Page 25 of The Sea Witch's Son

“Are we inviting the new girl to the party? She’s kind of hot.”

“She isadorable.” Calista licks her lips, casting a glance my way, “How about a proposition? We all throw our hats in the ring and see who she chooses.”

Gus immediately brightens, “Dad would love those little skirts she wears.”

“As do I.” She gives me a sly grin, “What do you say, Marlin? Care for a little competition?”

I stare her down, watching the amusement dance through those wicked eyes.

“I don’t share my toys.” My lips ease into a smile, “Until I say otherwise, the saint belongs to me.”

“Possessive already? Oh, dear.”

Calista reaches up and strokes my cheek, her talons scraping the edge of my jaw. She does this sometimes, uses physical touch as a way to invade a person’s psychology, but it’s never worked on me.

Mostly because I’ve gotten used to it over the years.

“Gus might end up being right after all.” Her lips brush my neck, “This one is going to beverymessy.”

“Then I hope you bring a bucket to clean up the pieces.”

Her laughter cracks through the clearing, making Gus shudder and Ronan bark. I step away casually, tucking my hands into my pockets as I turn back the way I came.

Calista’s challenge pricks my skin, an unwelcome reminder that there is another man fighting for Melody’s attention. Finley is not what I would consider adequate competition, his small stature and brown eyes are far from fetching, but I suppose he has a boyish charm.

In a dismal sort of way.

But none of that matters because Melody has a more important role to play. One that will determine whether or not Finley secures a spot on the team.

All my little saint has to do is trigger the man’s passion and I’ll handle the rest.

I’ve got the bait, now I just need the hook.

Chapter 8

MELODY

Good morning, little saint.

I stare at the message on my bathroom mirror. It’s written in my favourite shade of lipstick, the same shade I wore when I met Marlin Seaborn three days ago.

He’s been at this all week. The knife under my pillow was a cute start to Marlin’s stalking career. His follow-up act was lying an entire outfit on my bed, so I knew exactly what he wanted me to wear to school the next day.

Red panties and a matching bra were included.

When I didn’t rise to the bait, he took it a step further and started rearranging my bedroom one corner at a time. The ornaments decorating the dresser now sit on my nightstand while my closet has been organized so his favourite items hang above everything else.

The black skirt with the bow is always at the front.

I have no idea how he’s getting inside. I’ve walked the property countless times, looking for a hidden entrance that could give him access to my bedroom. So far I’ve found nothing, not even a tree close enough for him to climb in through my window.

“Melody! You’re going to be late for class.”

Erik’s voice drifts up the stairs and I quickly grab a cloth and wipe the mirror clean. My stepfather has enough to worry about without adding Marlin’s antics to the list.

It’s only a twenty-minute walk to campus but it takes closer to thirty by the time I stop checking to make sure no one is following me.

The walking path winds along a narrow road, offering snapshots of the mansions towering behind manicured hedges and gated driveways. I catch a glimpse of sharp peaks and high towers as I walk along the trail, the divide between the wealthy families and the rest of us separated by a dense forest running along the edge of the water.

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