Page 168 of Bewitched By the Sea Monster
“Pippi, then,” Rune said. “I think you’re confused?—”
“I’m not. And don’t spin this like I’m some traumatized little woman who’s too scrambled in the head to know what she’s saying. My head has never been clearer. Alistair ishuman.” My voice crackled around that word. I paused. Swallowed, to soothe the lacerations in my throat, and bellowed, “And you cursedhim.”
Jackson’s voice trickled down. “See, this is the nonsense she was blabbering about.”
“My ears work, Jackson.” I whipped my eyes to him. “And if anyone is blabbering nonsense, it’syou. Why don’t you tell them the truth behind today—or this whole week?”
His face turned stony.
“That’s fine. You don’t have to. I will.” I pivoted my gaze between the two ships, meeting each set of curious, worried, and shocked eyes that peered down at me. “Jackson’s mad because I broke up with him. Because I finally realized he’s a selfish leech who’s been draining me foryears.And he threw a tantrum and fabricated this bullshit story where he’s the hero, and I’m the simpering damsel who’s been bewitched by a horrific beast. Because that’s easier for him to accept than me not wanting him.” I turned back to Jackson.
He exuded so much fury, it lit a full-fledged fire in my belly.
“Did that cover everything,babe?” I tried to bring my speech to an epic mic drop conclusion. But my blistered throat crapped out on me, and those last words were barely a hiss.
“Pippi.” Alistair nuzzled his head into me. “You’re so lovely when you’re m-m-mad. Has anyone told you that? It’s s-s-s-sexy.”
I sputtered.
He chuckled.
“You should be mad more,” he whispered. “Especially toward people who use you. Save your k-kindness for people who earn it.”
I turned and pressed my lips to his face.
Chaos erupted over us.
Kian screamed at Jackson, demanding if I was telling the truth.
Rune shouted that he couldn’t leave his magic unfinished, and that, “Alistair had still been allowed to get too close to a human.”
People speculated.
I heard it all. But didn’t care.
At that moment, my world shrunk.
It was just me and Alistair, floating in the water, as we’d done so many nights before. Soaking in each other’s company. Feeding each other comfort.
After a long stretch of silence,Alistair groaned. “Pippi, I do love you. And I’m…I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for—Whaaaaa…Alistair!” I scrabbled for balance when he abruptly ducked his head underwater and shoved it beneath my feet.
“Alistair, what are you—” I blanched when he lifted me up and swung his head towardValiant.“No.”
The runes on his head bubbled and popped, boiling into his flesh until he bled. Heavily. Thick ribbons of crimson meandered down his face.
He bellowed and kept going.
“Alistair!”
With a thrust that was a little too shaky to be gentle, Alistair bonked his nose up. And sent me spiraling against the side of the ship.
Hands immediately snaked down and encased my arms, my shoulders. Fingers grasped on to the back of my vest.
“Stop!” I croaked. “Alistair!”
He sank back to the sea while I was hauled up and over the ship railing.
