Something Fishy About Love (Monstrana Paranormal Romance 3)

Her dark gaze flitted to his and instantly, the tension melted from her face. She had a long way to go to trust the supernatural world, but she trusted him. That was a start. He didn’t want to let her down.

Despite the fact that she’d kidnapped him and nearly gotten him burnt to ashes, it was obvious she’d changed her mind about him. The sorrow in her face as she held him tight had told him as much. It had stirred strange feelings inside his vampire soul.

He felt a connection to the beauty standing next to him. It was something deeper than physical attraction. A desperate need to care for her, please her, and have her near. He’d never felt that way before now. It thrilled and frightened him at the same time.

He led her into town, her arm tucked under his the whole time as an added measure of comfort. When they walked into the small gas station on the corner, the cashier behind the counter gave them only the briefest of strange looks from behind his newspaper. He didn’t blame the man. Eina was barefoot in her shimmery dress and he still wore the tattered remains of his tux. They probably looked homeless.

“May we use your phone?” he asked the cashier.

The man didn’t look up from the sport’s section, but pointed over his shoulder. “Sure. Make it fast.”

Leo cradled the phone against his ear and dialed the phone number he knew by heart. Eina bounced on the balls of her feet, eyeing the cashier nervously, as if she expected him to sprout vicious canines and fur at any moment. After three rings, the line picked up and a familiar purr came through the phone.

“Rod? It’s Leo. Don’t tell anyone it’s me. I’ve got something I need you to do for me.”

The cat hissed in excitement and then spoke quietly. “Prince Leo? Where are you? Tell me you’re okay.”

“I’m fine. I’m in Monstrana.” He smiled at the concern thick in Rodrigo’s voice. He’d been the one to insist the cat get his own phone and learn how to use it, thumbs or not. “Miss me, or something?”

“Pssh,” the cat huffed. “Life is much easier when you’re not dragging me to illicit poker games every night.”

“You mean boring, Rod.” Leo grinned. “But listen, I need you to do me a favor. Don’t tell anyone, especially my brother. I want you to grab me a fresh change of clothes and that stack of files Viktor left on my desk last week.” He looked down at Eina’s bare feet and frowned. “Oh, and a woman’s pair of hiking boots, size six.”

“Are you certain, sire?” Rodrigo whispered low into the phone. “Your grandmother’s in a state. Your brother has the entire guard looking for you. It would be a comfort for them to know you’re alive and well.”

“They’ll have to hold on a little while longer, I’m afraid,” Leo said glancing at the mermaid next to him. She was watching him with as much trust as anyone had ever given him. “I’ve got something important I need to do before I can return home.”

He sighed. “If you really think that is best, sire. Where do you wish to meet?”

Leo gave him the location and then led Eina down the street to a city park. She perched herself on one of the swings and he took the one next to her. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Eina kicked her feet at the wood chips below and began to swing.

“Did you know they have these in human parks, too?” She swung her legs, pumping higher. “I got to visit one in Alaska once with my best friend, Cascade. It was the middle of the night, but we still had fun.”

Leo smiled at her and grasped the chains of his swing. “Yes, I did. My grandfather wanted Monstrana to resemble much of the modern world with all the comforts of home for our supernatural residents. I thought it silly at the time, but now I understand the appeal.”

“You’ve been all over the world, haven’t you?” She dug her feet into the ground to stop her motion and face him. Awe crossed her face. “I’ve always dreamed of going to Paris. Sounds like a magical place.”

The left side of Leo’s mouth twitched. When she wasn’t trying to be his prison guard, she had an endearing childlike enthusiasm.

“Seven hundred years gives you a lot of time to travel the world. Not that I ever appre

ciated it.”

He thought about all the times he’d reluctantly gone on his grandfather’s missions to foreign countries and taken every opportunity to shirk his responsibilities. Viktor hadn’t been that way. He was steady and focused in his new role as king, ready to make a difference in the world. Just like Eina. They both deserved better from him.

“Any chance I can convince you to stay with Rodrigo and let me handle this?” He watched her out of the corner of his eye and snorted when she wrinkled up her face in disgust. It was cute.

“Not a chance.” She firmly set her jaw. “Where you go, I go.”

Despite his apprehension, warmth filled his gut at her words. “Very well. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Her lips pressed into a pleased smile and he so desperately wanted to jump from his swing and take her into his arms. He would’ve liked to feel her soft skin beneath his lips, trace the curve of her mouth with his fingertips.

But just as she had pulled away from him on the island, he withdrew his desires and instead focused on the sound of her beating heart. It was a glorious noise, one that he could never tire of. It had brought him back from the depths of his terror when she found him huddled beneath the brambles. Leaning on her chest, he’d soaked in the sound and allowed it to penetrate his panic and bring him back to earth.

They loitered in the park an hour longer before Rodrigo showed up in a sleek black Lincoln car. He hopped out of the back seat, gave Leo and Eina a sideways glance then arched his back in a lazy stretch.

“Your required items are inside. I’ve sworn the driver to secrecy,” he said with a low purr. “He’s frightened that I’m going to use him as a scratching post.”