“I do hope you are careful, my lady. He may look innocent, but this vampire knows how to find trouble.”
Leo let out a bark of laughter. “Rod, you’re talking to the woman who kidnapped me and held me captive to further her colony’s political goals.”
Eina’s cheeks burned red and she threw him a dirty look, tinged with humor. “You forgot to mention how I first saved you from spending an eternity on the bottom of the ocean floor with nothing but cement boots for company.”
“That you did.” He felt fondness well up inside him for the woman as he tried not to smile. “But at least Rodrigo knows you can take care of yourself.”
“Yes.” She stared at him and her expression melted into something soft. “Yes, I can.”
Rodrigo made a noise of disgust and jumped on the center console, stalking into the front passenger seat. “I know I’m not able to make an official diagnosis, but you both are mad.”
Eina leaned in close to Leo, her hair falling across his arm. The muscles in his abdomen tightened at the close contact. She smelled like salt water and lilies. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to take a taste of those pink lips and run his hands over her shiny black hair.
“I don’t think your cat likes me very much,” she whispered.
He laughed nervously, hoping mermaids didn’t know how to read minds. “Rodrigo takes a while to warm up. The fact that he didn’t hiss and scratch at you is a majorly good sign.”
“Don’t listen to a word he says.” The cat glared at him from the front seat. “I’m not a heathen. And my lady, any woman who can withstand Prince Leo’s charms is fine in my book.”
She gave him a grateful smile, but her face turned the brightest shade of pink. She glanced at Leo and quickly turned away to stare out the window.
The dark Monstranian mountain was within sight. A few more minutes and they were at the base where a thick, mossy forest awaited. It was exactly the kind of place Prince Leo would’ve liked to avoid. No fun to be had here. But he was on a mission and both his brother and the woman sitting next to him were counting on him.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked her as they hopped out of the car. He’d changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and she’d put on the boots. “Last chance to back out.”
“I’m in.” She glanced at the forest and grimaced. “But it would be nice if you filled me in on the details.”
He looked off into the distance with a solemn expression, his eyes narrowing. “My brother’s been working on a treaty with the ogres for centuries. My little poker habit seems to have put a kink in the plans. We’re here to finalize the deal.”
Eina gaped at him and grabbed his arm. His skin burned under her touch. “Weren’t those the ogres that dropped you to the bottom of the sea?”
Rubbing a hand on his chest, he winced. “Yes, unfortunately. But if we’re lucky, they won’t even know we’re here. We get in, request a meeting with their leader, you sweet-talk him, and boom, we’re done.”
A voice inside his head said a little prayer that everything really would be that easy. But if anything about the last few days had become clear, it was that his luck had just about dried up.
He only hoped that he wouldn’t drag Eina down with him
Chapter Eleven
Eina nervously chewed on her bottom lip and followed Leo into the forest. His plan of having her sweet talk the very creatures that dumped him in the sea wasn’t giving her much hope.
“Why exactly am I supposed to be the one who sweet-talks them?” she asked, jogging to keep up with his quick pace. He looked good in his jeans and t-shirt, but she had to admit, she missed the cut-off tux and white button up shirt. “I think we can both agree you’re the one with all the charm.”
He stopped walking and she nearly ran into him.
“Charm isn’t everything.” He frowned and rubbed a hand over his head. “The ogres will see right through me. What they need is someone to trust. Someone pure of heart and intention. That’s you, Eina. This is the first step to you changing the world.”
She ducked her head as blood flooded her cheeks. Even after all the horrible things she’d done the last few days, Leo thought of her as pure of intention. It was a strange feeling. She didn’t feel like she lived up to the notion, but a huge part of her wanted to try.
She’d do it, for him.
“Why do they live in Monstrana if they haven’t signed a treaty?” she asked as he continued their hike deeper into the forest. The slight tilt to the ground told her they were starting to ascend the mountain, but it was impossible to see above the thick forestry.
“The ogres erected a camp upon Noctis Mountain many years ago,” he replied. “My grandfather looked the other way, hoping that in time they’d agree to become one with Monstrana. But that never happened.”
“Judging by their treatment of you, I don’t find that hard to believe,” Eina said with a smirk.
“Yes, well, ogres do have the reputation of being brutish creatures with foul tempers and bad manners,” he said with a sideways smile in her direction. “But not every rumor we hear is true. I think you learned that the hard way about me.”
She gave him a guilty grin and shook her head. “You’re right. Vampires aren’t the monsters I thought they were. Maybe the ogres won’t be so bad after all.”
“We can hope.” Leo’s whole body shuddered. “And let’s especially hope that not all of them are like Earl and his brothers. I do not want to see the bottom of the sea again, anytime soon.”
Eina felt a similar shudder roll through her own body and she rubbed her hands up and down her arms to combat the chill. “So if we negotiate this treaty...”
“When we negotiate this treaty,” Leo interrupted with a dimpled smile.
“When we negotiate this treaty,” she corrected, hiding her smile. She liked his confident streak. It made up for her reservations. “Your brother will attribute this win to the mermaids? And he’ll support our bid for a spot in the supernatural world kingdoms?”
“Absolutely.” He nodded his head and pulled aside a branch for her to pass. “This will prove to him that you’re serious. My brother has a stubborn sense of honor. He’ll do the right thing.”
“Are you sure?” Eina bit her bottom lip. She’d never met the king. Didn’t even see him at the wedding, although he had to be there. “What if he turns us down?”
“Eina.” Leo grabbed her hand and held it tight. She quivered at the feel of his skin against hers. Try as she might to fight it, every moment she spent close to him, he only seemed to affect her more. “I give you my solemn vow that I will see this thing through. Can you at least trust me?”
She looked up into his somber eyes, her doubt washing away once and for all. Leo’s plan was going to work. He wasn’t going to let her down. She could feel it in her scales.
“Yes.” She smiled at him. “I trust you. I was just having a moment of doubt.”
“Don’t worry, shark bait.” He reached out his other hand and placed it softly against her cheek, caressing the corner of her mouth with his thumb. Butterflies jumped to life in her stomach. “We’ve got this.”
She stared at his mouth for a long moment, wishing that he would lean down and kiss her. Every nerve in her body cried out for his touch. He moved toward her, as if he shared her thoughts. Her breath caught in her lungs as his hand slid down her neck and behind her head, into her hair. He leaned in to place a scorching kiss on her cheek for a mere second, and then turned suddenly to press on into the forest.
Eina stared after him for a long moment, unsure what had just happened. Part of her thrilled at the intimate moment, but the other part of her longed for so much more. He was going to confess his feelings on the island, she just knew it. Despite the short time together, there was an energy between them. It was undeniable. But then, he went and kissed her like a friend. It just didn’t make sense.
He had disappeared into the woods without her. Eina glanced at the da
rk brush beside her, wondering if anyone else had witnessed the exchange. She shrugged and swallowed down her disappointment in the kiss, telling herself to get a grip.
She had more important things to worry about.
❖
They hiked further into the forest with no sign of the creatures. The darkness was so thick that it seemed to play tricks. Leo’s eyes darted back and forth, taking in their surroundings. Every once in a while, something flickered in the shadows. A pair of eyes shone in the brush. A branch snapped behind them. After what seemed like hours of Eina jumping at strange noises, he decided they should pause near a stream to rest and regroup.
“Leo, I’m not so sure we’re alone,” Eina muttered, sitting next to him on a fallen log.
He’d been staring off into the shadows, his attention alert.
“You’re definitely right,” he said.
Another branch snapped off to their left. He reached down and took her hand in his, his fingers interlacing with hers. She gave a small gasp and he wasn’t sure if it was because of his touch or because of the terror of being followed. He squeezed her hand for comfort and rubbed a thumb along the back of her hand.
“Whatever it is, stay close to me,” he said in a low voice. “I’ll protect you.”
He meant it, too. He’d lay down his life to keep her safe.
They sat like that for another minute, the rapid pulse of the blood through the veins in her hand the only indicator of her fear. She’d managed to steady her breath and watch for signs. She was being so strong. Leo wished he could tell her to turn back now. That he’d insisted on doing this alone. But it was far too late to become the knight in shining armor she deserved.
A strong odor suddenly descended upon them. It was a combination of freshly cut onions, landfill, and moldy laundry. The hikers jumped to their feet as six hulking figures burst through the brush and encircled them, their faces hidden in shadow.
Leo bent his knees, ready to strike, but felt an unfamiliar sense of hopelessness. Maybe, if he were by himself, he could take them all. But as strong as Eina was, she’d be snatched up in an instant. He had to play it cool.
“We’ve come to request a meeting with your leader,” he announced, straightening his spine and raising his chin. Maybe all this situation required was a little finesse.
The hulking figures snorted and laughed. They pressed in, until a ray of light passing through the underbrush lit upon their faces. Leo’s gut clenched when he recognized the ogre standing nearest to him.
“The only place you’re going is with me, Prince Leo,” Earl said with a satisfied smile, his teeth appearing more yellow than usual in the low light. His beady black eyes darted toward Eina and grew wide. “Oh, goody. You brought a friend. This is gonna be fun.”
Chapter Twelve
Eina struggled against the beefy hand that held her upper arm like a vice. She watched Leo do the same with the two ogres marching him up ahead. They’d already failed in their mission for peace. To add insult to injury, the ogres that held them captive were snickering at their good fortune, as if they’d snagged them in their nets.
Eina’s stomach twisted into knots. She couldn’t let them hurt Leo. It was her fault they were here in the first place. He’d offered to help her win back the favor of her sisters, and selfishly, she’d taken him up on the offer without thinking through the consequences. Once again, she’d gambled with Leo’s life.
And once again, he was paying the price.
“Through here,” the ogre named Earl barked as he pulled aside a branch. Eina could tell they’d hiked up the mountain quite a bit. The air was thinner here and she struggled to breathe. “Heads down, keep marching.”
The ogres shoved them into a clearing that opened up to what resembled a small village. Eina blinked in surprise. The homes had been built into the ground with dirt mounded on top. Flowers and wild plants sprouted from the tops in an array of disorderly beauty. Large, colorful round wooden doors stood open to the evening breeze.
Thick trees surrounding the clearing shot high up into the air, keeping the village in deep shade. Ogres up and down the cobblestone path froze and turned to stare at the intruders. Several small ogre children ran toward them holding balls and wooden bats.
“Move,” Earl shouted.
Eina stumbled after Leo and tried to keep her eyes glued to the ground, but she couldn’t help sneaking a peek every once in a while. This wasn’t at all what she’d pictured an ogre village to be. So clean, so orderly, so beautiful. The children followed them with big smiles stretching across their bulbous green heads.
“In here,” Earl said with a grunt. He pointed to a building at the end of the row. It was the only one that didn’t look like a cheery home. It had a foreboding black square door and had been buried deep into the ground. “You’ll stay in there until we figure out what to do with you.”
He and his buddies snickered again and shoved Eina and Leo through the door, closing them in. Eina stumbled in the darkness. Her eyes had been specially adapted to darkness deep below the water’s surface, but not in a cave. She tripped over a divot in the floor and cried out when hands shot out to steady her.
“Eina, it’s me. I’ve got you,” Leo’s comforting voice sounded next to her ear.
She inhaled sharply and turned to pull him closer. Her arms wrapped around his torso and her hands splayed across his muscular back.
“Leo, I’m so sorry.” She sniffed as tears clogged her throat. “I never should’ve brought you here.”
“Hey, I brought you here, remember?” He put a finger under her chin and raised her head until she gazed blindly up into the dark at what she guessed was his face. “This is my fault. I never should’ve been so foolish to think we could do this alone.”
A bitter laugh escaped her throat. She closed her eyes and willed herself not to cry. “If it wasn’t for me, you’d still be safe at the castle. I wish we’d never met in that ballroom.”
Leo gave a low growl and cupped her cheek. He wrapped his other arm behind her and pulled her in tight. Butterflies danced in her stomach as she felt him lean in toward her, his breath hot on her ear.
“Even now, even here, I don’t wish that,” he whispered. “Eina, I can’t lose you.”
His lips met hers with a hungry urgency. Delicious heat exploded throughout her body and across her skin. She’d never been kissed before, but that didn’t stop her from rising to her tiptoes and meeting him with equal desperation.
He tasted like sweet wine and dark chocolate mixed together in a sensual combination. She bit at his lower lip and he growled again, pressing her against the nearest wall and running his hands down her sides until they planted on the subtle curves of her hips.
“Leo...” She gasped when his lips left hers and traveled down her neck in tantalizing hot kisses. “I...”
She felt the words on the tip of her tongue—the emotion she’d been fighting for days now. It was an overwhelming feeling that had consumed her thoughts and buried itself deep inside her bones. She’d had a name for it shortly after finding him huddled in the wreckage of the storm. Love. She loved him, with every ounce of her being.
“I’m going to get you out of here,” he said in a hoarse whisper against her throat. “I promise. You’re going to change the world, Eina. I knew it the moment I met you.”
She shivered at his words. As much as she wanted them to be true, she knew in that moment it would feel like nothing if she didn’t have Leo there by her side. They both had to make it out of this ogre village. There was no alternative.
A blinding light pierced the darkness and Leo whipped around to face the door that had been opened wide. Earl’s hulking silhouette stood in the gap. From what Eina could see of his face, he looked like he’d sucked on a sour sea star.
“Follow me,” he grunted, motioning with his giant fist. “Our leader wants to see you.”
Eina swallowed hard and reached for Leo’s hand. He held it and squeezed her fingers as they followe
d the ogre into the sunlight. After the hospitality they’d received so far, she didn’t expect much better of Earl’s boss.
She was about to meet a real monster.
❖
Leo clutched Eina’s hand as they followed Earl up a nearby shaded hill and into a fabulous garden full of unfettered wildflowers. Gone were the ogre’s muscular friends. He marched on up ahead, not glancing back to make sure they’d followed him.
Leo hesitated at the entrance of the garden, sensing their moment to break free and run. They weren’t even being guarded. It would be easy to get a head start. After that, it was anyone’s guess.
“Prince Leo, I welcome you to our humble village.”
A strangely husky feminine voice called his name, causing the plans in his head to dissolve into thin air. He looked over the nearest crop of flowers to see an ogre much larger than Earl seated at a desk carved from stone. It had a thick growth of green hair that had been pulled back into a low bun on the back of its round head. Generous purple lips smacked together in a pleased noise and parted to show off yellow teeth. The ogre stood as they approached and Leo could see the green patchwork dress it wore.
“I am Rita,” she said, holding out a thick hand. “Tribal leader of the Noctis ogres.”
“Call me Leo.” He took her hand in slight disbelief. “And this is Eina of the Aestus mermaids.”
“My lady.” Rita lowered her head in a little bow. “Please, come sit.”
They followed her to the desk and sat across from her on intricately carved stone chairs. Eina kept her head down, but Leo could see her taking in their surroundings with quiet interest. They both seemed to be in a state of shock. He’d half expected Earl to walk them off a cliff, not lead them to a garden.
“I must apologize for my nephew,” Rita said, folding her massive hands together. She shot the ogre a withering look and he shrunk into the wildflowers, disappearing. “He was dropped on his head as a child. He doesn’t seem to be able to retain the basic intelligence on how to greet a guest.”
Something Fishy About Love: Vampire & Mermaid Romance (A Monstrana Paranormal Romance Book 3) Page 7