Page 53 of All's Fair in Love and Magic

“Clove,” he warned.

“Your first lover’s spat,” the werewolf teased. “How romantic.”

“Go.” I pushed Liam toward the ocean.

“I don’t have my board,” he grumbled, but I could tell I was winning.

“Take mine. We’ve got similar preferences. I’ll go grab yours while you guys head out. I need a break anyway,” the vampire said.

“Fine.” Liam agreed reluctantly, looking at me. “Sit in my line of sight.”

“No problem.” I gave him a quick smile.

He hesitated before pulling me in for the world’s shortest hug. His lips brushed my forehead too, before he released me. “Have fun.”

“You too.”

I padded down the beach, waving when I saw Madison and Vera already taking a seat at a table you could see from the sand and water. There was a pillar next to it, giving them a little shade.

I took a seat in the sun and made eye contact with Liam. He held my gaze for a minute before dipping his head toward me and turning to the ocean, finally leaving the beach.

“You look happy,” Vera teased. It was still weird to know that she was a kelpie. And Madison being a kitsune… well, that was crazy too, but not as crazy to me as the kelpie thing.

I dragged my hair out of my eyes. “I guess arranged marriage does that to some of us.”

Madison snorted. “Don’t include me in that.”

“Or me. In a perfect world, I meet my fated mate in the next two days,” Vera agreed.

“Is that when you’re headed home?” I checked.

“Yep. The day after tomorrow.” She sighed. “It’s going to be hell.”

“When are you leaving?” I asked Madison.

“Tonight.” She made a face. “Back into the belly of the beast.”

“How did you guys get stuck in these situations?” I asked. “We all know how it happened to me.”

Someone came by to take our order and fill our water glasses, temporarily pausing the conversation. Madison and Vera both went with mimosas, and since my life wasn’t in ultimate danger at the moment, I did the same.

The alcohol would affect me more than it affected them, thanks to their shifter blood, but I’d drink mine slowly.

“My dad promised me to the bastard when I was a kid,” Vera said bluntly. “He had been terrorizing the pack for years. Everyone thought my mom slept with him, but a DNA test proved I was their kid. After he nearly killed one of the teenagers in the pack, my dad finally offered me to him to keep the peace. He hasn’t attacked anyone since.”

“At least your dad hesitated. Mine had already promised my hand in marriage before I was born. The moment he found out I was female, he traded me for power. He’s been buddy-buddy with our skulk’s leader since.” Madison leaned back in her chair, folding her arms.

I assumed a skulk was a group of foxes, since she was a kitsune.

“How long until you’re officially mated?” Vera checked.

“Only a few weeks. This is basically my last hoorah.”

“What would happen if you refused and ran?” I wondered.

Vera laughed. “You’d have to be stupid to run from a shifter, Sage. Nothing thrills us more than a hunt.”

“And when a shifter catches you, he bites. Hard,” Madison agreed. “My skulk is ancient and has resources. They could find me no matter where I tried to go. There’s no way out—I’m well and truly fucked.”