Page 155 of Bewitched By the Sea Monster
Jackson’s emotionsslammedinto me, nearly bowling me off my feet.
These were dark feelings—frighteningly so. Pounding sensations that left my blood boiling and had me itching to hurt something. Someone. More than hurt them.Murderthem.
“Sweet, and goofy, and charismatic?” Jackson drawled.
He sounded so very calm. A placid sheen of ice, concealing riotous waters.
“How much time did you spend with the sea beast, Pippi?” he asked.
I forced myself to meet his gaze. Forced myself to remain calm, even as terror flayed my insides. “I’m sorry, Jackson. Not sorry I did spend time with him—I wish I could say I was. But I can’t regret getting to know Alistair. But it wasawfulthat I went behind your back. And hurt you?—”
Jackson turned away with a snarl. Paced into the living room. Stopped.Seethedwhen he noticed cat hair on his suitcase. Belched up a violent string of curses that had me instinctively flattening my back against the wall. And fisted his hand on the suitcase handle.
For a brief, heart-sickening second, I pictured him hefting that suitcase up and throwing it at my head.
And I figured if he did, I’d deserve it.
But then his savage emotions quieted. He knocked his empty fist against his thigh andlaughed. “This explains it, doesn’t it?”
“What explains what?”
“You!” he exclaimed. “All week I’ve been raking my brain trying to figure out what the fuck was going on with you. And now it makesperfectsense. That sea monster’s bewitched you or something. Hasn’t it?”
“What?No.”
“Precisely what someone who’s been bewitched would say.”
“I’ve not been bewitched, Jackson! That’s not even athing—” I bit off when he circled the living room furniture and stormed toward me.
I tried to move back, but I was pressed against the wall. Trapped.
Jackson slammed a fist into that wall above my head and snatched my chin in his other hand.
“Let me go.” Panicked words burbled out of me. “Jackson. Please. Let?—”
He squeezed my jaw until the pressure creaked my bone and left me yelping in pain.
“Luckily for you,babe, I’m not one of those assholes who chucks girls out to the curb over indiscretions like this. You’re forgiven, Pippi.” He touched his lips to my head in a kiss that felt more possessive than romantic.
“Jackson.” My jaw crackled and ground as I fought to get the words out. “Iswear, I’m not?—”
“You’re not thinking clearly. Of course. How could you, with that thing so close to the island?”
“He’s not a thing!”
“And I wish I could say that getting you home would make everything better. But bewitching is like a curse, right? Permanent?”
“I haven’t been bewitched! Or cursed.”
“I’m sorry, babe, you were trying to tell me, too, without being able to tell me. ‘The beasts have runes that dictate what they can do and say.’ That’s what happened to you, huh? I should’ve listened!”
“Jackson!”
“As far as I know, a surefire way to get rid of a spell is to get rid of the source. At least that’s the rumor. Might be true. Might not be. Only one way to find out.”
My blood morphed into freezing sludge, too thick to course properly through my veins.
“I’m going to take care of it. I promise.” A smile quirked at the corner of his mouth.
