Page 11 of The Sea Witch’s Son (The Villains of Wolf Hollow #1)

Chapter 10

MELODY

Marlin Seaborn doesn’t attend house parties.

It’s the only reason I agree to attend the first party of the semester.

“Watch your back.” Erik glances at the mayor’s daughter idling in our driveway, “And don’t hesitate to call me if you need a ride home.”

“I won’t.”

His face is so tense it looks like his brows have become one. I reach out and take his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“I’m a survivor, remember? I’ve sacrificed a lot more than a Friday night.”

Freya honks her horn and Erik gives me a weak smile.

“Try not to sacrifice too much tonight.”

A ginger head pops out the window, “If you dramatize this goodbye any longer, we won’t be able to find a parking spot. ”

I give Erik one last squeeze before running down the steps and hopping into the car. Freya hits the gas before I’ve finished buckling up.

“Is your dad always that protective?” She fiddles with the radio and a country song blasts out, “Seemed a little much for a house party.”

“Erik is my stepfather.” I watch the house fade from the side mirror, “He’s always looked out for me.”

“Well, he should take up acting. He looked like he was sending you off to war.”

My chest tightens as we turn off the main road, heading straight for the mansions hidden within the gated community.

“That’s because he was.”

The car rolls to a stop and Freya quickly punches in the code. The iron bars groan as they shift inward, beckoning us into the wolf’s den.

I swallow, watching the rows of lanterns flicker to life. Crows call in the distance, their black silhouettes circling a patch of land in the distance.

The sound of crashing waves filters through the open windows as we cruise along the trail, passing manicured lawns and driveways that disappear into the neighbouring trees.

“You know the house is big when it needs a driveway to build the anticipation.”

Freya snorts, “More like preparation for the egos waiting on the other side. ”

I shift in my seat, craning my neck to catch a glimpse of the arches looming in the distance, “I’m surprised you don’t live here.”

“In the Dragon’s lair?” She shoots me an amused glance, “Only the wealthiest families live beyond the gates of hell. The ones with the power and the influence.”

“Is the mayor not an esteemed position?”

“Depends on whether you’re in the Drache family’s favour. My father was voted in before Calista’s mommy took over the town, so they’ve never gotten along.” Her tone darkens, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree on that one.”

“Aren’t there elections every four years? Couldn’t she have replaced him with someone else?”

“There were other circumstances at play. Besides, no one else wanted the position.” Freya flicks her eyes at me, “Thinking of running for mayor?”

“You got me. I’ve been struggling through the first week of classes just to prove I’d be a good candidate for the role.”

She snorts, “In that case, you’ve already met your competitor. Marlin has been training for that position his whole life.”

I turn and look at her, “Marlin wants to be mayor?”

“Apparently, he has big plans for this city. Not that anybody knows what they are.”

The car slows as we round another bend and turn onto a cobblestone driveway. I grip my seatbelt as the wheels wobble over uneven stones, watching the shadows guide us down a narrow path .

“That’s terrifying.”

Freya shrugs, “Anton called for an early election to make sure Marlin doesn’t have time to kickstart a campaign after graduation. Unless my father drops dead, no one else will be at the helm for another six years.”

Her words fail to offer the comfort I was looking for.

The cobblestones suddenly split into two lanes, veering sharply around a massive fountain that sits directly in front of the staggering mansion.

“Is that a boar?” I squint into the darkness, trying to make out the statue spewing water, “Trapped beneath a man’s foot?”

“Mr. Cartier is very proud of his hunting trophies.” She snickers, “Just wait until we get inside.”

Rows of cars line the gravel path bordering either side of the stone chateau. The massive building rises four-stories above the ground, it's high arches and traditional structure reinforced from the stained glass peeking out of the arched doorway.

A delicate rose swirls within the colourful glass, it’s fallen petals and wilted leaves looking like a fairytale that ended far too soon.

“Did somebody forget the beer keg?”

I look at the clump of party goers lingering near the trunk of someone’s car. A few of them are talking and laughing, but most of them are focused on the phone in their hands.

“Same idea, different substance.” Pulling into a free space on the lawn, Freya unclips her seatbelt, “A new party drug just hit the streets, so it’s going to be a wild night.”

“Great.” I bite back a groan and climb out of the car.

Loud music and raucous laughter fills the air as we follow the crowd inside the mansion.

Red and gold assaults my vision the moment we step over the threshold. Long velvet drapes and glistening portraits line the wall in what seems to be a collection of hunting portraits. The same man appears in each one, his long black hair pulled into a low ponytail while a cleft chin beams out in a painfully wide smile.

“I hope you’re not vegetarian.”

Freya snickers as the portraits turn into mounted heads of dead animals. I stare at the polar bear snarling down on me, its razor-sharp claws protruding from the wall.

“After tonight, I think I might be.”

A few people stop to take a selfie with the stuffed moose at the end of the hall. Freya takes the lead, pushing through the crowd until we reach the sitting room.

Bottles of wine and cans of beer clutter the tables running from either end of the room. Large, leather couches are pushed back against the walls, boasting their own hunting trophies of antlers and bear hides.

“Could you get us a couple of drinks?” Freya grabs my arm and quickly steers me towards a nearby table, “I’ll be back in just a minute.”

“Sure. What do you...” My sentence dies when I realize she’s already gone.

Grumbling to myself, I make my way over to the closest table and inspect the bottles of wine. Each one is stamped with the same logo, a marksman proudly proclaiming Kill the Beast with a rifle slung over his shoulder.

I bite back a laugh when I see the cleft in the figure’s chin. Mr. Cartier likes to sponsor and drink his own wine.

The rumble of a powerful engine fills the room. Putting the wine bottle back down, I wander over to a nearby window.

The sharp beam of headlights sweep over the people lingering on the lawn. A red pinstripe glints dangerously against the dark exterior as the driver bypasses the designated parking area and pulls right onto the manicured lawns decorating the front of the house.

The Challenger draws to a stop and the driver’s door swings open. Sharp stilettos pierce the ground as blonde curls and blood red lips climb out of the car.

A smirk hits Calista’s face when she steps over the tire marks to open the passenger door. A gorgeous woman climbs out, her smooth brown skin illuminated by the turquoise bandeau and skintight jeans. Her long dark hair tumbles down to her waist, gently brushing the top of Calista’s hand as she leads her inside.

A shriek of laughter draws my attention back to the party. Freya still hasn’t made a reappearance, so I grab a couple of beer cans and work my way around the room.

A quiet fire simmers on burning coals at the far side of the room. For the amount of people mingling in here, I'm surprised the temperature isn't stifling .

The flash of ginger hair catches my attention. Tucking the beers close to my chest, I start making my way over to the couch Freya has relocated to.

My feet come to a stuttering halt when I realize it’s not a couch she’s sitting on.

“Melody! There you are. I was just about to send a search party to rescue you.”

I clench the beer cans painfully as violet eyes meet mine.

“Don’t tell me you need to be rescued yet again, little saint.” Marlin tilts his head, “I would have thought you had enough shadow play for this week.”

I stare at the man she’s sitting on, the man whose arm is wrapped loosely around her waist. He’s wearing a black dress shirt tonight with no suit jacket in sight. His sleeves are rolled to half-mast and the ink creeping up his forearm is on full display.

He looks fucking delicious and I hate him that much more for it.

Seeing the darkening expression on my face, Freya offers me a shrug, “He decided to show up after all.”

“No shit.”

Marlin smirks, flicking his eyes down my body. Studying every curve like it’s a labyrinth he wants to explore, he takes his time bringing those devilish eyes back up to mine.

“You’re wearing pants tonight.”

I glare at him, “That’s because stray dogs have a tendency of touching things they shouldn’t.”

Amusement crinkles his eyes, “Are you calling me a stray? ”

“I’m calling you disgusting.”

“It hurts me when you say things like that.” He smiles, sliding a hand across Freya’s knee, “I am a sensitive man, you know.”

“You’re a narcissistic lunatic.”

He sighs, “Such a wicked tongue on such a pretty girl. How about a kiss to make me feel better?”

My cheeks flush, “What-

“I wasn’t talking to you.” He turns and looks at Freya, “Care to put a wounded man out of his misery?”

“My pleasure.” She grins, settling more deeply on his lap.

A large hand slides slowly up her thigh while his eyes stay locked on mine.

Swallowing hard, I turn and walk away. Something cold and ugly presses down on my chest, and soon I’m throwing the crushed beer cans on the table and hurrying for the closest shadow I can find.

I know he’s doing it on purpose. Trying to confuse me with the mind games he likes to play.

But that doesn’t offer the slightest bit of comfort as I watch Marlin Seaborn kiss the girl I almost consider a friend.

God. I hate him so fucking much.

I hate the fact he kissed her even more.