Bride of the Sea Monster - Eve Langlais Page 0,6

stronger. Soaking in a bath with essential oils just wasn’t cutting it anymore. For breakfast, I slurped down a couple of live fish and then chased them with caffeine-infused pond water. All the teeth brushing in the world couldn’t stop the wiggling in my stomach. Or the smirking laughter in my head.

Wiggly yummy in our tummy.

With little time left, I welcomed the cruise and a chance to have some fun.

“Ready to start the fun?” asked my uncle Shax with false gaiety.

He’d become tight-lipped and secretive the last few days. I knew he’d regained a bit of hope at the news that we’d visit Atlantis. Not me. It was time to accept my fate.

Bags in hand, we headed for the departure zone right off the main dock. We lined up with the other peons for the temporal rip that would deposit us on the ship. Exiting in bright sunlight, I squinted and noticed that we stood on a deck—the highest one of the massive ship—a landing zone for the portals and incoming flying passengers.

Seeing a pair of witches atop brooms arriving, I quickly moved out of the way, especially since they seemed to drag cloud cover with them.

It didn’t take long to be shown to my suite, an upper-level room with a sitting area, a private bedroom, and a balcony. I spent a moment out there just smelling the sea. Similar and yet different from the Styx and the sea beyond in Hell. For one, there wasn’t any ash in the air here. No hint of brimstone. Just the brine of the waves and the faint whiff of the smoke stack for the ship. And marijuana?

I glanced over at the other balcony and saw my uncle puffing away. “We haven’t even left port yet.”

“Don’t nag. I need the courage.”

“For?” I prodded.

Shax grimaced. “Dorothy is on board.”

My brows rose. My uncle had been single for as long as I’d known him. Despite his sob story of his long-lost true love, I had kind of assumed that he had no interest in relationships. “You planning to rekindle things?”

“I’m sure there will be something on fire. Possibly my hair. Given how things abruptly ended between us, I am thinking I should make amends.”

“You, apologize for something?” I’d believe it only if I saw it.

“It’s never too late for love, Killian.”

Maybe for Shax, who still had centuries ahead of him. I only had days at this point. I could feel the beast inside me rumbling. It wouldn’t be long before I’d have to go for another dip and soothe the cold itch. But first…the brochure had said there was a casino on board. And I had a fortune to waste.

After a short dinner where I met my uncle’s old flame, a lady who’d not aged as well as he had, I fled for the gambling den on board. The noise of the slot machines overwhelmed the angst in my mind, the bright lights far from the soothing, muted colors of the ocean. I bought a huge pile of chips, planted my ass at the roulette table, and began to lose my money.

Of course, gambling should involve drinking. Lots of it. Each time I lost, I drank. I had a generous buzz going by the time I saw her.

Picture snug jeans hugging a petite frame, the waist low enough to show her navel piercing. Her hair, pure platinum strands, was cut in a messy shag that suited her pixie features. The jeweled stud in her nose only served to draw attention to her big eyes and fine complexion.

She appeared almost as drunk as I was, sipping on something blue with an umbrella sticking out of it. Rather than play the slots, she watched, nodding to herself, sometimes shaking her head as if silently rebuking the bets of other players.

When someone jostled her, I half rose from my seat, a growl rumbling at my lips. She must have heard or seen something because she swept a startled gaze over me. Followed by a frown.

She neared me enough to ask, “Do we know each other?”

“No, but I’d like to,” I declared boldly. “I’m Ian.” The name I chose to use, feeling it was more modern.

She snorted. “Not interested. I’m not looking for a relationship.”

“Neither am I.” However, I was just drunk and maudlin enough to want someone to hold one last time. A chance to grab pleasure while I still could.

“Are you winning?” she asked, pointing to my pile of chips. A stack that had dwindled in size