Mostly ending in explosions.
So she just didn’t bother.
Since she was the family pariah, she mostly just stayed away from them and lived her life. Which is why they’d disowned her. Part of her newfound freedom from her clannish family was to join a dating app that had monsters on it.
MONZTR.
Mercedes had been enjoying her dates, until one troublesome ghoul, who was now glaring at her from across the tent.
Damn him. He’s still good-looking.
When she saw his profile pic on the MONZTR dating app, she’d been instantly attracted to him. He hadn’t the same opportunity because she used a cartoon image for her avatar, but he didn’t seem to care. Then they’d instant messaged, andthey had so much in common. Before they met, he wasn’t troublesome. He was kind of dreamy.
It was perfect. Or so she thought.
She’d been looking forward to their date, then she showed up at the restaurant and he freaked out. Called her a sea witch and started spouting off nonsense about revenge, so she told him a thing or two. She never wanted to see him again.
Yet, here he was.
At this party. She knew he was from Harmony Glen, but she didn’t expect him to be. One of the hosts of the party.
It figures.
Her luck had never been great.
Seriously, you shouldn’t be that surprised that he’s here. Pearl said people in Harmony Glen are like family.
Mercedes sighed and set the cup she was about to crush in her curled fist down, and tried not to look at Magnus. Why did she swipe on that guy again?
Because I thought he was hot.
Which was true. Even with the ghostly, ghoulish pallor to his skin, his fangs and those red eyes. She’s always had a thing for Vikings and ghosts. One of her first serious crushes had been on a ghost. Of course, he’d crossed over quite quickly, after a couple months of dating. Having an orgasm with a ghost was quite the transcendent experience. Heat bloomed in her cheeks recalling it, but she wanted something more permanent than a ghost. Maybe someone to fall in love with and, one day, far down the road, have a family.
Part of her hoped it would be easier to date a ghoul. Others could see Magnus. As far as she knew, she was one of the rare few who could see ghosts. Especially in her family.
That’s one hundred percent why she was drawn to Magnus, a ghoul of Harmony Glen. There’d be no crossing over. Ghouls were cursed. Maybe she’d have a chance at a happily ever after.Then he took one look at her and called her a sea witch, which was bothering her still.
It was her personal shame that her ancestor Yrsa was a particularly nasty one. Her family saw it as a badge of pride, but Mercedes didn’t. It ruffled her feathers that he thought she looked like Yrsa. Her family did too. They expected Mercedes to be just like her ancestor.
The perfect reincarnation.
Only Mercedes wasn’t.
She just wanted to be herself. Yrsa existed a thousand years ago. Maybe her family had been wrong? Except Magnus’ accusation confirmed her worst fear.
That thought made her stomach turn and she began to chew her bottom lip in apprehension.
Maybe it would be best if she just left.
“Where are you going?” Pearl asked, sidling up beside her. Pearl’s silvery white hair was pulled back in a stylish chignon, whereas Mercedes could only pull back her dark burgundy hair in a ponytail. Pearl was an elegant, mystical beauty. Mercedes tried her best to not self-combust or trip over her own feet most days.
What Pearl saw in her was a mystery to Mercedes, but she was ever so glad they met randomly at a party a couple of years ago and became friends.
She was going to miss her to bits.
“Nowhere,” Mercedes replied.
Liar.
