The Accidental Troll

by Dakota Cassidy

  Sten smiled at her, his orange eyes aglow. “So how are you holding up? I know you got the better end of the stick as far as trolls go, but do you think you’re open to being a part of this—of Troll Hill? Because everyone seems to like you, and you seem to like them.”

  She put her arms on his biceps, loving the hard feel of them beneath her palms. “I definitely think I am. I’m not sure how it’ll work between the two worlds, but I’m trying not to focus on logistics and instead, letting things fall into place organically.”

  His hand circled her waist and he firmly guided her into a slow sway. “How come you didn’t tell me you played the piano, like really played the piano, when we were talking music? I thought it was more something you dabbled in, but you have some serious skills, Newb.”

  “How come you didn’t tell me you do a lot of volunteer work?”

  His chuckle rumbled in his chest, vibrating against hers. “I guess I don’t think of it as work? I like people—especially the elderly—so I’ve put my love of people to good use. I actually teach a whittling class at one senior home.”

  Man, dreamy Sten was super dreamy. “But the real question is, do you teach them to surf?”

  He let his head fall back on his shoulders and barked a laugh. “I wouldn’t put it past some of them to want to give it a try. Especially Mrs. Shandowski. She’s a real kick in the ass. Outspoken, funny, and she’s into planking at almost eighty years old.”

  Murphy chuckled. “Planking? Ugh. Nova did a stint with that for a time. It’s awful. Anyway, I’d love to meet her. She sounds like a trip.”

  “I’d love to introduce you. Maybe when all this is over?”

  He kept mentioning when things were over. That was a good sign, right? It had been so long since she’d been asked out, most of her time being spent with people in their early twenties, she’d forgotten the last time.

  Their dance had gone from slow to slower, their bodies melting toward one another. “Yeah,” she whispered. “Maybe.”

  His hold on her tightened as his hand splayed across her back and he tucked her so close, she thought she might stop breathing. Resting his chin on her head, he said, “So, Anitra…”

  It was now or never. Sure, Bellamy had told her they’d broken up, but that didn’t mean she knew Sten’s deepest feelings. Maybe he’d kept them to himself.

  Clearing her throat, she said, “Yes, Anitra. Bellamy told me you were an item.” Murphy licked her lips and decided to take a deep dive. She didn’t want someone who was still hung up on someone else. “Do you still have feelings for her?”

  “If my body language didn’t tell you that, then hear my words—No. I have nothing but fond memories of Anitra, but I’m long since over her and she’s over me, as you can see by the way she’s cozying up to the troll with the red hair.”

  Murphy peeked over his shoulder to see that, indeed, Anitra was flirting with a very nice-looking troll.

  “She seems very caught up in whatever they’re talking about,” Murphy acknowledged.

  “That’s Anitra. She’s very friendly, sometimes too friendly without realizing it can give the wrong impression to those around her. But I casually mentioned I’d moved on. Suffice it to say, we didn’t want the same things, and as soon as I realized that, we broke up and it was amicable.”

  Of course it was. What did Sten do or say that wasn’t amicable? It was, after all, the troll way.

  Yet, a weight in her chest quite suddenly disappeared. “That’s all I needed to know,” she whispered against his chest.

  He leaned back a little and used his fingertips to tilt her chin up again. “I’d like it noted that I wouldn’t have suggested we go out on a date if I still had feelings for Anitra. That’s not who I am.”

  “Sorry. That’s a fair request.”

  “So for the record, if I’m in, I’m in. I don’t date around.”

  “I don’t date, period. So…”

  Sten dipped his head so their noses were almost touching. “That’s only because you haven’t had the opportunity, but I hope I’ve changed your mind.”

  “It depends.”

  “On?”

  “Oh, I dunno. I guess a lot of things. I mean, so you like music. Big deal. That’s just one facet of my personality. For instance, do you like ketchup on your steak? I can’t date someone who likes ketchup on their steak. And what about that steak? How do you like it cooked? Because well done is unacceptable. Medium rare all the way. And that brings me to the toilet paper roll—”

  “We went from the kitchen to the bathroom all in one fell swoop?”

  “Uh-huh. Over or under? Under is for the deranged. How about cats or dogs? I love both and can’t choose. Then there’re mattresses—”

  “Ohhh, now we’re in the bedroom. I don’t hate that,” he teased, running his hands along her back.

  “Do you like firm or soft or somewhere in between? I’m a somewhere-in-between kind of girl. TV on or off when you sleep? Ketchup on your fries or ranch? Or, like some heathen, nothing at all? Feet in or out of the covers? I’m an out girl, but still on the bed, because, you know, monsters. Which brings me to the four seasons—which one’s your favorite? Mine is probably late fall, early winter—”

  “Okay, hold the phone. Let me see. Um, no ketchup, also medium rare. Under is not either deranged. Firm, TV off, both on the fries, feet under the covers, fall, but I love Christmas, so maybe it’s a tie—”

  “Okay, so how about black licorice? And cliffhangers? And—”

  Then, without warning, without preamble, Sten pressed his lips to hers, sending a zing of pure pleasure along her spine.

  As her mouth met his, as he hauled her closer, as everything and everyone else fell away around them but the rasp of his tongue against hers and his firm lips devouring her own, Murphy melted against him.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, not minding at all the stretch of the muscles in her arms because he was so much taller. She didn’t even mind that the arches in her feet began to ache as she reached to get as close to him as possible.

  She was so lost in the kiss, so swept up in how amazing it felt to be kissed by this gorgeous man, she almost didn’t hear Nina screaming her name.

  “Murphy! For fuck’s sake, roll up those tongues you two have jammed down each other’s throats and pay attention!”

  Both Sten and Murphy pulled away from each other and looked at Nina, her pale face worried.

  Trying to catch her breath, Murphy asked, “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Nova!” Bellamy cried, tears pouring down her face as she ran toward them.

  Alarm bells went off in Murphy’s head as the world began to spin. Still, she managed to say, “What about her, Bellamy?”

  “She’s gone!” she screamed, her face red with the effort of her screech. “She was sitting on the swing when I went in to get us some more fruit, and when I came back, she was gone!”

  Murphy’s eyes roamed the landscape of the backyard as panic welled in her belly. “Maybe she went to the bathroom? Or inside to lie down?”

  “No!” Bellamy cried out, gripping Murphy’s wrist. “One of the fairies told me she saw Sten take her!”

  Chapter 20

  Murphy was trying with all her might to keep her shit together, but it wasn’t looking good. They’d left Serena’s immediately and ss they’d made their way through the creepiest, darkest, dampest part of this journey, she had to clench her fists to keep from screaming.

  According to the fairy who’d witnessed fake Sten take Nova, she’d been on the swing behind Serena’s cottage and wasn’t aware it wasn’t the real Sten— who was in the middle of a dance floor in front of the cottage when it happened—until Bellamy questioned Nova’s whereabouts.

  They’d wasted no time packing their things and heading out after that.

  Nina grabbed her by the arm as they traipsed over yet another portion of rocky terrain. “Slow the fuck down, Murphy. Have some water. You need to stay hydrated.” She shoved a
bottle of water at her and Murphy dutifully gulped it.

  “Thank you,” she murmured.

  Sten stopped, his strong stance and tired face eerie in the darkening of the skies in late afternoon. “Let’s stop for a second, so I can recheck this route we’re taking” was all he said, but Murphy protested, her hysteria mounting by the second.

  “No!” Murphy yelped. “You’ve done that four times already. We have to keep going. He’s had Nova too long now! God only knows what he’s done to her. Or your mother, for that matter. We can’t just rest while he tortures my sister to death! I know she’s a pain in the ass, but she’s my pain in the ass!”

  Oh, she was on a roll now. Her frantic musings had her in their grip, and they weren’t letting go. She heard the fear in her voice, but didn’t have the ability to stop them.

  Wanda reached for her and gripped her arm with firm pressure. “Murphy, we don’t know why he has her. Not for sure.”

  Tears threatened to fall from her eyes, so she wiped a thumb under them. “Bullshit! We know exactly why he wants her, Wanda! He wants her to dig in those mines and find his buried treasure. There’s no other reason to have her, and I’m not stopping until we get there!”

  As she began to stomp away from them, Nina, in her usual blur of motion, ran ahead and barred her from going forward by grabbing her arms. “Move, and I’m going to make you fucking wish you’d listened to reason, Murphy. I like you mostly. Don’t make me fuck you up and ruin that.”

  Murphy sagged, her body feeling boneless as Nina pulled her into a hug. Exhaustion, anxiety, and fear were wreaking havoc with her common sense.

  “I’m sorry, Nina.”

  Nina rubbed circles on her back, letting her rest her face on the vampire’s shoulder. “Don’t be sorry. Be better, and knock it the fuck off. We need you to have your shit together. I’m not gonna lie, I smell something bad coming, and it isn’t this fucking dank forest. I need you prepared. You got it?”

  Taking a step back, she shrugged off her hysteria and tried to regain her composure even if the words Nova’s missing still blared in her head. “You’re right. I’m back. Let’s hydrate and rest.”

  When they’d further questioned the fairy who’d seen Nova leave, she’d also said it looked as though she’d gone willingly, leaving them with proof that whoever this was posing as Sten had fooled Nova, too.

  Now, after a group of Serena’s fairy friends had managed to collect enough magic to transport them almost to the edge of the north without creating suspicion or having to use Sten’s magic so it could be tracked, they still found themselves farther away than they’d hoped.

  Sten, already tangled in knots about his missing mother, now also worried for Nova, was uncharacteristically bent out of shape. “Dammit! I tried to be so careful so if tracking trolls are involved, they wouldn’t see us coming, but it damn well feels they’re taunting us,” he growled, his deep voice making Murphy stand up straighter.

  Marty rolled up the sleeves of her sweatshirt, looking around the forest filled with tall trees, moss-covered rocks and the rank smell of moisture. “When I get my hands on this bastard, I’m going to make lunch of his entrails for doing this to my hair.”

  Bellamy, who’d refused to stay behind, continually surprising everyone, grated out a sigh of exasperation. “We’re almost there, ladies. It won’t be long.”

  Sten held up a hand with a frown. “How would you know that, young lady?”

  “How do you think I found the curse to begin with, Sten? I went poking around the north end of The Realm!”

  Sten grabbed her by the arm. “Hold on. I was under the impression the curse was brought to you. Isn’t that what Gaston told Murphy?”

  Bellamy shook her head, her hair plastered to her skull from the mist of rain they’d been fighting since they’d gotten here. “I guess that’s true, but I don’t remember that part. Gilda told you that, Sten. I do remember coming to the north and finding someone shady who knew about curses. He said he’d contact his contacts, and I guess this guy who looks like you was the contact.”

  Murphy’s mouth fell open as rage enveloped her, and she stomped toward Bellamy, sticking her finger in her face. “So all this time, you’d already been to the northside of The Realm? You know who the person is who hooked you up with the Sten-alike? You know where he’s located?”

  “No!” Bellamy cried. “I don’t remember anything about the person I found with connections to the curse, Murphy, I swear! I don’t remember what he looked like or who he was, I just remember going to the north to find a curse because that was the most likely place to find something like that!”

  Wanda stepped between the two women, scowling at Murphy and protectively pushing Bellamy behind her. “Okay, listen, we already know she’s not lying about not remembering, Murphy. She’s been to the north. That’s not much more information than we had five minutes ago ,and it’s not a piece of information that’s going to help us. So breathe. I know you’re upset, but you have to keep it together.”

  Murphy held up her hands and backed away, heaving a breath. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I know I keep saying that, but I really am. I’m just panicked about Nova.”

  “Forgiven. Now, let’s all shut the fuck up and take a beat before someone says some shit they’ll regret.”

  “Something Elvira knows all about,” Marty reminded, breaking up the tense moment.

  Murphy sat on the edge of a rock and guzzled her water, closing her eyes and deep breathing, trying not to count the minutes, the seconds Nova had been gone, wondering if she was already digging for something for whoever had her—and how long she could last.

  She’d only dug at Nina’s floor for a few minutes and it had left her so exhausted, she’d slept for hours…

  “Stop,” Sten ordered, handing her a basket with some cheese and fruit. “It won’t do you any good if you harp on the details, Murphy. Please stop.”

  She took out a chunk of cheese and popped it in her mouth, despite the fact that it tasted like gooey chalk. “You’re right. I’m trying to stay focused, but details are my thing. It’s a hazard of my job.”

  Crouching in front of her, he lifted her chin, his face a welcome sight in the gloom. “I promise you, I’m going to do whatever it takes to get Nova back to you, Murphy. I promise you that.”

  Cupping his jaw, she fought the tremble of her lower lip and the tightening of her throat. “I just got overwhelmed, but I’m okay now. I was being selfish and letting my panic get the best of me, but I’ve got a grip on it now.”

  He tilted his head, his concerned gaze searching hers. “You sure?”

  “I am. Go finish mapping out the rest of this trek, and I’ll stop being an idiot.”

  He pressed his lips to hers for a quick kiss. “Just hang on, Murphy. Just hang on.” Sten rose and went to consult the map the fairies had given him for a route they could use to find their way into the northside with little to no detection.

  “Psst, Pinky,” a voice with a clear New York accent said.

  Murphy sat up straight and gulped, cocking an ear.

  “Look up in the tree ten feet in front a ya.”

  Her eyes flew upward to the enormous pine tree, dripping with the biggest dewdrops she’d ever seen, to find a…

  “Raven. Yeah, yeah, I know what yer thinkin’. A raven who’s friggin’ purple, right?” He spread his wings and flapped. “Some fucked-up shit, huh?”

  She almost laughed as she gazed at his dark purple feathers and round yellow eyes. “The least of which I’ve found fucked up, but I’ll admit it’s a little strange. Almost as strange as talking to animals.”

  “Everybody’s strange is different. Whatever, lady. Listen, you lookin’ for that funny lookin’ troll?”

  Instantly she hopped up, forgetting about the cheese and the basket and running to the tree, cupping her eyes so she could see the raven clearer. “I am. Do you know anything about it?”

  “Maybe I know a couple things…” he baited.
>
  Ravens… What did ravens like? Shiny things, right? Food? “What do you want in return for the information?”

  “Whaddya got?”

  She fought the impulse to stomp her foot and demand the information. If this was going to be her troll power, she wanted it to be perceived as friendly. “What’s your name?” she asked softly.

  “Pete. Why?”

  She put her hands behind her back and got closer to the tree. “Because, Pete, I like to know who’s extorting me. I’m Murphy, by the way.”

  He lifted his feet and marched in place. “Aw, c’mon, Murphy. This ain’t extortion, this is just a friendly transaction between two people.”

  “Well, one people and one critter.”

  “Hey! Critters are people, too, ya know.”

  She grinned up at him. “Actually, they’re not, but they are pretty good extortionists.”

  His yellow eyes, round with black pupils, stared at her. “The new troll’s a comedienne. Go figure.”

  “So you know about me?”

  “Yeah. People been talkin’, like Leonard.”

  “Ah, yes,” she said, rocking back on the heels of her work boots. “He’s extorted bird seed from me. So, what do you want in exchange for information, and you only get it if it’s valuable information.”

  Pete’s feathers rippled as he shifted position. “I want that bread.”

  She went back to the spilled basket and picked it up. “It’s yours if you give me something that will help me find Sten’s mother or my sister.”

  “He’s lookin’ for his inheritance.”

  His what? “The guy who took my sister is looking for his inheritance? Are you sure you heard him right?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. Jeez. I got pretty good hearin’, ya know,” he answered, puffing out his chest with indignance.

  She bit the corner of her thumb and began to pace the base of the tree. “So his inheritance is obviously a jewel of some kind.”

  “I dunno, lady. I ain’t got all the answers.”

  “Did he say anything about the king’s mother?”