Page 34 of Kissing the Kelpie

“How romantic.”

“Uncle Finn is making that music?” Ana asks. There is so much I need to be filled in on, like what does she know about him? And how and when did she start calling him uncle?

“Ana,” I bend down so that I’m eye level with my daughter. “How would you feel if Finn became your daddy?”

Her eyes open wide, along with her mouth. “I can have a brother and a daddy?”

“You have a brother—that’s not negotiable. The daddy part is up to you.”

“Uncle Finn is so strong, and he’s handsome, too.” Her cheeks fill with color, and her eyes drop to the line she’s drawing with her toes. Someone has a crush.

“Yes.” I agree, taking her hand. “Finn is very handsome. What do you say we go make him part of our family?”

*

With his eyes closed, waves of peace and tranquility unfurl from Finn to me. I can almost see the invisible ripples coming my way. I know I’m making the right decision.

“Finn is my future,” I tell myself, hoping it’s enough to keep me from turning around and hightailing it back to my cottage.

“Yes, he is,” Erin confirms. Damn. She wasn’t meant to hear that.

I turn my attention back to the striking man entrancing me with his violin. I watch him cradle the instrument beneath his chin, stroking it gently. I will never tire of watching him play. My heart strums as if it’s made of strings, and each pull of Finn’s bow plucks it as well.

He continues playing, uninhibited as if no one is looking, even though the small crowd of onlookers grows with each note. Erin, Ana, and I aren’t the only ones watching; animals creep out of the foliage to get closer to the melodious sounds.

Finn’s blue eyes open and shine like diamonds as they lock on mine. His lips curl into a smile that sets my heart on fire. The periwinkle sky with pink and purple streaks looks like a painted backdrop. Everything is perfect.

Finally, but also all too soon, Finn sets his violin down and comes to stand next to me. His eyes soak me in, raking over my body before he grasps my hands in his.

“I can’t believe you just gave birth and look this incredible. It’s not fair to other women.” He leans in and stops short of kissing me on the cheek. “I know it’s only been hours since we were together, but I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.” I squeeze his hands and close my eyes, trying to allow the happiness I’m fighting to flood through me. Not yet. Not until I see my baby. I’m crawling out of my skin not having him on my hip.

“He’s fine, Masha,” Em approaches us. I hate when he answers questions I haven’t asked. “Look.” He directs my eyes to a basket of weaved vines at his feet decorated with crosses made of twigs and vines. My mouth opens, but before I can speak, he continues. “There are no thorns, and the vines are weaved tight enough to keep him in a shallow base of water.”

“Em no, he can drown!” I try to yank my hand away from Finn, but I can’t detach. I’m stuck to him. Fear spikes through me as I keep pulling. Before I allow it to take over, I look to Em. He’s calm. He won’t let anything happen to me or my son, I remind myself. He can’t.

“He’s sleeping peacefully. Once this formality is over,” Em looks to Finn, “there will be no need to keep him from you or Ana any longer.”

“Keep him?” I turn back to Finn, seething. “You’ve been lying to me? Again?” I struggle to break free. “You wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you in the ass!”

“Masha!” Em’s deep voice rumbles, interrupting my tirade. “Erin’s going to keep a close eye on him so you have no need to worry, won’t you?” He pauses just long enough for Erin to nod her agreement, then adds, “For the record, I’m the one responsible for keeping the baby from you, not Finn.”

“You?!” Anger boils inside me like lava about to spew out of an active volcano.

“Sweetheart,” Finn’s thumbs brush over the back of my hands. I can feel the tranquilizing effect, but I’m too angry for it to take hold.

“What?!”

“Can we get on with this so I can place our son in your arms? It’s dawn, and time is of the essence.”

“What, are you a vampire now?”

“Dusk and dawn are when fae magic is strongest,” Em explains. “And we will need to draw on it. Now, let’s begin.”

Em doesn’t wait for me to answer, nor does he give me time to ask Finn why we need fae magic.

“Finnley of the Kelpies, I am in possession of your silver chain. I command you to set Masha free.”

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