Page 52 of The Rusalka and Mr. Right

“He’s lived here for almost a month. And he’s been with me for most of it.” Marina has a pointed edge in her voice.

“Ahhh. Hey, buddy. You’re gonna be just fine. Everyone here is safe. You’re safe.” Eddie uses his soothing paramedic voice on me. “Are things looking a little Halloween-y?”

I brush his hands away as he takes my pulse. “You could say that.”

“And that freaks you the fuck out because that means you’re not sure what’s real and what’s not, and if monsters are real, then bad things can happen, ‘cause monsters are bad, right?” Eddie says patiently.

I don’t know whether to be comforted or offended. This guy just read my mind—but he called me on all the stereotypes. How can I think all monsters are bad when my girlfriend is a “monster”?

“I know not all monsters are bad,” I say defensively. “But why couldn’t I see it before?”

“Most humans can’t. They either have to be open to it or have it shoved in their face so hard that their brain can’t find any other explanation but the truth.” Eddie looks between me and Marina with a little smirk. “Guesssomeoneis pretty serious about a certain lovely little rusalka, hmm?”

I don’t know how to feel about the rest of it, but that much is true. “That’s my girl,” I say, voice gruff as I seize her hand. I know all about stupid stereotypes. I shake my head to clear it. “Sorry. I guess I just haven’t seen—”

“We call it the Mist. Most humans can’t see through it.” Eddie pats my back and rises. “You’re gonna be okay. And if you ever need to talk, you come find me in the hospital.”

“I don’t get over to emergency much, but—” I freeze in mid-speech as Eddie’s body twitches, shivers, and stretches.The short stocky brunette is now a taller, lankier blonde with squinting eyes, like he needs glasses.

“Just come up to prosthetics and ask for Dr. Jack Ellsworth.”

“What the—” The only word I can think of is shapeshifter. Is it rude to blurt that out? Probably.

My manners are on hiatus. “Shapeshifter?” I gasp.

“Hrmm. More like science experiment, but sure, shapeshifter applies. You’ve got yourself a real peach of a lady.” Jack shrinks and condenses, and swarthy, smirking Eddie is before me again. He winks at Marina.

Marina blushes.

“Hey, did you two used to—”

“We have enough to worry about. I’m not hungry for the cake, honey. Let’s go home?”

“Home sounds good.” Safe. Normal. Well, I guess I’ll have to learn about a new kind of safe and normal, but I’m not willing to lose Marina over it.

She pulls me away, and I hesitate, jerking my chin toward the reception inside the mansion. “Those are all good people, huh?”

“The very best.”

“Tell me about them. Have I met anyone with your ‘culture’?”

“There are no other rusalkas here. Minegold is a vampire. Leo is a werewolf. So is Jasper Wainwright. Oh—when we get coffee at The Pine Loft? Um. That’s the bride and her brother. It’s Orc-run.”

“And there are monsters—damn, is that term offensive?” My tongue suddenly wants to hop out of my mouth. What if I’ve been going around saying slurs?

“I think a better term might be paranormal citizens, but saying monsters is okay if you’re using it like a state of being, not a state of heart.” Marina pats my arm. “It is what I am, and I know this—but you are the first one in a long time to make me feel like I am more than that.”

Her words relax my muscles a little. I manage a smile and try to keep my voice light. “Are there paranormal folks all over the place?”

“Yes and no. There are a lot in bigger cities. There are some scattered in towns. There are only a few places where a bunch of us are gathered together. Even though Pine Ridge is what I’d call paranormal-friendly, we don’t advertise our supernatural abilities. Most of the town coexists with the ‘monsters’ without even knowing it.”

“I think I should go in and mingle for a little bit. Try not to act like I’m a monsterphobe.”

Marina’s smile could outshine the moon. “I love you more than you will ever know, Kevin Bailey.”

“Good.”

“But a quick toast to the bride and groom is all I have time for. I’m ravenous. Need to feed.” Her fingers tiptoe up my chest, ending under my jaw. The moonlight hits her smile, and I can see how sharp it is.

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