Bespelled

Chapter 8

"Let's go in. Shall we?"

I stayed burried in her head lost in the bewilderment of her aroused thoughts and did my best to curb my own inflamed reactions. She brought out the animal in me.

So I stood up and reached down for her hand. Hauling her up I offered her a warm smile before stalking off with her hand in mine. Towing her along.

"Where are we going? " She asked after a bit. When the breathlessness in her voice was no longer due to me.

"To the swing of course! " I beamed down at her ignoring the groan of despair she rumbled out. The swings were tied to the branches of a large widespread cypress pine tree.

It was a unique specie. One that fittingly dominated the landscape. I never came here without making it a point to swing off on its limbs.

And Ebony knew that.

We closed the distance and already Ebony started on her protection chants charming the swing to remain om the limb and then the ancient limb to remain on the tree.

I shook my head at her but grinned wildly. I perched on the nearest seat and stared at the party already booming out of the house with its loud music. It would go on most of the night till the wee hours of the morning and then continue on the next day on private beaches of the alcove below.

I firmed my feet on the ground and then pushed off.

The wind was wild blowing me literally sky high. I felt as close to the heavens as I could possibly get. A fluffy white cloud floated by drawing my eyes towards it and I swung harder and harder determined to make that my destination but as always I didn't make it.

I turned then to stare at the pathetic attempts Ebony made in lurching forward and was surprised to find that I was looking downwards at her. I had risen to my feet at some point. To swing for the skies standing up. Ambition as always clouded my judgement.

I leaped off and made my way to Ebony when piercing calls of a mermaid drew my eyes and my widening smirk in welcome to my only other friend.

I swiftly grabbed Ebony's hand and slung her over my back so that I could make my way down to the alcove at greater speeds.

"Jarrod! "

I grinned at the tirade of disgruntlement she showered down on me along the way.

"Come now, you heard Mers call. Surely you would want to go greet your friend. "

" She's more your friend than mine!"

I grinned stupidly at the obvious jealousy in her voice. There was no need to dip into her thoughts to discover the level of venom she felt towards my other friend.

"Mer is just a friend, Eb. You know that."

"....gorgeous... freaking princess...."

It was hard to tune out of Ebony's thoughts when she was like this. But I tried anyway.

Then we were there on the beach and a wet towel was tossed on my face.

I lowered Ebony to the ground and stepped forward to accept Mer in my embrace.

A mermaid. The direct descendants of the fairy tale's princess mermaid. Mer knew the true story behind her ancestors and assured me none of it was fairy like at all.