Page 26 of The Sea Witch’s Son (The Villains of Wolf Hollow #1)

Chapter 25

MARLIN

Messaging someone from two different numbers?

I wish I had thought of it sooner.

“Don’t lie to me, Marlin.” Melody is glaring at me again, “I know it was you.”

“My little saint, shouldn’t I be the one who is angry with you?” I shake my head with a sigh, “Ghosting me after going on a date with another man. You are quite the vicious creature.”

“Stop lying. ”

She puts her hands on the table and leans forward, giving me a wonderful view down the front of her blouse. I was having a productive study session until she came storming in, but I’m rather enjoying the interruption.

The library must be a hot spot for romance.

“Is this because your date didn’t go well? I did warn you that would happen.” I cast my eyes down, watching her breasts push against the blue cups of her bra, “Perhaps it is my word you should start taking more seriously.”

“I didn’t... argh. ” She’s flustered and frazzled, and my amusement is growing by the second.

“Did you kiss him?” Lowering my voice, I lean forward, “It can be disappointing when a man doesn’t know how to use his tongue.”

“Don’t talk about your tongue.” She snaps her teeth and my amusement transitions into genuine curiosity.

“Did he touch you?” I tilt my head, watching her cheeks flush, “Did you let him touch you?”

“This isn’t about Finley.” Melody squeezes her eyes shut, “Just tell me it was you. No more games.”

“My little saint, I can assure you-

“Did someone have a late night?” A loud sigh echoes behind her, “I hate it when my lovers keep me up with their texting.”

The blood drains from Melody’s face as blonde hair steps into view.

“Though I must admit, I had a rather stimulating conversation last night. Wouldn’t you agree, Melody?”

“I-It was you.”

Calista grins, “I’ve always enjoyed girl bonding. We should do that again sometime.”

“Oh my God.” Melody claps a hand over her mouth, “I’m going to be sick. ”

“Bathroom is just outside the doors.” Batting her eyelashes, Calista purrs, “Let me know if you need someone to hold your hair.”

Melody bolts from the room, but not before I steal her phone from her back pocket.

“Aren’t you going to ask what I got up to last night?”

She pulls out a chair and settles herself down across from me.

“Tell me, dear Calista.” I give her a mocking smile, “What did you get up to last night?”

“I’m so glad you asked.” Clapping her hands, she leans forward with a malicious smile, “Ronan and I were going on a walk when we stumbled across a passionate affair between your plaything and her date yesterday.”

“Passionate, you say?” Tilting the phone in my hands, I study the smudge of fingerprints dancing along the screen, “I hope it did not offend your sensitive eyes.”

“Mm, the man was handling Melody’s rejection of his kiss rather poorly.” Calista lifts a brow, “That rookie of yours has quite the temper on him. Especially when it comes to you.”

“So, I’ve heard.” Studying the accumulation of fingerprints, I slowly type in the birth date it corresponds to.

“No true love’s kiss for Melody, although you will be interested to know there was a man following her on the way home.”

I glance up at her, “Finley?”

“Older. Much more withered.” She purses her lips, “He seemed quite keen on your little plaything. Rather ambitious to come so close to town.”

“Did you get him?”

“Ronan scared him off before I got the chance.” Calista lifts her shoulder, “But that’s neither here nor there because I ensured Melody ended the night on a high note.”

“A high note." I echo the words.

She smiles, gesturing towards the phone, “It was my reward for keeping the girl safe and sound. I figured we could both use a little bit of satisfaction. Men are so disappointing when it comes to the bedroom.”

Something pricks at my skin as I pull up Melody’s messages. The ones I sent to her are still there, stagnant under an unsaved profile. I spot my name among the conversation threads and the pieces quickly fall into place.

It’s amusing at first, reading the taunts cleverly laid down. Calista did a marvellous job of mimicking my tone and style of speaking, even if it was full of praise I do not offer in the bedroom.

But then I keep reading.

“I did leave her some clues.” She offers me a sly grin, “If you opened up more, maybe she would have picked up on them.”

“ I don’t mind taking turns. That was your clue?”

There’s a bite to my voice, a bite that gets sharper the more I read.

“Don’t forget the underwear comment. I thought that was rather clever.” Calista cackles, the sound snapping against my nerves, “She’s quite the dirty girl. I’m sure she would love knowing you go commando. ”

The filthier the messages get, the more my amusement fades. A foreign pressure unfurls in my chest when I read the one message that was clearly meant for me.

Keep going.

It’s two simple words that mean nothing yet have me feeling everything.

My nervous system must be having a malfunction because suddenly I cannot bear to look at the messages any longer. Setting the phone down on the table, I stare at the woman across from me.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that.” Calista pushes her lips into a pout, “I was making sure your girl went to bed satisfied since you clearly aren’t doing a good enough job.”

“Is there a reason you’re trying to provoke me or is this purely for entertainment?”

“Entertainment, most definitely.”

Pushing back my chair, I stand up and walk around to where she’s sitting.

“You can push me all you want, but you will not get the reaction you’re looking for.” Running a hand over her blonde curls, I let out a sigh, “As for the other matter... well, you know how much I reserve the right to my toys.”

Gripping her hair, I yank Calista’s head to the side. Her knife flicks out of her jacket sleeve, but I dig my ring into her jugular before she can slash me .

“Most people learn the hard way when it comes to my little saint.” Tightening my grip, I pull her head back, “But because we are old friends, I will let you off with a warning.”

“Mm, I love it when you get rough.” A teasing smile splits her lips, “Something your plaything and I have in common.”

The uncomfortable feeling returns stronger, hotter than before. Nicking her flesh, I watch the blood drip down her neck.

“Don’t touch what’s mine.”

I turn and take my leave, heading in the same direction as Melody.

The sound of my shoes tapping the marble floor is as familiar as the shirt pressed against my body, yet an unfamiliar sensation spreads across my flesh.

Setting the thought aside for future inspection, I go hunting for my little saint to do what should have been done days ago.

Make it clear who she belongs to.