Chapter Twenty-One

W e don't get home until dark. The boat is even more crowded, with exhausted kelpies and selkies snoozing on deck. Turns out those are just fancy names for people who can turn into seals or horses. I think knowing there were more horses taking down Big K makes sense.

And of course, Janet insists that a MANPAT has more horsepower than a Cadillac, so that could have something to do with it.

Marina sits up and eats fairy food. It'll probably keep her going for a while, but I know that's not what she really needs. She probably needs a big dose of Kev (my ego swaggers a little), but I'm exhausted, she looks beat, and trauma isn't a great aphrodisiac.

"You gonna make it until tomorrow? I don't think tonight is the night for... Well... Unless you need a snack." I whisper in her ear.

Marina just smiles at me—but then frowns. "Oh, you had to take off another day of work!"

"That doesn't matter. A job is a job. You're my person." I take her hand and smile when I see the ring survived.

"I'm not much of a person. I... he made me ask for your soul. He said you wouldn't—"

"Baby. You already had it. I don't feel any different." I smile and think about it. "No, I do. I feel way better."

"Me, too."

"Country Pines up ahead, folks. We'll leave the boat there." Calder rouses sleepy selkies and kelpies, who shift seamlessly back to horse-things and seal-things and slide out of the boat.

"I don't know where I left my car," I realize.

"There will be plenty of people queuing up to give us rides home," Jakob Minegold says as he strokes Marina's hair. I don't mind because it's in a nice fatherly way.

Fatherly.

Dad!

Mom!

"Oh, shit! Shit!" I pat my pockets. "My phone is dead, and it's probably busted, too. Or waterlogged."

"I'm sure we can get you a new phone," Marina looks up at me with wide, worried eyes. "I'm sorry, darling. This is all—"

"Hush, girl, it's not about that. I told my parents you were missing, and they were going to drive up today if I didn't call them back and tell them not to. I'm just worried that they'll be freaking out."

"Or waiting for you?" Mr. Minegold taps my shoulder and points.

There's a handful of cars waiting by the motel, just like he said—and my mom's blue Subaru is one of them.

"What? Regular people can't even see this motel!" Marina hisses, hands going to her hair.

"I assume they were directed to this location, somehow." Mr. Minegold looks startled by the sudden note of panic in Marina's voice.

It isn't stopping, though. "I can't meet your mother like this! I'm a mess!" Marina cries.

"You were kidnapped! You have a right to have a bad hair day!" I protest, but a little part of me worries, too. "She will absolutely love you, no matter how you look." But I really hope she doesn't notice the teeth until later. Much, much later...

KEV'S PARENTS AND ONE brother (Cal, I presume) move as one unit, a flock of panicked geese in track pants and Penn State hoodies looking anxiously around. Their eyes settle on Kev, and I can see the love in their reactions. His father looks heavenward in thankfulness, his mother clutches at her heart and begins to run, and his brother falls to a crouch, hands on his knees as he lets out a "Thank God!"

"Put me down!" I shove at his arms. Kev is still holding me. I'm sure I can walk. Pretty sure.

"Not until tomorrow. And you're most likely going to come to work with me and just sit in the waiting room so I can come look at you anytime I want," he hisses, tightening his grip. "Don't argue. I gave you my soul. You can give me eight hours of intense staring. Plus, I'll bring you snacks from the break room."

"That soul thing is going to be the ultimate guilt trip, isn't it?" I laugh and panic evaporates like a bursting bubble. I'm so happy, because it's such a heavy thing we've done, that we've gone through, and yet with him—there's lightness. We tease. We laugh, our heads close as he carries me in his perfect arms.

We get tackled.

"Oh, sweetie! Oh, I was so scared!" Kevin's mother embraces him and me by default.

"He was so brave! A hero," I praise, still trying to get down.

"For real for real?" Cal slaps his brother and pops his chest to his arm, a strange victory hug, I suppose.

"Most real," I smile.

"This is Marina?" Kev's mother looks at me.

Okay, some of the panic is back.

"Hello. So nice to meet you," I smile, lips closed in case she should notice just how sharp my teeth are.

"How'd you know to come here?" Kev asks.

"You weren't at your apartment so we went to wait in this little coffee shop—the pine something— and everyone was talking about ‘the rescue' and how they were heading to Country Pines to meet the boat. We followed the crowd," Kevin's dad explains.

"Yeah, they told us your ex was like... Russian mafia?" Cal bounces on the soles of his shoes.

"Worse," Kev and I say as one.

"Do you all need to get to the hospital? What about the police?" Mr. Bailey looks around. "Thought I saw an ambulance parked over—"

"We're fine, Dad. Well, fine enough. There was an officer at the scene of the uh—rescue. He'll call us if he needs more info."

"Yes, I just need to clean up a bit. I will let you catch up," I whisper, trying to bow out. I'm not sure what to do. No man has ever wanted me to meet his family. Gregor had no family of his own. I know Kevin had some reservations about telling his mother how serious he was about me.

I don't know what I expected to happen, but it wasn't that his mother would make a noise like a stepped-on chicken, and start a lecture. "I don't think so, sweetie! Kev, you keep ahold of that girl!"

Kev obeys. "Don't have to tell me twice."

I didn't expect Mrs. Bailey to march us to her car, shove us into the backseat, and cover us with a blanket while talking a mile a minute.

I didn't expect Jakob to wave us out of the mass of Pine Ridge residents desperate to hear what occurred, and to find myself in a protective hug, pillowed between Kev and his mom as she talked nonstop, her hands stroking my hair and my cheek with such tenderness that my eyes start to leak.

"Hush, now, baby. You let it all out."

To my surprise, I do.

MY MOTHER IS A NURSE . She's seen it all. She looks over Marina's head and into my eyes as Marina breaks down. My mother can do that to you. There's something so—gentle but commanding in her tone. She gets people through scary shit, and I guess I take after her.

When we reach my apartment, Dad goes into full Dad-Mode. That means he's going to make a big pot of something, usually chili, and start making bad jokes to distract people from whatever sad or scary stuff is going down. Cal bounces like a yo-yo in the corner, nodding in approval.

Mom is still huddled with Marina, leading her to the couch and tucking her in while talking soothingly the entire time. She only leaves her to come and give me a hug that makes me fear for my internal organs. Fortunately, she stops before they rupture.

"Son?"

"Yeah, Mom?"

"That's my future daughter-in-law on the couch, isn't it?" she says it like a question, but only a fool would miss that it's actually an order. Like when a nurse jabs an IV in your arm and says "Who's ready for some fluids?" as the fluids are already fast-tracked into your system.

"Yes, Mom."

Mom surprises me by giving me another huge hug and an even bigger grin. "Good! I'm so glad you can see it and I don't have to talk sense into you."

"No, Mom. That's one thing I already know."

"Is that ring on her finger from you?" One eyebrow climbs high.

"Yep."

"Mmhmm." Mom makes a satisfied sound and walks back to the couch. "We're going to make sure you two eat and then we'll find a hotel for the night."

"Country Pines Motel is very beautiful, Mrs. Bailey," Marina speaks up.

"What a pretty voice you have, dear," Mom gushes. "But don't let me catch you using it to say ‘Mrs. Bailey' again. I'm Esther—or Mom. I would prefer Mom." My mother cups Marina's cheek for a moment.

Marina nods, then puts a hand over her mouth like she can push down whatever is about to burst out. It doesn't work. "I never had a mother of my own," she whispers.

"Damn." Dad wipes at his eyes. "Onion ninjas," he coughs and goes back to banging around my kitchen.

"Well, you have a whole family now."

"Son! You don't have an black beans! No green chiles, either! I thought I raised you better than that!" Dad calls.

"We'll go to the store and let Kev and Marina shower and get into some clean clothes," Mom says. "We'll be back before you know it." She kisses Marina on the forehead and pats the blanket up under her chin.

For the first time in a long time, I'm glad my mother is in the way and in my business all the time. Marina looks like she's been handed a fairy godmother with a couple of bonus relatives.

"I'm going to call Carter. He's probably shitting himself by now. Or he's trying to get on a plane," Cal says.

"Language!" my parents bark as one.

"Oh, it is okay. I have heard very much worse," Marina charms with a delicate little smile.

"I like her." Cal grins.

"Not more than I do." I put a possessive arm around Marina when I join her on the couch.

"That's the way it's supposed to be with your soulmate," Dad says with a wise nod.

"Soulmate is the right word."

Marina slides her fingers through mine, blue eyes hungry and soft all at once. Just like her—the sweetest, prettiest little lethal weapon.

I love my parents to death, but I'm glad they're going to the store. I want some alone time with my beautiful monster.

THE QUESTIONS ARE SAID in the dark of the bathroom as we hurriedly undress, bodies pressed together.

"Did he hurt you?"

"Only my skin," I say. "He never touched me inside. Couldn't. Our bond was in place."

"Then why did he—"

"There will be so many things to figure out—later. But not now. Now, I need you." I kiss him hungrily, muscles trembling with weakness. His do the same.

Hot water and soap make us both moan. I don't think we realized how uncomfortable we were until this moment, when we were able to feel all the sandy grit of the river washing away, spiraling down the drain along with our fear and desperation.

"I thought I would never see you again." My arms lock around his neck, my cheek to his shoulder.

He doesn't say anything, just squeezes me tighter. I can feel his shaking breaths in the crook of my neck, and I know it'll hit us hard for days and weeks to come. We'll take turns.

"Let's get you cleaned up and into something cozy. Damn it." Kev pulls back and looks really annoyed with himself. "We need to get you fuzzy jammies and slippers. A bathrobe. All the girl things. I mean—unless you don't want them."

It's my turn to squeeze him tight. I love that he knows how powerful I am, what I can survive— what I am—and he still wants to wrap me up and keep me safe. Make my world softer.

It only makes me want him harder —in both senses of the word.

"I want everything you offer. And I like to give, too." I slide down to my knees, skin soaking up water. I'm glowing against him, radiance restored by my dip in the Hudson and now this. But I'm painfully hungry now that I'm safe and alert. My mouth latches onto Kev's cock and my tongue twirls around him, savoring what I thought I would never taste again.

His hips pump forward, and my head bobs with him, a sensuous push and pull that builds up speed. "I want to be in you," he hisses.

But I'm selfish. I want his cum in my mouth, and my fingers are busy between my thighs, aching for comfort and release as I slip them inside. I look up at him with wide, pleading eyes and fluttering lashes.

He can't resist. With the suction I provide and the way my tongue maneuvers, he's coming in minutes, notes of dark chocolate or coffee swirling with the peanut butter mousse taste I associate with him.

"You spoil me." Kev pulls me up.

"I want to spoil you more—but after we sleep."

"Sure, baby. I'm not in any hurry." Kev squirts shampoo into his hand and starts kneading it into my scalp.

I purr and arch back against him, moaning when his other hand slides between my legs and starts working my clit. "No rush," I agree.

I come hard, thighs shaking as he whispers in my ear, "I have you for the rest of my life—and after."