Wicked Memories (CASTLE OF DARK DREAMS) by Nina Bangs Page A

battle that monster without weapons? And how had he emerged without even a scratch from the exact spot where a great white shark—probably a ticked-off shark because it had lost its horsey meal—had been a moment before? Kayla didn’t really buy into nose-punching as a viable defense against Jaws.
    Aware of the man who called himself Will standing silently behind her, she swallowed hard and asked Banan the tough question. “What are you?” She held up her hand to stop a possible lie. “The truth.” She thought she knew, but she wanted to hear him say the words.
    Banan studied her for a few beats too long before nodding. “My other form is a great white shark. Sparkle and Ganymede thought I’d be the best one to protect you on land and in the water.” He shrugged. “After what just almost happened, I agree with them.”
    She tried to slow her breathing, calm her heartbeat, but none of her body systems seemed to be paying any attention to what she wanted. She was surprised that Banan couldn’t hear her pounding heart because she sure could.
    Kayla nodded. Right now she didn’t think she’d be able to speak to Banan without her voice shaking. She turned to face Will.
    He wasn’t looking at her. He was glaring at Banan.
What was that about?
When she felt that she had herself under control enough for him not to hear her panic, she spoke. “Well, at least I know what you really look like now, Will.”
A beautiful liar
. “So what’s your true name? Because if you had fake hair and eyes, I can assume the name is fake too.”
    “Whatever you want. I’m open to suggestions. Nothing like a new name to wipe the old slate clean.” Will’s smile never reached his eyes. His
blue
eyes.
    “How did you just happen to be here in time to save me?” Kayla couldn’t believe how furious she was with him for everything he
hadn’t
told her. But that didn’t make any sense at all. She had secrets too. Besides, she didn’t know him, didn’t
want
to know him, so who or what he was didn’t matter.
You are such a liar
. “Oh, and who is Kel?”
    “I happened to be here because I work at Nirvana. Someone from security reported a woman sneaking around the pilings. I came down to take a look.” He held up his hands. “Can I help it if I was in the right place at the right time?” He tried on an innocent expression.
    Fake. It didn’t work. “Who is Kel?” Her mind was slowing down, clogged with enough freaking-impossible input to bring it to a standstill.
    Will smiled, a real smile this time. “The horse.”
    Kayla had sort of expected that answer, but she knew her mouth was still hanging open. What did you say to that kind of an admission?
    Banan moved up beside her. “Kel is a kelpie.”
    Kayla forced herself not to edge away from the shark. “Explain kelpie and why he was lurking in the dark.”
    Will glanced up at the pier. “You know Sparkle, you
work
for Sparkle, and so I have to believe you also understand what she and Ganymede are. Ordinary security wouldn’t help Nirvana’s owner protect his pier from an attack by Ganymede. He decided to bring in a team that could hold its own. Kel is part of that team.” He met her gaze. “A kelpie is one of the fae, a shape-shifting water horse. I’m sorry about what happened. He wasn’t going to hurt you. Kel just wanted to scare you so you wouldn’t come snooping around again.”
    “Right. Just wanted to scare me. Then why did you race into the water and drag me to shore?”
    Will glanced away. “Sometimes Kel gets a little carried away with his job. Better to be safe.”
    Banan snorted his contempt at Will’s explanation. “You just wanted to play the hero.”
    He glared at Banan. “You overreacted. Anyone glancing down from the pier could’ve seen you guys. If a crowd had collected, someone would’ve gotten it on the news. I don’t think Nirvana’s owner or Sparkle would be happy about that.”
    Banan narrowed his eyes. “Then maybe your boss should