Page 56 of Hot Summer's Prey

THEY WEREN'T KIDDING WHEN THEY CALLED HER A WITCH

PACARI

“Ahahaha,” Teresa giggles. “You’ve literally rocked my world. It literally feels like there’s an earthquake. Feels weird underwater.”

Her words are slurred and giggly and barely cogent. But I feel it too.

Another quake!

Dread blasts through me, instantly sobering me after all of our passionate sex. A needy, impatient feeling rises up in me, upset that I have so many things to take care of when all I want is to fuck Teresa into eternity. Her magic is addicting. She is addicting. And we have still more to do—more of the ocean to explore together—and hopefully, more of her life above the water to explore as well. I want to know her world as intimately as she has grown to know mine.

“That is an earthquake,” I tell her, staring into her eyes to force her out of her cum drunk stupor.

Still, she laughs. Her expressions seem to crash on her face as she smiles.

“Classic California,” she snorts. “It’s your fault, you know, for rocking my world. Get it… fault…”

I need to secure the garden. I have to face the Lantern Witch—and worst of all, I have to take Teresa with me. There’s no other way to guarantee her safety. I can only hope the magic inside her helps to keep her safer.

“Teresa, we have to go,” I urge, pulling her to me.

She sighs as our bodies align, the feeling already so familiar and so right. As we swim closer to the Lantern Witch’s dwelling, fear seeps into every fiber of my being. What if she withdraws her magic? Leaves Teresa without oxygen, without the atmospheric protection? What if she decides she’s done with me and Teresa is stranded here in the Abyss?

I should have tried to find Cirro. Even Kalixto—but it’s too late now.

We’re here.

“Pretty light,” Teresa murmurs.

If she knew the danger we’re in, she’d be as sober as I am. I can’t blame her for not realizing the severity of her situation. This is my world, not hers.

“Teresa, my pearl. I love you, but we’re about to meet an extremely dangerous creature. I need you to stay close and try not to say anything ‘cause you’re a little cum drunk and braindead right now—”

“Yeah—” she starts to shout before I cover her mouth. She mumbles “I am” into my hand.

“—and I’m terrified she could kill either of us at any moment if she so chooses. Do you understand?”

She nods, her eyelids drooping. “That’s a lot to deal with and it made me very tired all of a sudden.”

“Does that mean you’ll do what I asked?”

“Shh, I just wanna cuddle up and sleep.”

I laugh anxiously, hoping that with her mostly passed out that I can figure out what’s best for us. My body is tight with fear that I do my best to hold in. As long as Teresa is in my care, I have to make all the right moves. I have to ignore all the horrifying what-ifs that could go wrong.

“A sacrifice? It’s been so long,” coos the Lantern Witch’s voice.

“Don’t even think about it,” I say before I can catch myself.

My teeth bare for a moment before I remember who I’m talking to. What’s at stake.

The witch pouts. “I was hoping it would be an apology for LEAVING MY EYES ON LAND.”

I shield Teresa as best as I can from the witch’s ire, curling myself in.

“Its purpose was to watch you, seducer,” she grumbles. “But you’ve absconded with this human and abandoned the poor soul… and after all your false cries that you care about the lives of others.”

“I put him in the care of a trustworthy human,” I counter. “He’s very cute as a dog. It was good luck what he shifted into.”

---