Page 13 of The Sea Witch's Son

I crawl further into the shadows, tucking myself behind a wooden flowerbed as a familiar silhouette glides through the door. His shadow lengthens as he draws near, the clicking of animal teeth the only sound in the room.

He comes to a stop in front of me, his head swivelling in every direction. Pressing a hand over my mouth, I smother the sound of my breathing, watching his eyes dance around the empty corridor.

“If you won’t tell me where you are, I’ll ask the fates. But I have to warn you, that can getverymessy.”

He chuckles, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a deck of cards, “Do you want to get messy, Melody?”

His head turns in my direction and I stop breathing altogether.

“Are you talking to your imaginary girlfriend again, Xavier?”

The sound of dress shoes tapping the marble floor fills the room. I duck my head lower, trying not to be seen by the newcomer.

Xavier scowls, “No. I was trying to find Melody.”

“You should keep those melodies in your head. Might end up in the cell next to your father if you keep this up.”

The scowl deepens before my stalker turns and storms away. I blow out a quiet breath, watching the top hat disappear down the hall.

“You can come out now. Xavier tends to get a little desperate whenever there’s a new girl in town.”

When I don’t move he sighs, tucking his hands into black dress pants.

“The flowers are quite lovely, but it’s hard to appreciate them when you’re lying down.”

Busted.

Slowly crawling out from behind the flowerbed, I carefully brush the dirt off my skirt and study the newcomer. Dim sunlight sneaks in through the skylight above, illuminating the sandy colour of the guy’s hair.

I take a tentative step forward and the stranger finally turns to look at me.

A smile breaks out over his face and a single dimple pops out on his left cheek. My steps falter as I register the handsome face, remembering what Freya told me last class.

You’ll know him when you see him.

Chapter 4

MELODY

So, this is Marlin Seaborn.

He’s cute in a disarming way, the boyish smile painting his face with easy humour. There’s a freckle near the corner of his lip, the gentle slope of his nose sitting a little too big for his face. Sandy-coloured hair brushes the collar of his shirt, his broad chest filling it out nicely.

A thin scar breaks through the thick curve of his left eyebrow, pulling my attention back to the brown eyes watching me.

“Unlike many of the students here, I don’t bite.” Amusement laces his voice, “You can come closer.”

My cheeks flush as I take a step forward.

He tilts his head, watching me with twinkling eyes, “I take it the first day is not going well?”

“It’s not bad, actually. Almost made it to lunchtime without hiding in the flowerbed, so I’dcall that a win.”

He laughs, the boisterous sound bouncing off the stone walls around us. I feel a smile break free from my lips, the easy sound of his laughter loosening the tension in my shoulders.

“I’ve never had the pleasure of hiding in flowerbeds, so I will have to take your word for it.” He chuckles, those dark eyes roaming over my face, “Although you did miss a spot. May I?”

Before I can respond, he closes the distance between us and gently rubs my cheek with his thumb. I stare at the curve of his lips, watching the dimple pop out when he pulls away.

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