Page 21 of Kissing the Kelpie

“What do we do when he recovers?” Em breaks the silence.

“I don’t understand the question.”

“Masha,” he rests a hand on my shoulder. “He kills people for food. That’s how he survives.” There’s a gentleness to Em’s voice that hasn’t been there over the last few days. “It’s not his fault. It’s what kelpies do.”

I don’t answer immediately. I don’t know how to make Em believe Finn isn’t like that. And then it hits me.

“Kelpies eat people? You’re sure about this?”

Em nods. “Unfortunately. It’s a horrific death, Masha. They stay near the water, usually disguised as a horse, and lure people to them. Once someone touches the Kelpie or climbs on the saddle, the horse races into the water, taking their victim down deep to drown them. After the person dies, the kelpie devours their flesh and bones.”

I flinch at the visual, but I know the creature in front of me would never do that. “Not Finn.”

“Masha—”

“No, really. He’s different. He told me himself. He said he’s a vegetarian.”

Em sighs. “Perhaps he’ll leave with a stern warning to never return.”

I shake my head, tears rolling down my cheeks. “No. Please, don’t force him to leave.”

“What if he hurts Ana? Have you thought of that?”

I nod. “Of course I have. I’d never take a chance with her life. He won’t ever hurt her.”

“Masha, open your eyes—”

“Give him a chance. For me. Please.” I see I’m swaying him. The fact that he’s helping heal the man he almost killed is progress. It’s time for me to land the kill shot. “The same way I gave Erin a chance. For you.”

Chapter 15

Finn hovers over the bottom of the spring, fully submerged as the sun sets. He’s moving, though. He stretches his tail, alternating between flattening it out and curling it. He also moves his head from one side to the other, so I know he’s alive. I wait on pins and needles at the edge of the spring for him to emerge. I have no idea if or when that will be.

Em sits by my side. We haven’t spoken in a while. Maybe hours, I’m not sure. At some point, Safra joins us. She lies on the ground next to me, with her head pressed against my thigh. This is my family. For better or worse. A leshy, a cougar, and my daughter. And if I’m lucky, a kelpie.

Lost in dark thoughts of life with a newborn and no Finn, I stare sightlessly into the water. The skin on my arms prickles, drawing me back. That’s when I notice his eyes—open and locked on me. I choose to take that as a good sign. “He’s watching you.” Em breaks the silence.

I nod. “I know.” “Masha, I need to understand why he came to the forest and why I can’t break into his thoughts.”

Again, I nod. “You know you don’t have the right to know what people are thinking. If you can’t read his thoughts, maybe it’s because that’s not normal, not because Finn is evil.”

Em looks away, annoyed with my analysis. “If he can let his guard down,” Em whispers, “and convince me he cares for you,” he pauses, “I might allow him visitation.”

I shoot him an angry glare.

“Fine. Visitation is a given.” He presses his lips together and makes an angry face. “I’ll think about allowing him to stay. If that’s even what he wants. I don’t know if it’s possible because it’s clear that he needs the water.” Em extends his hand, motioning toward Finn.

I nod, the realization settling into my heart. Em’s right. Even if Finn recovers, he may not be able to stay with me. With our baby. Rubbing my belly, the familiar pain of heartbreak sweeps over me. What if the baby can’t live outside of water?

I can’t and won’t leave my child at the edge of the river to fend for itself. If he survives, Finn would have to go with it to care for and protect it.

I close my eyes, trying to stay in the moment and not get ahead of myself. Em’s strong arm wraps around my shoulder as he adjusts me so I’m leaning on his chest.

“Try to sleep. I’ll stand watch and let you know if there’s any change.”

I want to protest; instead, I yawn and nod. I close my eyes, but my peace is derailed before I can find sleep.

“How many flowers do we need, Aunt Erin?” It’s Ana’s voice. She sounds happy. The sun is up. I guess I did drift off after all.

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