Page 108 of The Wolf and Her Shadows

Instinctually wrapping my arm protectively around Mariane’s shoulders, I roam my eyes over the beast as well. From what I can see of her from here, she’s actually quite beautiful, with smooth grey scales that glimmer in the sunlight and an iridescent blue fin protruding from the top of her head and running down her spine.

There are also two smaller fins where a creature’s ears would normally be, which she flutters excitedly when Trick also jogs toward her and calls out, “Betty! Oh how I’ve missed you, my dear! I’m so glad you’re alright!”

Her long, narrow mouth opens, revealing dagger-like teeth as she lets out a low rumbling sound in response. Snapping her jaws closed again, the sea serpent lowers her fin-covered head toward him and the children, playfully blowing a puff of water in their faces from her slitted nostrils.

“No wonder you were drawn to them,” Mariane mutters, her wide-eyes locked on Betty. “Those children are clearly just as ridiculous and insane as you are.”

“Are you seriously trying to tell me you don’t want to go pet her?” I ask, failing to hold back an excited grin when the creature lifts its tail out of the water and dangles it above the aforementioned children. “She’s marvelous.”

“As I said, you’re insane.” Lifting her bowl to her lips, she drains the remaining contents before taking mine from my hands and setting both bowls down on a nearby crate. “Lucky for you, so am I. Lead the way, My Love.”

With a snort of laughter, I grasp her hand and all but drag her towards the massive beast, who’s now allowing the hyenafolk, Kovo, to wrap his furry arms around her snout in a hug. Betty makes that same rumbling sound as she lifts her head, playfully swinging him back and forth a few feet above the deck. The same way he’d been playing with the children a few moments ago.

Sure enough, by the time we reach the group of people all huddled around her, both children are begging the pirate captain to ask her to do the same to them next. And to let them ride her.

Trick laughs loudly, ruffling the hair on the top of each of their heads. “Worry not, young pirates. She has more than enough love in her heart to share it with everyone.” He leans down to their level, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Well, everyone except for our enemies, of course. Those she considers to be a lovely afternoon snack.”

They both giggle.

“Captain,” I call out, drawing the trio’s attention. “Are we on that list of enemies, or do you think she’d allow us to introduce ourselves as well?”

“Considering we share the same enemies, of course she will.” He straightens, placing a hand on each child’s shoulder as he nods toward Betty.

The catfolk, Perx, steps aside as we approach, their blue and gold waistcoat completely drenched from when they must’ve also hugged the sea beast. I offer them a grateful smile, which they return before joining Trick where he’s temporarily distracting the children a short distance away.

Still dangling from the sea serpent’s snout, Kovo says, “She’ll love you forever, if you scratch behind her ear fins.” He lets go, dropping down onto the wooden deck with a loud thud. “Just be careful not to let her accidentally knock ya off the ship.”

“How lovely,” Mariane mutters, gripping my hand a bit tighter.

Betty shifts her piercing yellow eyes towards us, and she makes a higher-pitched trilling sound that sounds strangely a bit like a horse’s whinny. She then carefully lowers her chin onto the deck, as if she understood him somehow. The ship rocks slightly, but I hardly notice as I hesitantly reach out and run my hand along the smooth scales behind the fan-like fin protruding from the side of her face.

When she leans into my touch, my smile grows so wide it feels as though my face might split in two. After a brief moment of hesitation, Mariane also reaches out, carefully scratching the beast at the base of her fin like Kovo had suggested.

The serpent’s head stays completely still, but her tail begins to rhythmically slap against the surface of the water. The same way a dog’s tail might beat against the ground when they’re excited. I sneak a glance toward the smiling woman beside me. Or a wolf’s tail.

“Okay. I’ll admit it,” Mariane whispers, gently nudging me with her shoulder. “You were right. She’s marvelous. Aren’t you, Betty.” Another high-pitched trill fills the air. “That’s a good sea monster.”

At the sound of small feet quickly heading our way, the two of us exchange a knowing look and step out of the way just in time to avoid being trampled by the over-excited children. After a moment, Kali and Stephan join us, and we all watch while Perx holds down Betty’s dorsal fins so Kovo can lift both siblings up onto her neck as if she were a pony. One of the goblin twins, which we’ve yet to be properly introduced to, leaps up behind them, wrapping her arms around their waists as the sea serpent very slowly lifts her head back into the air.

“Elliot and Adeline,” Kali mutters, leaning her back against Stephan’s still-bare chest. “Those are their names. That's all I’ve been able to get them to tell me about their past so far.”

“Perhaps that’s all any of us need to know,” I whisper, unable to take my eyes off their small smiling faces. “For now, at least.”

“We promised we’d take them back to our village with us,” Stephan says, wrapping his arms around his wife’s shoulders. “Assuming we all make it back in one piece, of course.”

Mariane reaches up and slaps him on the back of his head. Hard. “Fuck off, Stephan. We’re all going to be fine.” She looks back to me, brows raised. “Aren’t we?”

Without hesitation, I nod. “Of course, Your Majesty. Rest assured, I would never allow any harm to come to you or any of your compatriots. And I will personally see us all safely returned to Farwen Forest.”

“Who are we to argue with a prince?” Kali shrugs, chuckling softly as she watches the children continue to ride Betty. “Especially one who can turn an entire group of people into shadow and transport them all the way across town in the blink of an eye.”

“Fair point,” Stephan mutters, burying his face in her blonde hair. “Well, as long as said prince isn’t too busy kissing her partner to even notice the danger we’re in.”

“To be fair, it wasn’t Vannaria I’d been kissing last night.” Mariane offers me an apologetic smile. “It was her mental companions, Rayne and Aren.”

“That it was.” Returning her smile with a bright one of my own, I gently bump my shoulder into hers. “Although I can hardly fault them for it. I would’ve kissed her in that moment as well, if I’d had the opportunity to. As a matter of fact…”

Wrapping my arms around Mariane’s waist, I pull her body flush against mine and press my lips against hers. She instantly deepens the kiss, her fingernails digging into my lower back as she moans softly. While I’d intended this to be a brief kiss, I’m powerless to pull away after hearing such a lovely sound.