Page 68 of The Sea Witch's Son

I don’t give him a chance to respond. Marching all the way home, I don’t acknowledge the footsteps trailing after me.

A bark sounds in the distance just as I slam the front door shut.

“Back already?” Erik looks up from his phone.

“Not now.”

Storming past him, I stomp up every creaking step until I’m back in the safety of my bedroom.

“This is all your fault.” Hissing at the stupid heart on my dresser, I strip off my damp clothes and fling myself onto the bed.

Crawling under the covers, I pull up my knees and hug them into my chest. The anger drains from my shivering body until the only thing left is an ache of sadness.

I’ve dated guys like Finley before. Three of them, to be exact, and they all followed the same train of thought.

I needed protecting.

I needed saving.

None of them ever bothered to step back and see the kind of person I was. The horrifying things I’ve done to ensure my mother didn’t have to cry herself to sleep every night.

I was her knight in shining armour. I securedherfairytale ending.

But nobody ever saw that.

Nobody, except Marlin Seaborn.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: I take it the date didn’t go well?

Chapter 23

MARLIN

I give Gus two hours to give it his best shot.

By the time my phone rings, I’ve secured everything I need and the newly acquired pets are sitting soundly in a box on my passenger seat.

“He’s not breaking.” Gus greets me with a string of curses, “I’ve used every trick in the book and he’s not breaking.”

“I didn’t know you could read, Gus. Well done.”

“Fuck off. Calista couldn’t have done any better.”

I smile, putting on my indicator, “Fighting words you should hope never get repeated.”

“Yeah, whatever. Are you almost here?”

“I’m just pulling in.” Hanging up the phone, I toss it onto the passenger seat.

The car bounces over uneven pavement as I pull off the road and onto a strip of gravel. I turn at the next exit and pull into a clearing that’s completely shaded by the surrounding forest.

Rain pelts my suit jacket as I climb out of the car. A large figure emerges from the trees, the blood on his hands looking rather unsanitary.

“He’s over there.” Gus sighs impatiently, “Do your thing and let’s get the hell out of here. I’m starving.”

“That’s going to cost you a few pounds.”

He groans, “Dude. Iknow.”

---