Page 9 of Kissing the Kelpie

“I made it.” I lie with conviction. If I believe the lie that spilled from my lips so easily, maybe he will, too.

He narrows his eyes on me and crosses his arms over his chest. “Since when do you know how to enchant things?”

I do all that I can to keep my poker face on and stiffen my spine. I focus my anger on Em and the fact that he has no faith in me. “Don’t forget that I have druid blood running through my veins. The same blood that created you,” my voice grows in volume. “You forget your place, Leshy!”

Erin gasps. I dare not look at her. They can comfort each other later. I need to stand my ground right now.

Em’s stone-like expression is the one that worries me. His green eyes hold a darkness I’ve never seen directed at me as the realization of what I said and the tone I took with him hits. I wonder if there is some unwritten clause that can negate his duty to protect me.

Why am I acting this way? He’s only doing his best to make sure I’m safe. I should apologize. I need to apologize. Right now.

“Em,” I make sure to soften my tone.

“Have it your way. But until the unrest in the forest dies down, Ana stays with me.”

“Em, no!” Erin covers her mouth, shocked. Okay, at least they’re not both against me. My girl didn’t see this coming.

Fuck an apology. Uncontrollable rage runs through my veins. “Like hell.” I can’t stop myself. This is way out of hand. “She’s. My. Daughter.”

“And you are both my charges. You’re an adult. A foolish one at that. You want to risk your life, fine, but I will not permit you to risk hers.”

Before I can say another word of protest, he collects Ana in his arms. “Hey, beautiful. Do you want to have a sleepover with Aunt Erin and Fang?”

“Em!” I shout. “Put her down.”

Ana looks my way, but Em maintains his calm demeanor and strokes her hair. He ignores me completely, like I’m not even here, and keeps Ana fixated on the promise of a good time.

“The fireflies will put on a show for you, making shapes and drawing pictures. Anything you want.”

“Do you mean it?” Ana lights up.

“Emerald!” My voice pitches to a screech. I feel helpless. Powerless. I’m not physically strong enough to stop him.

“Of course,” Erin says, feigning excitement as she gives me a sympathetic look. “And we can play checkers or backgammon. Uncle Em is still working on the chess figurines and a few new board games.”

“Yay!” Ana cheers.

As much as I want to rip her from Em’s arms, I know better than to challenge his strength. He won’t hurt me. Or my daughter. But I’m not stronger than him, and if I make too big a deal of this or become hysterical, it will set Ana off and frighten her.

My nerves are already too short and tight to deal with that in any helpful way. I might end up yelling at her unnecessarily again. I’d rather see what I can do to right the ship that I sped out of the water and grounded hard on a pile of rocks.

Chapter 7

“I hate him, Safra.” With balled fists, I fight angry tears as we walk back to my cottage. “How dare he take my daughter from me!”

I pick up a stick and throw it at a tree as hard as I can, imagining the hulking giant is the leshy. As if I threw it at the overbearing clod himself, the stick bounces off and falls to the ground. “He isn’t her father, and I don’t answer to him. He’s supposed to answer to me!” Not really, but that doesn’t matter at the moment.

She replies with a low whine.

“I wish you could tell me what the hell is going on and what that meeting was about.” She opens her mouth wide and yawns. “Yeah, I know, I’m boring you. What the hell else is new? But I don’t have anyone else to talk to. Em just ruined that.”

Instead of turning toward the cottage, I continue in a direction I don’t usually travel. Over the years, Em cleared stretches of land to create paths. There are tons of them, but unless you’re in the forest and know they’re there, you wouldn’t know they exist. Instead of taking the turn home, I continue walking toward the river. It’s a few miles away, but I hope the walk will clear my head.

“I wanted to talk to him about something important,” I complain to my companion. I need to tell him everything that happened over the last few weeks. That was my plan. Damn him, why’d he have to be such a jackass?”

She rubs against my leg, much like a cat would. I freeze. While Safra’s been assigned to watch over Ana and me since we first arrived, she never showed any sort of affection before. I reach down and pat her side, gingerly, hoping I don’t lose any fingers. Even though she’s acting in a warm, loving manner, I don’t want to do something that will cause her to turn aggressive.

I let out a relaxing breath. “I get it, girl. You think he was wrong, too.” I feel a hint better knowing at least Safra’s on my side. That gives me hope that, before the sun sets, Em will return to his senses and bring Ana home—with a jar of brimberry and an apology.

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