Page 81 of The Rusalka and Mr. Right

But I’m alive and so is Kev, and I’m in his arms.

We collapse on the deck, sprawled like two interlocked starfish.

I hear someone say, “The adrenaline wore off. Get them covered and let them sleep in the sun for a bit.”

Kev’s arms tighten around me. “Love you. Safe now.”

“Thank God. Thank you.” I kiss him one more time before I pass out.

Chapter Twenty-One

We don’t get home until dark. The boat is even more crowded, with exhausted kelpies and selkies snoozing on deck. Turns out those are just fancy names for people who can turn into seals or horses. I think knowing there were more horses taking down Big K makes sense.

And of course, Janet insists that a MANPAT has more horsepower than a Cadillac, so that could have something to do with it.

Marina sits up and eats fairy food. It’ll probably keep her going for a while, but I know that’s not what she really needs. She probably needs a big dose of Kev (my ego swaggers a little), but I’m exhausted, she looks beat, and trauma isn’t a great aphrodisiac.

“You gonna make it until tomorrow? I don’t think tonight is the night for... Well... Unless you need a snack.” I whisper in her ear.

Marina just smiles at me—but then frowns. “Oh, you had to take off another day of work!”

“That doesn’t matter. A job is a job. You’re my person.” I take her hand and smile when I see the ring survived.

“I’m not much of a person. I... he made me ask for your soul. He said you wouldn’t—”

“Baby. You already had it. I don’t feel any different.” I smile and think about it. “No, I do. I feel way better.”

“Me, too.”

“Country Pines up ahead, folks. We’ll leave the boat there.” Calder rouses sleepy selkies and kelpies, who shift seamlessly back to horse-things and seal-things and slide out of the boat.

“I don’t know where I left my car,” I realize.

“There will be plenty of people queuing up to give us rides home,” Jakob Minegold says as he strokes Marina’s hair. I don’t mind because it’s in a nice fatherly way.

Fatherly.

Dad!

Mom!

“Oh, shit! Shit!” I pat my pockets. “My phone is dead, and it’s probably busted, too. Or waterlogged.”

“I’m sure we can get you a new phone,” Marina looks up at me with wide, worried eyes. “I’m sorry, darling. This is all—”

“Hush, girl, it’s not about that. I told my parents you were missing, and they were going to drive up today if I didn’t call them back and tell them not to. I’m just worried that they’ll be freaking out.”

“Or waiting for you?” Mr. Minegold taps my shoulder and points.

There’s a handful of cars waiting by the motel, just like he said—and my mom’s blue Subaru is one of them.

“What? Regular people can’t even see this motel!” Marina hisses, hands going to her hair.

“I assume they were directed to this location, somehow.” Mr. Minegold looks startled by the sudden note of panic in Marina’s voice.

It isn’t stopping, though. “I can’t meet your mother like this! I’m a mess!” Marina cries.

“You were kidnapped! You have a right to have a bad hair day!” I protest, but a little part of me worries, too. “She will absolutely love you, no matter how you look.”But I really hope she doesn’t notice the teeth until later. Much, much later...

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