Page 33 of The Sea Witch’s Son (The Villains of Wolf Hollow #1)

Chapter 32

MELODY

Violet eyes.

Peering down at me like some sort of tormented angel. There’s a white halo around his head, a divine sort of glow that softens the cruel cheekbones and sharp jawline. Full lips seem to be moving, speaking in a language I cannot hear, and all I can do is stare.

He’s beautiful.

What’s not beautiful is the vomit that suddenly lurches from my mouth.

Rolling onto my side, I start heaving up water and stomach bile. I’m gasping for air, choking on the chlorine being expunged through my nose and mouth. Just when I think I’m about to pass out, a rough hand forces my mouth open and shovels out the chunks stuck at the back of my throat .

Finally free to breathe, I suck down air, feeling my lungs weep with relief. Every breath feels like torture, but I keep going until it starts to flow more easily.

“I will have to throw out these pants now.” An exasperated sigh comes from the person beside me, “Why do you insist on being so difficult?”

I close my eyes, thinking about the face in my dream.

Not an angel. My personal devil.

“Marlin.” I whisper his name.

“Not to mention, you didn’t give me time to fold my shirt properly. Do you know how long it takes to get those creases straight?” Another sigh, “Honestly, little saint, I should have snapped a photo and left you there.”

“Marlin?”

He suddenly leans into my line of vision. I stare up at him, watching the white hair fall into his eyes.

Those stupidly pretty eyes.

“If I went to all that trouble just to have you sustain a brain injury, I will be extremely displeased.” Marlin frowns, soaking in every messy detail of my face.

I reach up without thinking. He doesn’t move when I touch his face, pressing my fingers into his flesh to make sure he isn’t a figment of my imagination.

A smile hits my face when he nips my finger.

“I’m still in hell.”

“Careful, little saint. You almost sound happy to see me. ”

“You must have water in your ears.” My hand slips from his face and his eyes drop to track the movement, “What are you doing here?”

“I took a wrong turn in a maze.”

“That... explains nothing.” Shifting on the ground, I let out a loud groan, “What did you do to me?”

“I pulled you out of the water. Clearly.”

“No. I mean,” Touching my chest, I inhale sharply, “Why did you take a beating stick to my diaphragm?”

The tiniest smile pulls at the corner of his mouth.

“It was the punishment I saw fit for your actions.”

I glare at him, “You punished me for drowning?”

“I punished you for dying . The water had nothing to do with it.”

“I’m sure you were hoping to be the one to hold me under.” Snapping my teeth, I struggle to push myself upright, “Next time, just leave me there.”

A large hand forces me back down on the ground.

“Say that again.” He leans down until our noses are touching, “Say those exact words one more time.”

There’s a threat in his voice, a dark undertone that has goosebumps breaking out across my flesh.

“I said, I’m sure you were hoping to be the one to hold me under.” Giving him a mocking smile, I finish flawlessly, “ Next time, just leave me there .”

“Who.”

I didn’t know one syllable could sound so dangerous.

“Nice try, Marlin. You don’t get to play hero and go charging after the person responsible. It doesn’t work that way.”

“I am not a hero.” His hand is suddenly on my neck, pressing down until my pulse screams back at him, “Do not get the mistaken impression one rescue changed anything.”

“I said play hero. No one would ever accuse you of being the real thing.”

“So much venom from such a small mouth. It’s a wonder some of it didn’t come out earlier.” He grins, all perfect teeth and perfect smile, “Now, tell me who was responsible for ruining my dress pants.”

I almost roll my eyes.

“Vain is not a good look, you know.”

“Mm, but I wear it so well.” His grip starts to tighten, “A name, little saint.”

“I don’t have one.”

“I can get the answer from you another way.” His fingers brush my stomach, teasing the skin, “But I would rather not hear another man’s name on your lips when I make you come again.”

I scowl, slapping his hand away, “You’re disgusting.”

“Disgusting? My little saint, this is simply determination.” He leans down and whispers in my ear, “Give me a name or I’ll show you disgusting.”

His fingers start to creep south and the name slips out of my mouth .

“Finley.” Swallowing hard, I can’t bring myself to meet his eyes, “He was the one who held me under.”

The weight of Marlin’s stare has my cheeks flushing. I keep my eyes lowered, feeling my skin heat with embarrassment.

Finley made me feel weak.

He made me feel useless.

The two things I always promised myself I would never be.

“He overpowered you.” Marlin says it quietly.

“Obviously.” To my horror, my eyes start to burn, “He was stronger.”

Pressing my palms against my eyelids, I force the tears back inside. Sucking down a hefty breath, I drop my hands and force my aching body up into a sitting position.

And that’s when I realize Marlin is gone.

My stomach contents are gracing the floor beside me and I can see the silhouette of my backpack lying on the deck. The pool glistens with silent water, the stagnant surface identical to how it was before my life was almost ripped at the seams.

Something wet touches my hand and I look down to find my t-shirt ripped in half. My chest is completely bare, the dark purple bruising already creeping across my ribcage like some sort of sick floral design.

Carefully climbing to my feet, I steal a nearby towel and wrap it around myself. I’m unsteady as I walk over to my backpack and pull out my phone, scrolling through my contact list until I find Erik’s name .

Taking a deep breath, I press dial. The phone rings as I stare down at the pool, waiting for my stepfather to pick up the phone.

This one isn’t going to go over well.