Page 19
Sumner rolls her eyes, taking a seat opposite of Cedric. I walk around them all, plopping down near Siena, who, still giggling, shimmies her way closer to me.
Despite her attachment, and my allowance of such, Siena and I are not dating. Not in the traditional sense. More like longtime friends with benefits. Where she may want a fully committed relationship, everyone here knows why I choose not to settle down. It’s just not in the cards for me. Limited time means limited commitments, and my time is ticking away faster and faster with each passing day.
“So,” Sumner starts, glancing over her surroundings, “why do they call this place Phantom’s Cove?”
“It’s haunted,” Cedric tells her.
Sumner shakes her head. “Yeah, right.”
“It’s true. Our worlds weren’t always so divided. Hundreds of years ago, our kind invited humans to explore our world. The few that were chosen set up their camps here. There were plans for integration. Expanding our borders and dealing in trades. Problem is, they didn’t even make it through the night.”
“Let me guess. You vamps killed them all, so now they haunt the cove?” she asks dryly, unaffected by Cedric’s story.
Maybe she hasn’t yet realized how very frail her kind is to us. So, I step in, finishing the old legend. “To be taken by any of our orders would have at least been an honorable way to go. Humans are weak. They were killed off by the mermaids while taking a midnight swim.”
“Mermaids?” Sumner’s head perks up. “Like, real mermaids? They exist?”
How is that the only thing she took from the story? “Look for yourself.”
Her eyes shoot to the cove’s edge, and she stands up, slowly walking out as far as the cliff will allow. I make my way behind her, watching the way she searches the deep blue. The wind dances over us, close enough to blow her hair across my chest. She doesn’t budge with my nearness but stays frozen in place.
“Can you see them, Vix?” I whisper, breathing in her scent. Sumner may only be human, but her blood is the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted. Even the smell of it beneath her skin is enough to make my mouth water.
She shakes her head, turning it to face me. I look into each of her eyes, so bright despite the late hour, then drop my focus to her mouth, the curve of it soft, distracting.
Grabbing her jaw, I angle her back toward the water. “Maybe you need a closer look,” I tell her, moving my hands to her back and pushing her over the edge.
Sumner screams as she falls, the sound only silencing when she breaks through the frigid water. I watch. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. Eventually, she bursts through the surface, coughing and splashing.
Guess the stray can swim.
Oh well.
Smirking when she yells up at me, I make my way to the fire pit.
This cove isn’t haunted. I’m also fairly certain the tale behind its name isn’t true. Just a story parents tell their kids. It is the best place to soak in the lights of the night though. The sun is getting ready to set, and I’m eager to feel the moonlight against my skin.
Too soon, Sumner makes her way back up the cliff, dripping wet and beautifully pissed. Her white tee sticks against her, now bordering translucent.
I did tell her to dress to swim. Not my fault she doesn’t listen.
“Nice bra, grandma,” Moxin calls, causing an echo of laughter.
“Does it come in women’s colors?” Siena mocks.
They’re being dramatic. It’s just a tan bra. Not an attractive color, also not the huge deal they’re making it. It does seem to upset Sumner though, and I do like that, so I smile along with their crude jokes.
Sumner wraps her arms around herself, stomping in my direction. I hold eye contact with her, not wanting to miss out on any of the anger falling from her pretty little features.
“Take me home,” she demands.
Vixen taking a tone with me? Feisty. Foolish.
“Sit down, darlin’. We’re not going anywhere.”
She glares at me, her face red from either anger or embarrassment. Maybe both.
Without another word, she whips around, trudging in the direction of the woods.
