Page 80 of Wicked Witchmas: Elara & Tripp

“Um, who did you call? Nothing is happening other than die-hard beachgoers leaving.”

“You’re impatient, but it comes as no surprise.” He laughed when she pinched him. “Wait, oh, patienceless one.”

She grinned at his playfulness. It hadn’t come as a surprise either. What did was the knowledge she remembered his easy laughter and engaging sense of humor, both from recent years and the past.

The first blast of air stole her wits. With the second, she squealed.

Whales!

And not any old whales, butorcas!

Her favorite species.

“How did you know? I’ve never said a word to anyone.”

“You didn’t have to. The snow globes on your shelves told me.” He shifted, positioning her back to his front, and pointed. “Look there.”

A calf emerged from the water, assisted by its mother, and Elara caught her breath at the spectacular sight.

“I hope it survives. They don’t always, and their first year is always iffy.”

“Me, too. Why not give her added vitality?” he suggested.

“We can do that?”

“You can. Water nymph, remember?”

He laughed when she lunged to her feet and raced for the water. Halting, she spun back and pressed her hands to her chest. “Does this mean I can swim with them?”

“It does, but never let another human see you, and don’t forget to warm your cells so you don’t get hypothermia.”

“Oh, Tripp!”

“Have fun, flitter-mouse.”

She stopped skipping backward. “What about you?”

“This is your experience, Elara. Not mine.”

“But what if I want to share it with you?” she asked softly.

Whipping his sweater over his head, he exposed his sculpted torso. Yes, all those defined ridges along his abdomen were drool-worthy, but it was those glorious, glorious shoulders that she longed to touch.

Then, he removed his pants.

“Holy shitballs!” She ran forward and jumped into his outstretched arms, climbing and clinging to him like a koala on bamboo. “Pass the salami!”

He laughed, and as he carried her to the water, her magical shoes morphed again, transforming into purple flippers.

“Ohmygawd! He’s thought of everything!” she said.

“Yeah, he’s annoying like that.”

She giggled at the pique in Tripp’s tone.

The joy she experienced interacting with orcas was something she’d never forget. They were respectful of the whales the entire swim, making sure to relay good intentions through their energy. The pod accepted them, recognizing their supernatural status.

When the mother nudged the calf toward Elara, she thought her heart would burst. Visualizing a long, healthy life for the beautiful baby, she activated her nymph cells and rubbed her fingertips along its body. The pod formed a circle around them, balancing vertically in the water with their flukes down and rostrums to the sky. It felt ceremonial as if they protected her and the calf while she boosted the baby’s vitality. She repeated the process for the mother.

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