Page 73 of Loched in Love

I fly the thick golden band down my forearm like a giant, ridiculously heavy bangle. It’s too heavy to swim with, especially now that my muscles feel like absolute jelly. My tail drags dead weight behind me, and exhaustion pulls at my bones.

Alright, my sea dragon prince. I confess, sending him a mental image of a white flag waving. My tail is officially broken. You win. Will you carry me?

Lachlan’s green eyes gleam with absolute smugness. With pleasure, my little fish. His massive serpentine body shifts, smooth as oil through water.

Despite his colossal size, he doesn’t just grab me, he maneuvers his great bulk so that I can drape myself over the ridge of his neck, right beside his massive horned head.

The moment my stomach hits his cool, armored scales, I let out a sharp sigh of pure relief and wrap my arms securely around one of his shoulders as the heavy gold crown clinks softly against his scales.

Lachlan launches us out of the shipwreck with a single effortless push of his body. Bubbles erupt, and the fish scatter to get away as he slides through the deep sea current. The strong tideway hits us instantly and hard, like a roaring wall of water that would have swept me away in seconds.

But to Lachlan, it’s nothing.

He cuts through the pressure like a torpedo, his powerful serpentine body undulating in a rhythm that feels incredibly soothing. I press my face against his neck, shielded from the worst of the rushing water by the massive sweep of his big jaw.

Comfortable? his deep voice purrs in my mind, the deep brogue of it humming strongly through my chest.

Incredibly so, I think back, closing my eyes. You are a much better ride than the subway.

I should hope so.

We swim for what feels like miles through the dark abyss, moving faster than humanly possible, and gradually as we move, the crushing weight of the open ocean begins to shift and the water grows colder, changing from the salty sting of the Atlantic to the crisp freshness of the Scottish Highlands.

We enter the secret deepwater caverns and I can see the change in the waters that lead into the Loch Ness as it turns a deep opaque.

Lachlan slows his pace, navigating the twisting and narrow underwater tunnels with the perfect memory of the creature who has ruled them for centuries.

Finally, we break the surface inside his hidden lair, and I breathe in the cool air that smells of damp stone and magic, gazing at the blue glowing moss that clings to the cavern walls as we make our way back inside.

Lachlan gently glides toward the smooth, flat ledge of a rock near the water’s edge and lowers his giant head, allowing me to carefully slide off his back and onto the dry stone.

My tail slaps against the wet rock and I marvel at it, exhausted but glistening beautifully, in the moss glow light. I unhook the heavy gold crown from my arm and set it down with a loud metallic clunk as Lachlan shifts, his massive serpent-like form coiling in the deep water beside the ledge, resting his huge chin on the stone right next to me.

He looks up from the grimy, thick crown to me, his green gaze full of warmth.

“That was the coolest experience I think I could ever have in my life,” I say aloud, my voice echoing in the quiet cavern. I reach out to pet his large and green snout. “But now, what are we going to do with our king’s ransom?” I ask, holding out the crown.

Chapter 29

ELENA PIERSON

Lachlan huffs a breath of warm air that ruffles my damp hair as his green gaze shifts toward the darker recesses of the cavern. Following his gaze, I turn to look at the glinting mountain of gold nestled in the dry hollow of the cavern.

I believe it belongs over there, Lachlan rumbles in my mind, a teasing note in his mental voice. With the rest of the shiny things I’ve collected, though none of them compare to you.

“You’re so cheesy.” I laugh softly, picking up the ridiculously heavy gold hoop.

Using my arms to haul myself up and across the smooth rock, I drag my tired tail over to the edge of the pile, and with a satisfying metallic clink, I drop the thick crown right onto the peak of the gold mound. It settles perfectly amongst the Spanish doubloons and ancient stones looking right at home.

“There we go. A big crown for my favorite monster,” I say, feeling very much like a treasure hunter. A strong sense of pride feels me as I stare down at the jewel-encrusted crown.

When I turn back around, the water is already turning a soft blue white, and Lachlan’s massive Loch Ness monster form of the sea dragon begins to shrink and shift. As his dark scales recede, the big horns atop his head melt away, leaving a heavy red beard and his gorgeous face. Within seconds, my tall, broad shouldered mate breaks the surface of the lagoon, and my heart does a little shimmy like it does every time I gaze upon him.

Lachlan shakes his head, sending a cascade of wet, dark red curls away from his face, and his green eyes remain glowing with that same familiar fierce affection as he steps out of the water. He’s completely breathtaking like this. Naked, completely unbothered by the chill of the cavern, and absolutely built like a rugged Scottish warrior.

At the same time, a familiar warmth and sharp tingling sensation sweeps down my lower half as my iridescent teal scales dissolve and my tail splits. And suddenly I have my human legs back. I let out a sigh, wiggling my toes on the cool stone.

“Legs, I’ve missed you so much,” I groan happily.