Page 24 of Monster’s Consort (Blackthorn Academy for Supernaturals #18)

“She’s ascending, you idiot,” Wanda bit as we came to a clearing.

On a cliff.

I looked down, noting the dark, choppy waters and gulped. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea.

It took a moment for the truth to hit him, I think. Because a moment later his eyes widened and he grinned.

“Oh! So, that would mean?—”

“I would be at my full power.”

Wanda carefully removed her shirt, which broke the momentary spell of panic.

Norm turned, his tentacles buzzing, and I did not miss the small gasp from his throat. I could not blame him, for I could not take my eyes off of her, either.

The bronze swell of her breasts filling her teal-colored bra noted the perfect bounce of cleavage.

Her hair fell over her shoulder, and I realized it looked longer than it usually did.

An indicator of how much time had actually passed since my last brush with an Ardaim.

She removed her jeans next, looking back at me.

“Well, don’t just stand there, disrobe.”

My heart caught in my throat. I was more than aware of Norman’s suckers on my skin, and I remembered a time not so long ago I’d been caught between the siren and the Kraken before. Before I knew better about what they fed on.

They’d wanted me then.

Did they still want me now?

I didn’t think so, but creatures of lust could be persuasive.

As if he could somehow read my mind, Norman spoke, his tentacle sliding down my arm coolly. “I won’t look, I promise,” he said as he slipped away, giving me his back, and with one swift motion, his tentacles worked to take off his shirt and pants, and I was the one to gasp.

Norman’s tentacles were always on display no matter what he wore, but I’d never actually seen a Kraken without their clothes.

Then, I could see where they started along his sides and back, see the color shift from teal to flesh.

See the faint blubberous sheen along his muscles.

His back was a work of art. Smooth and shiny like a squid, but muscled and defined like a man.

That squid-like flesh tapered to his hips and waist, pronounced speckles of pink and red smattering his skin.

His underwear was tight, which only accentuated the roundness of his arse, and his legs were covered in the same fish-like freckles.

I had to remember to breathe because I’d never seen anything as grotesque and beautiful before. He truly was a monster beneath his clothing, and he didn’t have to shift to become one.

It was who he was, day in and day out.

Wanda’s gaze appraised him before looking at me. “Anytime, Violet.”

I was suddenly more self-conscious than I’d ever been under the gaze of Bane.

I slid my dress off with shaky hands, telling myself I was doing this for Bane.

For us.

But perhaps that wasn’t entirely true. I needed to do this for myself, too.

The cool air kissed my skin and I covered myself. Norman turned around, and true to his word, he did not look at me standing there in my bra and underwear. He kept his gaze on me as his tentacles slid over my skin.

“You can look at Wanda if you don’t want to look at me,” he said carefully. “But your exposed flesh should be protected.”

I nodded, seeing the faintest glimmer in his eyes. He spoke with a softness I’d never heard before. Norman was always cheerful, smiling, causing mischief.

But at that moment, he was serious.

Gentle.

Caring.

I met Wanda’s gaze, biting my lip as his tentacles caressed me, spreading his cold venom along my skin until it heated. The sound of the slithering wetness reminded me of other things, and I had to clench my thighs together.

Wanda’s eyes glazed, and I realized if I was not careful, Norman would taste my lust.

Which only made me more anxious.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I’ve already been fed, you don’t need to fret.”

I caught his gaze and nodded.

“I only tease Bane, but I have a much stricter diet these days.” He smirked, pulling his tentacles from my skin.

“On the count of three,” Wanda said.

Norman nodded. “One.”

Wanda took her position, calling us to her side.

I approached the edge of the cliff beside her with trepidation.

“Two,” I said, my voice betraying me.

Wanda slid her hand in mine, and the gesture was so shocking, I almost couldn’t comprehend it.

“Three,” she said, and with that, she pulled me with her like a kite.

Norman’s tentacles slid around me—and Wanda—pulling us both close to his chest.

I was acutely aware of how smooth his chest was; slippery, cool, and wet.

I could hear his heart beating and feel the hardness of his muscles beneath that smooth squid-flesh.

Wanda was beside me, and she smelled like citrus and salt and a haze fell over me that I was certain had nothing to do with lust and everything to do with trust.

“Hold your breath,” she murmured, and I did.

A moment later, I felt the brush of the waves, pulling me under. I tightened my arms around Norman, holding my breath. One small sucker latched onto my mouth and I stiffened.

“Just breathe,” he whispered, but his voice didn’t sound all that aquatic. It did sound different, though.

Magic laced through me. It started at my feet, slithering up my legs to my core and then extended everywhere. My legs felt... different. Like they were stuck together.

“Was this your plan?” Norman asked with a tinge of humor.

“And what would you have done? Carried her like a pearl?”

I turned to see Wanda—or what I thought must have been Wanda, because the creature in front of me was...

Terrifying, but also equally as beautiful.

Her feet were no longer feet, but glistening fins, but her knees were scaled. Her hands looked like talons, and she was some cross of bird-fish. But her eyes... there was no mistaking those eyes or that bright teal hair. Or those breasts.

Could you identify a woman by her breasts alone?

I would surmise yes. Evidence... Wanda Fischman.

I opened my mouth to speak, and it was then I realized I could breathe. Underwater.

I looked at my legs, shock emanating from me as I noticed my fins.

I had fins!

Like a mermaid!

“Come, we have no time to marvel at my spellwork,” she said. “The moon will soon rise and we need to be in position.”

Norman slid a tentacle into my hand and pulled me with him as Wanda led the way. He never let go, and I was grateful, because kicking and trying to swim with fins is a lot harder than it looked.

“It’s beautiful, right?” he asked as we propelled through the water.

I nodded. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” I said.

“Well, should you want to play mermaids again, all you have to do is ask.” He smirked. “Wanda is not the only one who can transform you into a fish.”

I giggled, despite the severity of what was to come.

“Could you turn Bane into a fish?”

Norman’s gaze lit up like a kid on Christmas.

“If you could convince him, I’m certain I would die happy. He would make a spectacular merman. I mean, those abs! ” He laughed.

“Oh! A black tail with red speckles!” I said. “He would look divine!”

Norman smiled, but the smile faltered, and I realized why a moment later. For barely a few feet away was a giant shark.

“Norm—”

“Don’t worry, Violet. I got you.” His breath was steady. His tentacles pulled me close, forcing my face against his chest. “Close your eyes”

I did, but I could hear the sound of thrashing. Smell the scent of blood. Hear the screech of a siren. I’d never heard it before, but I knew it in my bones.

When I opened my eyes once more, the shark was gone. In its place magic flickered, and the terrifying siren looked menacing. Blood faded into the water as she motioned for us to move.

When we finally arrived at The Cove I was tired. My legs were practically Jell-O. Norman carried me to the rocks, out of the water. I sucked in air, remembering I was not a creature of the waves. My chest heaved with breath and his tentacles soothed my back.

“You’re okay, you’re on land,” he assured me.

I watched Wanda’s form shift. Her talons shortened, becoming fingernails. Her legs faded back into long, sinful human legs. Before long, she was the stunning beauty I had always known, and I looked down to see my fins had faded.

I frowned. I’d rather liked them, but?—

“The altar is just beyond these rocks. In the cave.”

“How am I supposed to see and feel the moon in a cave?” I asked.

Norman helped me up with his tentacles. “You’ll see.”

He was right. I did see. I saw the dark cavern with the one perfectly round opening in its rocky ceiling that lined up perfectly with the moon.

I did not think twice as I approached the stream of light.

“Do you know the chant?” Norman asked.

“Huh?”

“Aren’t you supposed to like chant bom chicka wa wa or something?”

“You are an idiot. It is?—”

“ Bidh an draoidheachd an taobh a-staigh ag èirigh leis a ‘ghealach agus bidh mi a’ soirbheachadh mar a ‘ghrian. ”

The words fell out of me without even trying. It was like the moment I stood beneath the moonlight, something else took over me.

My skin was hot but cold. My heart beat fast but slow.

Everything around me ceased but lived.

“Is she supposed to be doing that?” I could hear Norman’s voice, worried.

“I’m not sure.”

I looked up at the moon and the magic inside of me swirled like a hurricane, heavier than I’d ever felt.

The light was blinding and I closed my eyes, repeating the words that were somehow etched in my soul.

“The magic within will rise with the moon and flourish me like the sun,” I said the words to myself, but they came out in some ancient form of Gaelic. I’d never spoken Gaelic in my life, but here...

It was like I was truly someone else.

The light hit me. Hard. Like a hammer.

“Channel it, Violet!” Wanda called, but her voice was white noise.

Norman called out, too, but I could not discern his voice.

Memories filled me.

My mother’s eyes, full of tears as she told me she loved me.

The moment I crossed the line from my realm to the human realm.

Dropping my book at Blackthorn and seeing those dark, inviting incubus eyes for the first time.

The feel of his cock, knot full and filling me until my heart felt like it’d explode out of my chest.

My last Ardaim. Where the Dark Fae had tried to stop me. To drain me.

There was no Dark Fae here, now.

There was only a Kraken, a siren, and a Fae princess.

Nothing and no one could stop me now. Now I was powerful.

His fangs in my neck, claiming me. Marking me as his forever.

Desmond in his incubus form, glaring at us. Desmond in his human form, telling me off.

Bane and I on the beach, kissing under the sun.

Every memory flourished with new light as the truth. As fate.

This is how it was always supposed to happen.

It was all divined.

Light poured into me from the moon’s stream. It infiltrated my eyes, my nose, my mouth, and shot out through my fingertips.

“She’s going to blow,” Norman yelled. “Do something!”

“I can’t! I?—”

“Yes, you can, baby! You are a child of the fucking moon!”

“It’s too much, I?—”

I felt her hand first. Grasping mine. The light dimmed.

No. No, no, no...

I needed this power!

This was mine!

“Sharing is caring Violet,” Norman said casually, and I felt his sucker on my neck. Then another on my spine. And another on my collarbone and?—

He was trying to feed off me!

“It’s okay,” he murmured. “We have you. Wanda and I have you. You can let it out now...”

“You will not steal my power!” I hissed, and threw them off of me.

“Fuck,” Norman bit.

“Wanda, I can’t—” His suckers latched onto me again and I tried to push back.

And then I heard the most beautiful sound.

A melody unlike any I’d ever heard before. It was haunting. Sweet. Like chimes on a hot summer day, or a melancholic piano on a rainy day. It was light and dark. It was everything all at once and I could not pinpoint it, could not chase it, but I wanted to covet it all the same.

I let the melody fill me and the light dimmed. I felt the tickling prickle of Norman’s suckers, but it was different.

“That’s it, you got this, Violet. You’re okay...” Norman purred in my ear. “We got you, sweetheart. Just listen to Wanda. Good girl.”

Suddenly, I felt tired as hell and the light disappeared.

And then, I collapsed into a sea of slippery, wet tentacles, and the last thing I saw was Wanda’s aquamarine eyes before darkness took me whole.

Thank you for reading this installment of the Blackthorn Academy for Supernaturals shared world.