by Kelly Risser
There were two dead arrangements in this room that went into the garbage bag, and plenty of surfaces to dust. By the time she had the furniture polished, the guards returned.
“The upstairs is all clear, my lady.” Hayon clicked his heels together and bowed.
“As is the first floor,” Nuaim said. “What would you have us do now?”
“Thank you,” Ula said. “Perhaps you can show us the upstairs, Hayon? I’d like to see the state of the guest rooms and determine if there is enough furniture for us to stay here.”
The living room was still well furnished, albeit just dirty from months of being unoccupied. She guessed the upstairs would be the same way, but this gave her a chance to see the sleeping arrangement and assign rooms. Perhaps the men would retire for the night. It made her nervous to constantly give orders and instructions, but she couldn’t very well release them either. She owed it to her kingdom to be safe and stay guarded at all times.
Hayon led them up the stairs, and Nuaim went last. It appeared that the hall split into two wings. To the left were five doors, and to the right were three. Hayon turned to the left. “These all appear to be guest rooms. The middle door is a large washroom.”
Ula stepped around him and opened the door to the first room. It was decorated in pale grays and bright whites with dark wood furnishings. There was a bed, a dresser, a chair, and a gorgeous view of the ocean. It would be a nice guest room. When she went to check the next room, a jolt of recognition hit her as soon as she cracked open the door. The room smelled faintly of spice and wood. She immediately recognized it as Evan’s scent.
“This is where Evan stayed,” she said. Moving into the room, she touched the coverlet, which was rumpled and bunched as though someone was searching for something. And they had—Meara and her boyfriend, Kieran, had tried to rescue Evan. They must’ve searched his room for clues. The room made her sad, even though she knew she was being unreasonable. “We won’t use this one.”
The other two rooms were almost identical, except one was decorated in peaches and tans, while the other had a nautical theme of blue and red. Ula nodded at the guards. “You can pick from these three rooms. Hopefully, you don’t both want the same one.”
The men looked at each other as though silently communicating. Nuaim nodded, and Hayon said, “I’ll take the blue-and-red room, and Nuaim will take the gray one. That way, we each can keep an eye on one side of the house.”
“Very well,” Ula said. “You are welcome to retire to your rooms or come with us to check out the other side.” She gave the invitation to be polite, but she really hoped that they would not take her up on it. It was late, and she was tired and wanted a few moments alone with Vesh. It was a luxury they rarely had at home.
“Good night, my queen.” Nuaim bowed and went to his room.
Hayon nodded in silence, stepped into his room, and shut the door.
“Well, there’s your answer,” Vesh said softly in a voice filled with laughter.
She walked her fingers up his chest and watched his eyes darken. “Would you rather they came with us? I could give that command.”
He gripped her waist and pulled her close before kissing her. She ran her fingers through the short hairs at the back of his neck, and then tugged gently to get him to stop. “The room, Vesh. Let’s explore the rooms first.”
“I’d rather explore your tasty mouth,” he whispered with a wicked grin, but allowed her to pull him down the hall to the first door. It was a linen closet. The next door was a small, utilitarian bedroom that smelled of furniture polish and pipe smoke.
“This must’ve belonged to Stonewall,” Vesh said. “I recognize the tobacco. It was quite distinct.”
“Stonewall was the butler?”
“Of sorts. He was Ken’s right-hand man and one of the men who died in battle.” Vesh looked sad. No matter what, Ken and the others had been his brothers. He felt their loss keenly.
“I remember him.” Ula touched Vesh’s arm. “I’m sorry.”
Closing the door, Vesh crossed the hall, opened the next one, and whistled. “I think we both know whose room this was.”
The room was really a large suite. There was a parlor with a large fireplace, two reclining chairs, and a sofa. In the corner was a bar with a refrigerator. Across the room were two doorways. The one on the right led to the bedroom, the focus of which was a king-sized, four-poster bed. Bathed in sheer silks and shimmery satins of pale gold and plum, it was raised on a platform. The wall facing the ocean was almost all windows. The view would be breathtaking during the day. Heavy brocade curtains in the same deep plum could be closed to encase the room in darkness. The door on the left opened to a large bathroom. It was done in slate and marble, and easily twice the size of her old bedroom. A two-person Jacuzzi tub finished off the area.
“This is insane,” Ula said. “The man lived like a king.”
Vesh climbed onto the bed and ran his hand across the silk coverings. “Well, he kind of was one.”
“That’s right,” she answered distracted. She had crossed to the dresser and opened the drawers. Not much remained besides a few random articles of clothing. “Do you think he planned to come back here?”
“I’m sure.” Vesh motioned for her to join him. Her heart sped up at the thought of even being next to him on the bed. It was silly, really, they were both already older than most humans lived to be, and yet, she was acting like a teenager, blushing and nervous. He made her nervous as no one else did, because she was falling for him. She gave her heart once before, and it had been broken. She didn’t want to experience that again.
“Come here,” he whispered. “I won’t bite.” He grinned and added, “Unless you want me to.”
She laughed and climbed up next to him. Vesh always seemed to guess her mood and know just what to say to make her feel better. Now, he turned and ran his fingertips up and down her arm, leaving tingles in their wake.
“Finally alone,” he murmured. “What shall we do?”
He leaned across and kissed her. She kissed him back, but when things started to heat up between them, she pulled away and grimaced.
“What is it?” he asked.
“This might sound stupid to you, but can we change the sheets on this bed before we sleep in it? I mean, this was Ken’s bed.” While Vesh stared at her in bewilderment, her face grew warm and she stood. “I’ll just go get some clean sheets from the linen closet.”
He didn’t say anything, but when she came back in the room, he had stripped the old ones off the bed. Together, they put the clean sheets on.
“Better?” he asked.
“Yes. Thank you.” She sniffed the air. “Does it smell like strawberries in here?”
“Well, not quite in here.” Vesh grinned mischievously. “I may have filled the Jacuzzi while you were out.”
“I stepped into the hall. How did you fill it so fast?”
“It’s water.” His pierced brow rose. “It’s kind of our thing.”
She smiled in embarrassment. “Oh, yeah. I guess I’m just tired.”
“Hence the Jacuzzi.” He gestured toward the bathroom. “Your bath awaits, my queen.”
She thought for sure he would join her, but he told her to relax and enjoy herself. “I’ll get us some dinner. I know you’re exhausted, but you really need to eat something. You haven’t eaten for hours.”
Soaking in the fragrant water, she closed her eyes and sighed. As her advisor, Vesh always put her interests first. It was his duty to make sure she was taken care of. Sometimes, she worried that his obligations to his queen bled over to his feelings for her. Could he separate the two? Could he see her as just a woman and not his ruler? It was times like this when the doubt crept in, when she was feeling tired and vulnerable. Being in a strange house that once belonged to a mad man didn’t improve her mood. Humming quietly, she let her mind wander to the days ahead and mentally prepared a checklist. They’d need to buy presents, wrapping paper, decorations, special holid
ay foods, and sheet music. Meara loved Christmas carols. Last year was the first time Ula heard them, but she enjoyed the music too. Arren and his band should be able to pick up several of them. As she recalled, most of the songs had a simple, happy tune.
Muscles turning to jelly, she drained the tub and crawled out. A fluffy, beige towel was waiting on the corner of the sink, along with boxers and a tank top. She still had the ability to visualize clothes, but she appreciated Vesh’s thoughtfulness. Twisting her damp hair into a loose knot, she stepped out of the steamy bathroom.
Vesh was sitting on the couch watching a cooking show. He looked sheepish when she caught him. “This is making me hungry.”
“Didn’t you go and get food?”
“I did.” He nodded to a box on the table. “Well, Nuaim actually did. He ordered a pizza.”
“Pizza?” Ula laughed. “I haven’t had pizza in forever.”
Meara introduced her to it last year when they were living in Nova Scotia. With its tomato sauce and melted cheese, it was absolutely delicious. Ula didn’t mind eating fish most days—that was the mainstay of their diet—but pizza. Pizza was heaven.
Vesh opened the box and held it out to her. Two slices remained. “I couldn’t wait. Sorry. It just smelled so good. Belle Tresor had pizza, but it was nothing like this.”
Ula lifted a slice from the box. The sauce was warm, but not hot, so she didn’t have to worry about burning her mouth. The cheese was still creamy and delicious, and the crust was chewy with a crunchy base. Perfection.
She ate the slice, and told Vesh to eat the other one. More tired than hungry, she didn’t want to stuff herself right before bed. Tomorrow would be a long day. She nudged his thigh with her toe. “Are you ready to shop until you drop tomorrow?”
He gave her a wary look. “Until I drop?”
“It’s a human expression, but we have a lot to do. I want to go into town and get as much as we can. We’ll have to have it sent here.”
“How are we going to get it to the island?”
It was a good question. The Blue Men had more powerful magic than Selkies, but even they had their limits. With only four of them, it would take several trips to transport everything she planned to buy. That kind of energy might tap them out for days. She didn’t want to do that.
“If the boat’s still here, we can use it.” Ken had a boat he used to go to the mantel plume on the grounds of doing “research.” It was dark out now, but in the daylight, they could climb down and see if it was still tethered to the pier and what shape it was in after months of neglect. The house fared okay, with the exception of the flowers.
“Let’s hope it is, then.” Vesh folded up the pizza box.
“Tomorrow, we’ll take Ken’s car into town.” She’d peeked in the garage earlier. A glossy, black car was there. As long as it started in the morning, they would be just fine.
“Can you drive?” he asked.
“I watched Meara drive. Does that count?” she asked.
“No.”
Shrugging, she said. “We’ll figure it out. I’m going to bed. Are you coming or staying up to catch the next cooking show?”
Vesh raised an eyebrow. “You want me to stay? That might blow our cover. I was going to sleep in Stonewall’s old room.”
“Stay, please.” She hated to admit it, but being alone in Ken’s old room gave her the creeps. “I don’t care what the other two think. We’re going to have to tell the rest of them about our relationship sooner or later.”
He rose from the couch, and his brows drew together. “Are you ready for that? It’s only been a couple months. This isn’t a decision to take lightly, Ula. The queen does not date.”
“No?”
“No. Have you seen the competitions on The Bachelorette?”
“Who’s the bachelorette?” she asked.
“Not who, but what. It’s a television show where men compete to win the hand of one woman. Now, imagine our entire domain fighting for your hand.”
Shaking her head, she asked him. “How do you even know that? We’ve only been on land a short time. You must be watching too much television.”
With a sexy grin, he shrugged. “When on land, do as the humans do.” Crossing his arms, he leaned against the back of the couch and waited. “What is your decision, my queen?”
She knew he was right, but damn, she was really looking forward to being wrapped in his arms. With Vesh, she felt safe, cherished, and taken care of. No matter what, she didn’t want to be alone in here. “Would they talk if you slept on the couch?”
He looked back at the couch and then at her, his eyes full of confusion. “Why would I do that?”
With an embarrassed smile, she admitted, “Because this room gives me the creeps, and I don’t want to be alone. Can’t you tell them that you were here to guard me?”
“Do you think they will buy it?”
“Leave the door open for all I care. In the morning, they can see for themselves that you’re sprawled uncomfortably on the couch while I am resting peacefully in the bed.”
He growled. “You’re not making this easy.”
She smiled sweetly. “I’m not trying to.” Crossing the room, she rose up on her toes, touching her lips to his. “Goodnight, Vesh.”
As she turned to go to the bed, his fingers wrapped around her wrist and pulled her back. “Oh no, you don’t. I’m not going to sleep with you, but if I’m taking the uncomfortable couch, I think I deserve a little more of a kiss than that, don’t you?”
He didn’t wait for her to answer. Vesh had many wonderful qualities. At the top of the list was his ability to kiss. Every nerve in her body danced with joy. Her blood pounded in her veins while her heart thrilled to his touch. Her hands slid up his arms and wrapped around his neck, securing him close. Just when she thought it would be impossible to stop, he dropped his arms, disentangled from her embrace, and stepped back.
Bowing deeply, he said, “Now, I bid you goodnight.”
“Hmmph!” She stuck her tongue out, which made him laugh. There was no doubt that her cheeks were rosy, her hair mussed, and her eyes heavy with desire. It took all her strength not to reach out and pull him to her again. To distract herself, she made a scene of stomping over to the bed, grabbing the extra pillow, and throwing it at him. “I think I saw some blankets in the linen closet where I found the sheets.”
Without waiting for his reply, she crawled into bed, pulled the blanket over her head, and tried to forget he was in the same room. Luckily, she was tired enough, that within a few minutes, she drifted off to sleep.
Ula woke early. The world outside was a swirl of white clusters. She loved the delicate composition of snowflakes. Each was a tiny work of art. This was one of those beautiful snowfalls, where the frozen crystals seemed to dance to the ground so one could admire their unique beauty.
Vesh stirred on the couch, stretching before he sat up and blinked at her. “Why are you up so early?”
“Big day today.” Her face broke into a wide grin. “Shopping.”
With a groan, he fell back on the couch and covered his face with the pillow. Laughing, she went to the bathroom to wash up. There were unused toothbrushes and a full tube of toothpaste in the drawer. In his hurry to leave, Ken left many of his possessions behind. She hoped the same didn’t hold true in the kitchen, and that someone had had the sense to empty the perishables from the refrigerator, at least.
Once dressed in a warm, cable-knit cream sweater and jeans that she visualized, along with sturdy, brown hiking boots, she decided to head down to the kitchen to see what she would or would not find and leave Vesh to finish waking up at his leisure.
Nuaim and Hayon were already in the kitchen with steaming cups in their hands. Hot, caffeinated beverages seemed to be a universally appealing way to start the morning. And while the Blue Men’s native drink was bitter with green undernotes, the two men seemed to be enjoying the coffee.
“There’s more in the pot, if you’d like some
,” Hayon offered.
“I would, thanks.” Ula found a large mug and filled it, taking a hesitant sip and then sighing. It was just as she liked it, rich and smooth. She looked around the space. The kitchen was very industrial, and odds were, Ken never set foot in it. It was clear he had his staff prepare all his meals. There wasn’t even a table to sit at. The guys were perched on barstools lined up by the counter. Most of the surfaces were stainless steel or granite. The refrigerator was an enormous model that said Sub-zero. “Have either of you checked the fridge?”
Nuaim squirmed on his chair and looked down like a young boy who was in trouble. “We were afraid to.”
Ula took another sip, bracing herself before the inevitable. “I don’t blame you, but it has to be done.”
Taking a deep breath and holding it, she opened the fridge door, and then she let the air whoosh out in relief. Nothing but a few jars of pickles and olives, condiments, and beer bottles. “Thank the gods, someone had the insight to clean it out.”
She searched the cabinets until she found an unopened package of biscuits and a box of granola bars. The men took tentative bites. She finished three cookies in the time it took them to nibble through one, but she was hungry. In town, she would be able to purchase something hot and filling, but for now, she needed a little something in her belly with the coffee.
“Are you both coming with us to the market?” she asked.
“I’m going,” Nuaim said, “to guard you, but Hayon will stay here, to protect the house.”
Ula frowned. “I think the house should be safe. No one’s bothered it so far.”
Ken had been a threat to all of them, and he died several months ago. Unless a new enemy presented itself, there was really no need to live on the edge. She felt quite secure. The house was theirs now, and that in itself could not be challenged by humans or non-humans alike. It belonged to the Blue Men.
“No matter,” Nuaim said. “It is our duty.”
“Very well.” There was no use arguing with them. Her men were stubborn. And speaking of stubborn men, she asked, “How long does it take Vesh to get ready?”