Page 76 of The Sea Witch's Son

“Tell me, dear Calista.” I give her a mocking smile, “What did you get up to last night?”

“I’m so glad you asked.” Clapping her hands, she leans forward with a malicious smile, “Ronan and I were going on a walk when we stumbled across a passionate affair between your plaything and her date yesterday.”

“Passionate, you say?” Tilting the phone in my hands, I study the smudge of fingerprints dancing along the screen, “I hope it did not offend your sensitive eyes.”

“Mm, the man was handling Melody’s rejection of his kiss rather poorly.” Calista lifts a brow, “That rookie of yours has quite the temper on him. Especially when it comes to you.”

“So, I’ve heard.” Studying the accumulation of fingerprints, I slowly type in the birth date it corresponds to.

“No true love’s kiss for Melody, although you will be interested to know there was a man following her on the way home.”

I glance up at her, “Finley?”

“Older. Much more withered.” She purses her lips, “He seemed quite keen on your little plaything. Rather ambitious to come so closeto town.”

“Did you get him?”

“Ronan scared him off before I got the chance.” Calista lifts her shoulder, “But that’s neither here nor there because I ensured Melody ended the night on a high note.”

“A high note." I echo the words.

She smiles, gesturing towards the phone, “It was my reward for keeping the girl safe and sound. I figured we could both use a little bit of satisfaction. Men aresodisappointing when it comes to the bedroom.”

Something pricks at my skin as I pull up Melody’s messages. The ones I sent to her are still there, stagnant under an unsaved profile. I spot my name among the conversation threads and the pieces quickly fall into place.

It’s amusing at first, reading the taunts cleverly laid down. Calista did a marvellous job of mimicking my tone and style of speaking, even if it was full of praise I do not offer in the bedroom.

But then I keep reading.

“I did leave her some clues.” She offers me a sly grin, “If you opened up more, maybe she would have picked up on them.”

“I don’t mind taking turns.That was your clue?”

There’s a bite to my voice, a bite that gets sharper the more I read.

“Don’t forget the underwear comment. I thought that was rather clever.” Calista cackles, the sound snapping against my nerves, “She’s quite the dirty girl. I’m sure she would love knowing you go commando.”

The filthier the messages get, the more my amusement fades. A foreign pressure unfurls in my chest when I read the one message that was clearly meant for me.

Keep going.

It’s two simple words that mean nothing yet have me feeling everything.

My nervous system must be having a malfunction because suddenly I cannot bear to look at the messages any longer. Setting the phone down on the table, I stare at the woman across from me.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that.” Calista pushes her lips into a pout, “I was making sure your girl went to bed satisfied since you clearly aren’t doing a good enough job.”

“Is there a reason you’re trying to provoke me or is this purely for entertainment?”

“Entertainment, most definitely.”

Pushing back my chair, I stand up and walk around to where she’s sitting.

“You can push me all you want, but you will not get the reaction you’re looking for.” Running a hand over her blonde curls, I let out a sigh, “As for the other matter... well, you know how much I reserve the right to my toys.”

Gripping her hair, I yank Calista’s head to the side. Her knife flicks out of her jacket sleeve, but I dig my ring into her jugular before she can slash me.

“Most people learn the hard way when it comes to my little saint.” Tightening my grip, I pull her head back, “But because we are old friends, I will let you off with a warning.”

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