Something Fishy About Love (Monstrana Paranormal Romance 3)

Chapter Fifteen

Eina felt the ache in her bones long before she stopped swimming. She was determined to make it past the island of Monstrana, but it seemed that her body disagreed with her. It needed a break and refreshment. They’d have to stop for the night.

“This is your last chance, Cascade,” she said, turning to her friend. The water sprite had surprisingly kept up the grueling pace with her tiny feet, a small pack of supplies slung over her shoulder. “If you want to return to Aestus, I won’t hold it against you. It’s been your home as long as it’s been mine.”

The sprite squished her childlike face into a dissatisfied expression. “Not a chance. I’m coming with you, Eina. You’re the only family I’ve got.”

A grateful smile lit the mermaid’s face. She had to admit, knowing that Cascade would be beside her every step of the journey was a big relief. Finding the lost city of Atlantis might be easy enough for a mermaid with the ocean running through her veins, but the journey was guaranteed to be a tiring one. Her friend would help ease the heaviness in her heart.

She glanced at the looming dark shores of Monstrana up ahead. Not far from here was where she brought Leo when they’d begun their mission to meet up with the ogres. The memory felt like a bittersweet bite of kelp. Raw and fresh in her memory. She couldn’t wait to be rid of the reminders.

She paused to adjust the straps on her bag and eased the heavy load further up her shoulders. At the back of her mind, something tingled with alertness. Her fingers froze on her straps and she strained her ears to listen. There was an eerie vibration in the water.

“Cascade, do you feel that...?”

The water sprite glanced over her shoulder and gasped in horror. Eina barely had time to snatch her and hold her close to her own body before a terrifyingly large gray form shot out of the darkness. Its sleek body barely made a ripple as it swam above them and waved its powerful tail. A school of tiny fish swirled up ahead. The shark darted toward the flashing silver scales and opened its yawning mouth to feed.

Eina watched the scene in awe. The shark swam with such grace and elegance. It intelligently divided the school and conquered small groups of fish at a time. The muscles along its sides rippled with the effort. The predator had hunting down to an art. When it was done and most of the fish had swam away, it kicked its tail and disappeared back into the darkness with a lazy attitude.

Despite the adrenaline still coursing through her veins, Eina couldn’t help but smile. It looked much like the shark that she and Leo had saved from the beach just a few days ago. He’d thought she was crazy. And maybe she was, but her reasoning made complete sense to her.

That shark had been voiceless—stuck on a beach, destined to gasp in vain until it died. She’d felt all too much like that stranded animal. Inside, she longed for the freedom and strength she saw in her sisters. But on the outside, she just couldn’t find a way to move forward.

“I thought that beast was going to eat me.” Cascade peeled herself out of Eina’s grasp and brushed off her gown. Her cheeks were bright pink from the excitement. “Good thing it only wanted the fish. It would’ve learned the hard way that water sprites taste like manta ray excrement.”

Eina didn’t want to ask how Cascade knew that. And anyway, she was used to her friend’s crazy ideas. Her mind at that moment was currently working a million knots a minute, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

“Cascade, do you believe in signs?”

The sprite frowned and her brow furrowed. “As in, billboard signs? I think automatically I have to be against them morally because most of what they advertise is junk that gets dumped into the oceans. What I wouldn’t do to collect every piece of human garbage and toss it on their homes...see how the

y like it.”

“No, Cascade.” Eina held up her hand. “Signs from a higher power? Or from fate herself?”

She twisted her face into a thoughtful expression and rubbed her tiny chin. “I suppose so.”

Eina’s eyes grew wide. Hope and disbelief seemed to wrestle for purchase inside of her head. Could that shark have been sent there to tell her something?

“And what would you say if I told you I think that shark was a sign?”

“I’d say you have some killer signs,” Cascade said with a giggle. The smile melted from her face and she looked Eina straight in the eyes. “And I’d also say you should follow your gut. If you believe it was a sign, then it was.”

Eina inhaled and pressed her hand over her mouth. “I think you’re right, Cascade. I’m the shark and the shark is me. Do you see the resemblance?”

Cascade tilted her head and frowned in confusion. “Well, to be honest, I think you need a lot less dental work than the shark.”

She laughed and stared unseeing through the dark water. “Before Leo, I was that shark, stranded on the beach. As much as I hate to admit it, he helped me break free. I’ve had a taste of freedom, Cascade. It’s a beautiful, wonderful thing. My colony deserves that same freedom. And they deserve someone who will work hard to protect it.”

“Uh huh. Right.” Cascade patted her shoulder. “Are you feeling alright, honey? Did you eat some bad shrimp?”

“I’m feeling fine.” She waved her hand at the sprite. “Don’t you get it? I rescued a vampire. I helped negotiate a treaty. I did those things. I’ve changed.”

“And you kicked butt doing them.” Cascade kicked her little foot and did a somersault in the water. “But what does that have to do with anything?”

“I was freed from that beach.” Eina’s eyes shone with tears. “I had a voice. Sure, some of the ride got a little bumpy and I did things I wish I could take back, but I’m not perfect. All I can do is move forward. But abandoning my colony for Atlantis isn’t the right move. I’m stranding myself on that beach again. Giving up my voice. That’s unacceptable.”

Awareness dawned on Cascade’s face and her mouth opened to a small O shape. “You’re going back?”