Page 15 of Hot Monster Summer

The knowledge soothes something in me, though the jealousy still simmers. She hasn’t given herself entirely to Oren. There’s still time to show her that water can be more enticing than earth, that my domain—my touch—offers pleasures the forest troll cannot provide.

“The wolf is right about one thing,” I say, moving closer to her, close enough that my tentacles could reach her if I allowed them to. “You’ve experienced what the forest offers. But you haven’t yet explored the depths of the lake or what I could show you there.”

Her pulse quickens visibly at my words, a small vein in her throat fluttering. “Are you… are you competing for me? Because that’s—”

“Primal?” I suggest. “Monstrous?”

“I was going to say ‘flattering but weird,’ but sure, those work, too.”

Kaelen growls again, moving to place himself between Lily and me. The message is clear—if I pursue her, I’ll have to deal with him and Oren.

So be it.

“When you’re ready to experience what the water has to offer,” I tell her, ignoring Kaelen’s warning posture, “come to the dock at midnight. I’ll be waiting.”

“I haven’t agreed to anything,” she points out, though her scent betrays her interest.

“No,” I acknowledge. “But curiosity is written all over you, Water Lily. It’s one of the things that makes you different from other humans.”

I retreat to the water, sliding beneath the surface with one last look at her flushed face and Kaelen’s hostile stance. Let the wolf think he’s protected her from me for now. Let him guard her on land while he can.

I’ll prepare something special in my underwater domain. Something to show her that the troll’s forest offerings pale compared to the wonders I can provide.

And when—not if, but when-she comes to the water’s edge, I’ll bind her to me with treasure, the likes of which her human form has never imagined.

The hunt for Lily’s affections has now been thrust into high tide.

7

Lily

This is ridiculous.

I’m standing in front of the cabin’s foggy bathroom mirror at 11:45 PM, after draining a glass of my boxed wine, debating what one wears to a midnight rendezvous with a kraken.

The black one-piece swimsuit seems too practical, the red bikini too “I’m definitely here for underwater monster sex,” and going naked feels presumptuous even though skinny-dipping was kind of implied.

I settle on the bikini with a light sundress over it—the aquatic equivalent of sexy-but-could-be-casual underwear. As if anything about this situation is casual.

I kissed a forest troll two days ago, then got jealousy-sniffed by a dire wolf, and now, I’m sneaking out to meet a kraken for a midnight swim.

This is not the “healing from heartbreak” retreat my therapist recommended.

Or maybe it is?

They say the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else… Fingers crossed that also applies to monsters.

“You’re just curious,” I tell my reflection, trying to justify the absolutely insane decision I’m making. “Exploring new experiences. Very healthy. Very normal post-breakup behavior.”

My reflection doesn’t look convinced.

The cabin creaks around me, the old wood settling for the night. I can see the lake gleaming under the moon through the window, its surface mirrorlike and inviting. Somewhere out there, Caspian is most likely waiting. And somewhere in the woods, I’m pretty sure Kaelen is watching. As for Oren… I’m not sure where he goes at night, but I can still feel the ghost of his kiss on my lips.

“This isn’t choosing,” I mutter, smoothing down the sundress. “This is just… gathering data.”

Before I can talk myself out of it, I slip out the cabin door and pad barefoot down to the shore. The night is warm, fireflies dotting the darkness like earthbound stars. Only moonlight illuminates the dock's path, a surprisingly skillful vine repair Oren completed earlier today.

Caspian is already there, his upper body emerging from the water at the end of the dock, tentacles lazily swirling in the dark water around him. He looks ethereal in the moonlight; hisslightly faint blue-green skin seems almost iridescent, and his black eyes reflect the stars.

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