Page 40 of Riding A Cock-Horse
This alone is a consolation because the truth is, the rest of us aren’t strong enough to fight the Tershes—not alone and not even together—but Nestor is. He’s ruthless and fierce. Of course, all of this is contingent upon him being near a large body of water, but even then, he can still be on land for a limited amount of time.
Either way, I wouldn't fuck with him.
“I must go tell my grandfather this,” Nestor announces.
I nod in understanding, and he goes racing off towards Loch Ness. I watch him make a graceful dive into the water before he disappears beneath the dark liquid. Turning back around, I follow along the stream that links Loch Ness to Loch Kemp. I don't go too far because I risk hearing Belle again—which was seriously disturbing knowing how many others are at the house.
Hopefully, everyone has left except her and Theo.
I grin, thinking of my blond friend—lucky Bastard probably doesn't know what to do with himself right now. Our Belle is a kinky wench, and if you're not prepared for that, it completely takes you off guard.
But I'm sure Theo’s adapting just fine.
My arse ears are more finely attuned to sound; so, I strip and quickly shift—notbecause I want to hear Belle’s breathy moans, but to see if she’s done.
And maybe to see if she wants me to join in…
But instead of gasps of pleasure, my ears pick up on splashing in the distance behind me. It must be Nestor getting ready to return to the house. Wondering where Harry is—probably glued to Belle’s bedroom window, wanking it—the faint sound of voices on the wind makes me pause. They’re coming from the lake, and I wonder if it's Nestor talking with this grandfather.
Did the ancient Niseag actually shift?
Curious, I very quietly walk back towards the massive lake. Peering through the brush, I can barely make out the shoreline where Nestor is standing. In front of him is a man who blends in with the darkness of the night. I realize Iknowthis man—it’s not the other Loch Ness Monster.
It's the Secondary Jackal that attacked us back at the port.
My arse ears strain to pick up their conversation. The wind snatches at the words, blowing them sometimes to me, but mostly away. I hear the wordfight,enslave, and thenrule. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what the Secondary is telling the Tersh. He's recruiting Nestor—for his war.Nestor is nodding, as if in agreement, and I want to race out and smack him.
Doesn't he know this is one of the men who hurt Belle?!
I see Nestor hold out a hand; the Secondary puts his out to shake, too. At this, Nestor’s lips curl into a sinister grin. He pumps the jackal’s hand up and down, as if in agreement, before letting out an ear piercing whistle. The Secondary winces, as do I, my ears flattening to the side of my head. All of a sudden, a form comes lunging out of the water; the enormous head attached to it opens its gaping mouth to snap around the arsehole jackal. The creature swiftly pulls the Secondary under the water, leaving nothing but ripples behind.
Holy fuck.
Grandpa Loch Ness just ate him.
My post-coital bliss is interrupted by the braying of a donkey outside my window.
Hee-haw, hee-haw!
It’s like a terrible serenade that makes you wonder if Jack is trying some ass-y way to get laid. I walk over to the window, open it up, and peer outside into the night. The cool breeze flows in to caress my bare skin. Theo comes to stand behind me and hisses:
“Get some clothes on!”
“Maybe Jack wants to see me see me naked,” I parry.
“What if it's Harry?” Theo counters, making me frown.
He's right—I can't tell those two apart in donkey form in this little of light.
“Bray twice if you're Jack,” I command to the animal below.
At this, Theo laughs.
“Do you really think if it was Harry, he'd tell you?”
Good point.
The donkey rectifies my problem by shifting into his human form—it's definitely Jack.
