AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Wick…isn’t human. Holy hell.
Wickham is one of the folk.
And that means he’s very likely involved in all the crazy things that have been happening out here. And if he isn’t, he’s gonna help me get to the bottom of it all.
I step closer, eyes narrowed as I inspect him, searching for signs of what kind of creature he might be. “What are you?” I hiss.
He looks startled. “What?”
“What. Are. You? What kind of creature?”
“What do you mean?”
I shoot him a look and tuck my hair back, revealing the pointed tips of my ears, the most visible part of my elf heritage, and the hallmark of all the Bishops. It’s why we all stick close to Haven’s Hollow, where we’re known and accepted and nobody asks questions.
“Takes one to know one. Except I’m mostly human, and you aren’t. So what are you and what are you doing here?”
He sends me an assessing glance, and then nods as if some suspicion has been confirmed. “You are perpetually intriguing, Haven Bishop. And correct. I’m not human.”
“And that means you’re?” I trail off, waiting for him to fill in the blank.
“A kelpie.”
“A kelpie?” I repeat, surprised. I’ve heard the myths and legends of these dangerous water creatures that can take the form of men, but they’re mostly found in Gaelic regions—I think. They’re deadly folk who live in lakes and generally take the form of a horse, of all things. “I thought your kind only lived in like, Scotland. And that you were horses.”
“It’s where we originated. But like many species, we explored and expanded. I was born in Wales, but I settled here long ago. And yes, my natural form is equine, but my people have the ability to take human form when it suits.”
Ha. Iknewhis accent was Welsh.
“Okay, I can understand why Lake Eerie would draw a kelpie to it—this area has always called to magic folk. But what are you doing here, now? In your human form?”
“What I have always done: protecting the lake.”
I take a deep breath. This is just what I need. Some kind of mythical monster breathing down my neck while I try to make a success out of this resort and help revitalize the town.
“Protecting it from what, exactly? Me?”
He crosses his arms and leans against the cabin. “Does it need protecting from you?”
“Of course not! I’m doing everything I can to keep everyone happy out here. Feeding the water sprites and catering to the humans and cleaning up the spills so the Lady doesn’t get pissed.” I blink as a thought occurs to me. “Oh, no. Did she send you?”
“I work on the Lady’s behalf,” he says.
Which is kind of cryptic, if you ask me. What, precisely, does that mean? Is that a yes?
“Inside,” I order, pointing at his cabin door.
Once we’re out of view, I cross my arms over my chest. “Are you the one who pulled that stunt last night? With the guys from Cabin 3?” He has to be. Anyone human would have shown up in the footage.
“Yes,” he says calmly, still eating his donut. “I did it for you.”
“For me?” I squawk. “You created a PR nightmare and upset all the other guests! In what possible way is that ‘for me?’”
“Under normal circumstances, I would have simply killed them. But I knew that would bother you, and I didn’t want that. So I came up with a different punishment. One that wouldn’t upset you.”
I’m sorry. WHAT?
“You would have killed them?!” I’m trying hard not to screech like a harpy. I want nothing more than to yell at him, but I can’t. He’s a member of the folk, and I have to tread with care. “For diving?”
