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Maeve’s brows rose. “A walk?”
“On the beach.” Tor elaborated. “We won’t go past the Skala Isles.”
Maeve’s lips ticked with the hint of a smile. “Trying to distract me?”
Tor’s eyes flicked down to her lips, and he was met with the inexplicable urge to kiss her. “You’d know if I was trying to distract you.” He huffed, standing up and turning to the door, adjusting himself. He glanced over his shoulder and held out his hand.
The blankets pooled on the floor, revealing Maeve's much thinner night clothes, highlighting the shadow of her breasts and the curve of her body.
Tor closed his eyes, inhaling a pained breath as he fought a battle with his own thoughts. It would have been easy to have pressed himself to her body and forced her back into bed. To lose himself in her body and trace the golden Shíorghrá markings that only he could see with his tongue.
But Maeve needed to get out of the room, and though Tor was confident he could give enough pleasure to leave her exhausted for days, he had yet to see her truly smile. He wondered if he had ever seen her face light up just for him. Her thoughts were burdened by the lake and the blood that tainted the water.
Maeve slid her fingers into Tor’s hand. She gestured for Tor to lead the way—away from the castle and to the golden sands of the Skala Beach.
Chapter Four
Our shadows danced on the wall cast by the bobbing faelight as we walked through the castle under the watchful eyes of the selkie guards.
Door after door, each had the same ornate carvings and depictions of seals. We had only walked a few minutes, but I was already losing hope. Especially when each corridor looked the same.
Finally, appearing in the corner of my eye, jumping out as if waiting for the right moment, an archway appeared—leading to a delicate staircase, curling around and disappearing into the darkness.
I brushed my hand against the castle wall, feeling a sort of sentience under my touch. The Selkie palace was filled with magic, but I’d never thought it was possible for a building to hold thoughts and feelings. Though I supposed I shouldn’t have been surprised, especially with my extensive experience with the High Throne and its bloodlust.
Though it was my first time in the Selkie palace, I didn’t feel afraid with Tor at my side. His dark tattoos peeked through the collar of his shirt like brambles made of ink. His movement was serpentine and aloof as he shot each guard a cursory glance, dismissing them as we passed.
We came to a door, unremarkable, save for the roar of the tide behind it. The guard opened the door without ceremony, and we stepped onto the moonlit sand.
The stars overhead glittered, smeared with clouds of purple and pink. The heavy moon hung in the sky, reflected back in the still water of the twilight lake.
The sound of the waves grew louder with every step until we passed the driftwood barrier, and the castle disappeared behind us.
Tor held out his hand, and we walked to the shore with our fingers laced together. My stomach fluttered, and my head felt light. I kept waiting for Tor to say something, but he kept silent. The slight smile on his lips spoke of secrets.
“It's beautiful,” I said, a pang of homesickness hitting me in my gut. I spent so much of my life under those waves but had yet to stay still. To make a home. To belong. “Is that what you wanted me to see?”
“I thought you needed some fresh air.” Tor’s dark eyes searched the still surface of the lake and the Skala Isles in the distance. “And an escape. If only for a little while.”
“Do you think everything is going to change now?” I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, and my hand tightened around his.
“Your uncle is dead,” Tor stated blandly. “But if that changes anything, will remain to be seen.”
I flinched, feeling my face scrunch with guilt.
Though my uncle had not been kind to me, he was my last familial connection.
I was alone.
“Let’s ride.” Tor declared, shooting me a mischievous grin.
I eyed him dubiously. “Ride?”
He didn’t answer; instead, his body shifted, and his skin darkened to midnight black. His face grew longer until the same endless black eyes shone from an equine face. Tor flicked his tail before dropping to a bow and pressing his belly to the sand as he waited for me to climb on.
I didn’t argue, though I had no idea of his plans. I doubted that Tor planned to spirit me away in the night unless he thought there was a threat in the castle I was better off not knowing about.
I hated that a small part of me wasn’t sure of his motivations, but I hoped that would come with time.
