She fainted when I slipped out of this.” I slide my glamour back on and watch Magnus wince at my projected human form.
“But this is so much worse,” he says, unable to hide his disgust. He’s always teased me about how the spell makes me look odd, and I’m inclined to agree. Still, Marina’s probably more used to seeing strange-looking humans than average-looking swamp monsters.
To his credit, Magnus actually gives me the floor to explain the entire situation, right up to me walking her back to her cabin.
“But you did tell her, did you not?” Magnus asks.
When I shake my head, he gasps. “No, no, this will not do. Gil, you must tell her as soon as possible. In my extensive research on mortal dating, I have discovered an instruction manual called a rom com. Understand that keeping a secret like this sets you up for disaster.”
“We barely spoke!” I say defensively, crossing my arms. With Magnus’s track record, I shouldn’t let him get in my head—especially with the way his last relationship was more of a kidnapping. Though, to be fair, he thought it was a rescue.
Still, the vampire king might have a point with this one, especially considering I’m still not sure if Marina will be afraid or not. “I’m taking her out for breakfast in the morning.”
“Ah.” He grimaces, turning over something bright in his hand. “Well, you are traveling to the mortal realms of Florida, yes? Perhaps after your meal, invite her to one of those … celebrations of the weather? I have heard it is quite an event, with themed cakes and revelry of all sorts.”
“A … hurricane party?” I squint.
Magnus only nods, once again distracted by whatever is in his palm.
I’ve been around water long enough to know he’s slightly off-base with this one—not to mention distracted, even when the cat swats at his shoulder.
“If you’re going to give advice, you should at least pay attention,” I quip, leaning back to study him. “Your little friend agrees.”
“Mittens does not care for anything that competes for my attention.” He flips the thing in his hand. A phone—I should have known. He shows me a profile of a very pretty—very mortal—woman, and Mitten hisses in response.
The fool has more dating apps than I do fingers.
While he’s able to pass into their realm without the aid of glamour, his knowledge of humans and his eccentric good looks haven’t saved him from a slew of bad dates.
“This one says she likes to travel. I am thinking of offering to take her to Cassius’s castle.
Do you know how far France is from a kingdom called Michigan? ”
“Who? I don’t know… hours?” Beyond the springs, I haven’t paid much attention to mortal geography.
“Cassius,” he says, unable to hide the annoyance in his voice.
He types up an invitation, ignoring the calico gnawing at his hand.
“You recall, he’s the one on my mother’s side who was cursed to become a ghastly creature after avoiding an arranged marriage.
He was banished to spend the rest of his days in the mortal realm with some trivial spell.
” Magnus shrugs. “We spent holidays there when I was small—before it fell to ruins, that is. Though, I’ve heard he’s hired a housekeeper to help fix it up.
A pretty little thing she is, too. I’m due for a visit, and why not bring a date? ”
“Have you considered meeting a match the old-fashioned way?” I sigh. His sordid family tree, filled with faeries and gargoyles, is the least of my worries right now.
“Stalking them through a marshy Florida swamp?” he counters, quirking a dark red eyebrow, an amused grin on his face. “A truly inspired idea, Gilbert. Thank you.”
“I am not stalking Marina.”
“Oh, is that so?” he asks, still clutching his cellphone while folding his arms across his chest. “How long did you watch her before approaching?”
“That’s not—” The gills on my face flutter with irritation. “I was waitin’ for the right moment.”
“Like a stalker,” he says, eyes now fully fixed on the phone.
“Guess it takes one to know one.” I shrug, watching my friend turn an even more ghoulish shade of white.
The two of us have always talked—and brawled—like brothers. As children, we spent most of our free time together, which, admittedly, he didn’t have much of because of his royal duties. Maybe that’s why he’d always look so crestfallen when, as children, I’d race to the springs every summer.
Our lands border each other, and although he’s grown to become the king of the vampires, his mother is of the Dragonfly court, a kingdom beyond the cypress right here in the marsh.
In those days, he was just as possessive as his cat.
Once or twice, he even threatened to follow me up to the mortal realm, but between his lessons in music, riding, and dancing, there wasn’t much time to muck around with me at a human summer camp.
But I can’t say I ever minded; the time I spent with Marina was special in a way I can’t explain to Magnus without crushing his ego.
“Perhaps I will follow you on your little date tomorrow and find a mortal equally as appealing.”
“Don’t you even think about it,” I say, narrowing my eyes at the vampire who has made my dock a second home.
“Do you recall the parties we attended together at the castle?” Magnus asks, his chin tilted up to the moon.
I smirk. How could I forget? Lavish food, loud music, and two boys releasing frogs into a ballroom.
No one has ever gotten me into more trouble, not even the human girl I tried to bring home with me.
“How could I forget?” I ask, wondering what’s bringing forth this round of nostalgia.
“Every night, I’d be surrounded by suitors from all across the realm. I’d send half to you to dance with and entertain, and you’d whine and moan that their company did not compare to the friend you lost. Your Marina.” He shakes his head, and I wish I knew where he was going with this.
“I suppose you’re working toward your point.”
“Only that I hope she’s worth all those years of spoiled fun.” And there’s something in his tone I’m not used to hearing from my usually flippant friend. Jealousy would suit him fine, but worry? Now that’s just off-putting.
“We’re having breakfast tomorrow is all.” I leave out that I’m also planning to snag a few crystals and charms to weave onto something she can wear to breathe underwater. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared. I made a promise, after all.
“Mm, now, I don’t believe that for a second, but know that if things fall apart—”
“You’ll tell me ‘I told you so’?”
“I’ll be here with pastries,” he says, offering a sad smile.
Marina…
In my adolescence, all I wanted was one more day in the sun together—heck, I would have been content just to know she was okay.
Tonight, her green eyes made my pulse quicken, her voice as sweet as honey.
I won’t take this as anything more than a chance to reconnect.
We were friends as children. Could the people we’ve grown into become friends too?