Dante clung to me as we stepped on to the floating bed and breakfast. I found it hard not to smile at Dante’s vulnerable side, it was kind of sweet to know that Mr Tough vampire had a weakness. The old woman ushered us into a little sitting room and pointed a large floral sofa to sit on. Dante and I made ourselves comfortable or rather I did. Dante just sat very stiffly on the other side of the sofa cringing at every creak and groan the ship made. For some strange and inexplicable reason I felt the urge to reach out and slip my hand into his and help melt away some of the anxiety. My hand began to move towards his and the old woman yelled,

“There will be no fornication in this house!” Her eyes were narrowed on my hand which I quickly with drew and looked away.

“Pardon.” Dante snapped.

“You maybe a vampire Prince but this is my ship and aboard my ship there will be no funny business!” The old woman barked.

“I will not be ordered about by a common hag!” Dante decreed.

“You’ll listen to what I say spoilt brat or I’ll through you over abroad.” She snapped.

Dante fell silently very quickly.

I raised my hand feeling like a little kid in class, “Um excuse me but how do you know that Dante is a vampire?”

The old woman eyed Dante up and down and gestured to all of him, “Isn’t it obvious? He has that daft way about him.” she said.

Dante jumped up offended but then immediately sat back down the moment the boat rolled over a gentle wave. Composing himself he said, “I demand to know who you are and how you came to live in the mortal realms!”

“My name is Morag and I am the ward of the beast.” The old woman said.

“The beast?” I echoed.

“Ay, the beast.” Morag said.

“What beast.”

“The beast, lass. The beast. How many cursed beasts do you know of lass that dwell in this loch? There is only one beast of the loch.”

“Are you talking about the Loch Ness Monster?” I asked gingerly.

“It has many names and that is one of them.” Morag replied.

“Um great, do you think I can have a chat with the beast?” I asked Morag.

“You want to talk to the beast tonight?” Morag said raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, if that’s not too much trouble.”

“It will be a lot of trouble miss, the beast is at the bottom of the Loch.”

“What’s it doing at the bottom of the Loch.”

“Hiding.” Morage replied flatly.

I blinked, “What?!? Um…I mean why is it hiding?”

“I don’t know, it won’t come up and tell me why.”

My head was beginning to pound, our conversation seemed to be going in circles. Morag waved a dismissive hand.

“You won’t be talking to the beast tonight. You best be sleeping til morning then take a boat out and see if you can persuade the beast to come up.”

“How are we going to persuade the beast to come up?” I asked.

“The beast will come up for a raven.”

“Really?”

“Ay, some say the ravens existed before the mountains and the forests ever did. The beast likes to talk to kindred spirits. The beast however does not like vampires. So you’ll have to go alone.” Morag said.

Dante shook his head, “No way.”

I looked back at him and replied, “Fine you can come on the boat with me.”

“Okay maybe not.” Dante said.

Morag looked at the pair of us and then at the cuckoo clock she had hung on the wall.

“It’s late. I’ll show you to your rooms.” She said.

We lead through the small boat into a tiny corridor. At the ends were two doors, a cabin for each of us. I thanked Morag and entered my cabin leaving Dante to get on with it. The room was tiny with a small porthole window and a little single bed. Next door to my room was shower, which had running hot water. I spent a good half hour in the bathroom next door, washing my hair, scrubbing myself clean. I missed showers. I was quite happy when I walked out the bathroom into the corridor but as I turned to go into my bedroom Dante was stood there. Wearing nothing but jogging bottoms he was anxiously pacing the floor.

“Ebony, you got to let me sleep with you. I can’t stand being on this floating coffin!” He said.

I walked past him into my cabin but he followed me in,

“Please Ebony.” He begged.

“Get of here!” I ordered Dante pushing him out of my room.

He ambled into the small corridor and I closed the door shut firmly, I held the door handle for a few seconds guilt tossing and turning over in my mind. I looked back at my small bed and rolled my eyes. This wasn’t going to be comfortable but there was no way my conscience would let me sleep knowing that Dante was jabbering wreck in the adjacent room. I opened the door and let Dante back in. He wrapped his arms abruptly around me pulling me tightly against his chest. Raking his fingers through my hair he said hoarsely,

“You have no idea how scared I am.”

I rolled my eyes and gave him a weak pat on the back. “Come on Dante. You’re a big strong vampire prince.”

“I don’t know why but I just get so scared.” He replied burying his face into my hair.

My heart was fluttering wildly. Yes Dante was an ass but he was also drop dead gorgeous and topless. It was only natural that I should feel slightly flustered when I was this close to him and his exceptionally toned physique. Pulling back I broke out of the embrace.

“Okay, you lie on the floor.” I said.

Dante’s eyes widen and he shook his head, “No, I want to sleep next to you.”

“You are sleeping next to me, on the floor.” I pointed out

“Ebony, ever since we’ve been married you’re like my teddy bear. I can’t sleep if I am not touching you.”

“Well if Morag comes in here and sees you wrapped around me, then we are going to get into a lot of trouble.”

“I don’t care.” Dante replied flatly.

I threw my arms up in defeat and pointed at the bed, “Get in then.”

Dante slipped under the covers and I slid next to him. He lay on his back hogging all the bed.

“Dante,” I whined, “You’re not giving me much space.”

“Move your arm here,” Dante said placing my arm across his chest, “And lay your head here.” Dante tapped between his neck and shoulder.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Do I look like I am joking?” Dante replied.

There was venomous silence between us and I reluctantly positioned my head against his shoulder. This wasn’t me giving in, this was me being far too tired and exhausted to put up Dante’s nonsense. I felt Dante’s arm snake around my back and he took a deep breathe in.

“I feel much better now.” He replied.

I opened one eye and gazed up at him cynically. Why did I feel like I had been tricked? I didn’t bother replying I shut my eyes and let the gentle rocking of the boat carry me off to sleep.

There were no bad dreams that night. I was completely at peace when I woke up in the morning, the sun spilling through the curtains on to Dante’s face. He looked good in the sun. I gently tapped his shoulder and he lazily opened his eyes and gazed down on me.

“You need to scram before Morag comes in with tea.” I said sleepily.

“That was the best night sleep, I have had in a long time.” Dante replied.

The temptation of snuggling into his side and going back to sleep was overwhelming strong. My common sense and decisive thinking was somewhat scrambled in the morning. The fact I was lie half across Dante hadn’t struck me as at all odd. In fact I felt really comfortable and happy laying here in his arms. Dante pressed a light kiss on to the top of forehead and slid out of the bed leaving me feeling somewhat stone cold.

“I’ll catch you at breakfast time.” He said.

I pulled the covers of the blanket up round my neck and nodded. He left the room and I was all alone. It was funny how I hated him so much yet as I lay here all I could think about was how the pillow I was laying on smelt of him. I breathed in deep hugging the pillow close to my chest. My heart was thundering in my chest. What was wrong with me? Was I developing Stockholm syndrome or something? I sat up in bed sweeping my hair up into a bun distracting myself from the pillow and the warmth he had left behind. I opened the curtains and peered out across the Loch. Mist was rolling over the surface and on the far side of the Loch foreshore I saw a figure. The mist cleared a little and I saw him. Edvard, my brother. He was there staring at me.

I shut the curtains quick and crawled onto the floor dragging the blanket with me. Terrified I curled up into a little ball and hid under the blanket. This can’t be happening. How did he know where to find me?