Free My Boyfriend Merlin by Priya Ardis Page B

scent—I rolled my eyes. So what if we were two and a half hours early instead of three?
    Getting to the airport three hours early for a domestic flight was ludicrous. Especially for a trip I didn’t even want to go on. I didn’t want to spend Christmas with some boring family I didn’t even know. Plus I liked Christmas in Texas. The decoration of lights mixed with the warm air. What could be better?
    Being cooped up in a house in Boston with strangers due to the inevitable blizzard didn’t sound thrilling. Snow was overrated. I had griped the whole month about how we should be going to our neighbors like we did every year. I didn’t want to miss the tree hunt and our neighbor’s breakfast. The holidays were about tradition. Not to mention I wouldn’t be seeing my boyfriend Morgan—tall, dark, and delicious— for a whole week. Did she know she was ruining Christmas?
    “If you’re not ready in five, I’m throwing you in the car. You can get on the plane in those ridiculous men’s boxers,” she yelled from downstairs.
    “They’re comfortable to sleep in.” I reiterated as I pulled my suitcase out of my room. “Anyway I’m already dressed.”
    “You’re a girl. I wish you’d behave like on once in awhile. Did you pack a nice dress like I told you? The Ragnars go all out on Christmas Eve. There’s a black tie party. Last time they had entire scenes out of the Nutcracker carved in beautiful ice sculptures. You’ll love it.”
    “Ballet is boring.”
    “You didn’t use to think so. I know you gave it up for fencing—”
    “Because you made me,” I retorted.
    “It will be better for you in the long run,” she said.
    I rolled my eyes again. I was pretty sure no one had used a rapier in a real fight since the 1700s.
    Mom grabbed the car keys from the hook and gave the house a quick once. We’d be gone for over a week. It was the first vacation we’d taken in two years.
    I slowly dragged my suitcase downstairs. I left it at the foot of the stairs to take one last look at the tiny Christmas tree in the living room. It was nothing like the giant eight-footer we usually splurged on.
    I tried one last time. “Christmas should be at home.”
    Mom’s face softened at this declaration. “I know it’s hard, Ry. We’ve always made Christmas about being home, but as long as we’re together, we’ll be fine. You’ll have fun with the Ragnars, I promise. I loved my Christmases with them when I was a little girl.” She wrapped me up in a tight hug. “It’ll be good for you to make new friends. I’ve loved having you to myself for so long, but you’re going to be graduating before you know it and you’ll need those connections—”
    The muted sound of the doorbell cut her off.
    “Don’t forget your purse. You need ID,” she commanded.
    With a grumble, I went upstairs.
    Mom went into the living room. I heard her fling open the front door. The walls of the townhouse were paper-thin.
    “Morgan, I’m sorry,” I heard her say, impatiently. “We don’t have much time.”
    Grabbing my purse, I hurried back down. Mom didn’t like Morgan and I was pretty sure she would slam the door in his face without even letting me talk to him.
    “Morning, Mrs. D.,” Morgan asked. “Is Ryan here?”
    Mom said, “Of course, but we’re in a rush—”
    I stopped just before the living room. Another hulk-sized man in a black trench coat came up out of nowhere behind Morgan. Between the two of them, they covered every inch of the doorway.
    “Ryan,” Mom screamed. “RUN!”
    The man’s face… changed. It turned from normal to the face of a monster in less than a second. I halted just outside the door to the living room. Long fangs emerged from his mouth.
    A set of Katana swords—my mother’s favorite—hung on the wall. I grabbed one. His forehead went Neanderthal, becoming wider until it protruded out of his face. In a scene straight out of a vampire flick, the man-monster grabbed Mom by the