Page 17 of Hold my Reins

“Not really. I’ve been on the road for six months, doing odd jobs. I was running out of money, and I figured I should do the job I’m qualified for and stay in one place for a bit. It’s easy to run, but without a direction, I felt like I was going in circles. Same shit in a new town, hooking up with the same type of guys.”

“So that’s why you joined Monster Match?” Why was he still asking questions?

“I saw it on a coaster in the bar and was curious. I hadn’t planned on hooking up, and then we got talking, and one thing led to another…” He took a drink, his cheeks pink as if remembering. “What about you? Why the human world and the app and the coffee shop?”

There was only one reason, but he didn’t share it.

“I thought living here would be an adventure.” And it couldn’t have been any worse than his life in the monster realm. “I’d heard talk about how different the human world was, and Iwanted to see for myself.” He’d needed to find out if the whispers that some magics didn’t work was true.

They were.

And Bothvar no longer had the power to compel him. If Bothvar came through the portal, Lynck wasn’t sure what would happen, but in the human world, Bothvar was a no one and he controlled nothing and Lynck doubted the humans would let him do whatever he wanted.

“The coffee shop was the easiest place to find work because they only hire monsters, but I eventually began teaching violin. I think the music is one of the reasons we matched,” Lynck said.

Rox nodded. “I’m glad we did. Um…I don’t usually make a habit of staying in touch with…um…”

“Past hook-ups?”

“Yeah. It can be weird, but I liked the chat beforehand.” He drew in a breath and concentrated on his coffee. “Anyway, I can find my way round the human apps. But this is all new. I don’t know much about monsters and less about kelpies. I hope that doesn’t sound too rude.”

“Not rude, honest. Which is better than assuming you know everything and getting it all wrong. I like the app, but some humans only want to say they fucked a monster. They don’t want more. It can be hard to tell.”

“I’m human, and it can be hard to tell what some men want. Sometimes, it’s just easier to not hope for more. That way, you can’t be disappointed.” Rox glanced at him. “Or maybe it’s just me.”

There were undercurrents that Lynck couldn’t decipher. That twisted and turned and made the water treacherous, even for a kelpie. “But low expectations mean never allowing yourself the chance to look for more.”

Never taking a chance.

Which didn’t explain why he was taking Rox to the lake. He should’ve ignored him and moved on, but Rox was stuck in his brain. In his dreams. He was not taking him to the lake to run in some kind of sham kelpie dating ritual.

He was being friendly, that’s all. Which didn’t explain why he’d woken up with a handful of notes to a new song rolling through his mind this morning.

“You must like the human world since you haven’t gone back.”

Lynck finished his mocha. He didn’t want to lie to Rox and have that thorn between them. “I do like it. It’s interesting. But I do miss my herd.”

“Is that your family?”

“Yes.” He stopped. “And this is the lake.” In the evening light, the surface rippled dark gray, with edges of sunlight catching on the peaks. “It winds through the forest for a bit, and in stormy weather, it can be deadly. I enjoy swimming in it, but unless you are a strong swimmer, I do not recommend going far from the shore.”

“Are there monsters in the water?”

“Aside from me?” Lynck grinned.

Rox’s eyes widened.

“Yes, there are others who use the lake. No, they won’t harm you. But there are currents and very large fish and eels. Do you want to walk along the shore?”

“Yeah. I’d like that. Maybe on the weekend, I’ll come down for a run. No swimming.” Rox tossed his cup into the trash can at the edge of the path that led to the beach.

Lynck stared at his back for a moment. Why was Rox, a human, talking about running on the beach? “What do you mean,run?”

He dropped his cup in the trash and caught up in a couple of quick strides.

“Exercise. Running is free. So is swimming, but the weather is too cold, and you’ve kind of scared me.”

Lynck put his arm around Rox’s shoulder. “If you want to swim, I will protect you.”

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