Theo had run out of questions, and they were walking in peaceful silence when Lyra suddenly held her hand up, indicating for them to stop. She turned around towards Theo and held her finger up to her lips. Theo mimed locking his lips and throwing away the key. Lyra only rolled her eyes in response and turned towards the path.
They’d come to a small inlet, where a rolling stream was opening up into the river. The shores were decorated with several large boulders, which even Theo had to admit looked like excellent places for basking in the midday sun. Lyra pointed to one of the rocks on the far side of the stream.
At first, Theo didn’t see anything.
After a minute, the rock’s surface started to move. Theo sucked in a sharp breath as the seal that’d been sunning itselfon the boulder pushed up into a rather human-looking sitting position. It had blended in so well with its surroundings that Theo didn’t realize it was there until it moved.
Theo watched in awe as the seal’s flippers briefly shimmered in the light, tapering into delicate fingers. They reached up to the top of its head and started to pull, and Theo realized what was happening. The selkie was shedding its pelt.
Theo watched in awe as the seal unzipped its fur as easily as a winter jacket, revealing a woman’s body beneath. She slowly stood to her feet, stretching out her muscles, and stepped out of her fur like discarded clothing. The woman bent down, picked up the pelt, and pulled it over her head. Theo watched in real time as it shifted into a simple seal skin tunic.
He could hardly believe the statuesque woman standing across the stream had been a seal moments before. Her eyes were huge and dark, her nose shaped like a button, her limbs long, corded with muscle. The selkie’s hair was black as night, stretching all the way down her back. Theo didn’t realize his jaw dropped until Lyra cleared her throat loudly beside him.
“Are you done gawking?” she snapped quietly. “Will I be able to introduce the two of you without it being a problem?”
Theo blushed and nodded aggressively, embarrassed that Lyra assumed the selkie so transfixed him. She was stunning, of course, but most magical creatures were. He didn’t think she held a candle to Lyra’s wild, feral beauty. He was enamored with the magic—he’d never seen a selkie shed her skin before.
Now is probably not the time to try to tell Lyra that.Theo mused to himself.I don’t think she’ll take me very seriously. But… she did sound jealous.
A very male part of Theo preened at the idea that Lyra was jealous over his assumed preoccupation with the selkie. He decided to let it drop for now.
“Lead the way,” Theo encouraged, and Lyra turned on her heel, approaching the water’s edge to introduce Theo to his first selkie.
CHAPTER TEN
Lyra tried to stamp down the irrational jealousy that was making her face flush. Selkies were all beautiful, like sirens were, because it made them better predators. Selkies had a more unfortunate history with men than sirens did—sirens committed more manslaughter, and, unfortunately, the selkies’ weakness with their pelts was well documented.
All it took was for a human to grab their discarded fur when they shifted, and a selkie wouldn’t be able to change back. Over the years, most selkies had taken to wearing their own pelts as tunics instead of leaving them lying about when they wished to walk on two legs.
Still, Theo looked awestruck when he saw the selkie shift, and Lyra was surprised by how much it annoyed her.
You have no business getting involved with a fae prince. One whom you are going to have to betray. Don’t ever fucking forget it.
Lyra’s heart sank to her stomach, making her feel heavy and even more uncomfortable than when she was dealing with jealousy. She was growing increasingly uneasy about her plan, but from where she stood, she had no choice. It was her sister or Theo… and no amount of gold would make her abandon herfamily. Mermaids had precious few ties to others and fiercely protected the ones they had, whether or not gold was involved. Still, every minute she spent with Theo affirmed that it was a decision she would regret for the rest of her life, no matter how short it was.
You don't know what Cliodhna wants with him. She might not kill him outright. She might keep him prisoner for a while, amuse herself with thoughts of revenge…
Lyra tried to comfort herself by pretending that Cliodhna wasn’t as bloodthirsty as the succubuses, but it didn’t work well.
“Do you need to introduce me?” Theo whispered, jolting Lyra from her thoughts. She nodded, indicating that Theo should wait in the bushes until she had a moment to explain herself to the selkie. Theo nodded obediently, and Lyra’s heart squeezed.
So eager to please.
Lyra stepped onto the shore, and the sound of her footsteps on the rocky beach caught the selkie’s attention. Her head snapped to attention, and she seemed poised to shift and flee until she registered Lyra’s presence.
“Ah, Lyra.” The selkie smiled, her teeth as sharp as a mermaid’s. “It’s not often that we see you this far inland. To what do we owe the surprise?”
“Browen.” Lyra dipped her head in a rare show of deference and respect to someone else. “I could actually use your help with something.”
Browen paused, her head tilting as she studied Lyra. She sniffed at the air in a rather animalistic gesture before her smile widened.
“Does it have anything to do with the good-smelling fae male you’re hiding in the bushes?” Browen shimmied back and forth, her eyes lighting up.
“Don’t get any ideas.” Lyra fought to keep her voice even, desperately trying not to betray how upsetting she found theidea of Browen and Theo together. “Besides, I thought selkies were generally avoidant of men.”
Browen shrugged. “The ones who try to steal our skin to hold us as captive wives, yes. The pretty ones who care about consent, we adore those.” Browen was already batting her eyelashes, and Lyra’s claws snapped out from her fingertips before she could control them.
“Theo,” Lyra raised her voice, trying to sound disinterested, “you can come out now.” Lyra narrowed her eyes at Browen, who was already regarding Lyra’s claws with interest. Lyra shook her head once, indicating that Browen didn’t need to bring it up.
