Page 26 of Saved By the Selkie

“Don’t mean nothing here on the high seas. Ah—I like this one. Like the heft of her in my hand.”

“Good then. Let’s git back—I don’t wanna miss the fun with those two favorites of Cap’n High ’n’ Mighty. Serves ’em right, thinking they’re better than us.”

More laughter. Their footsteps begin to fade, along with their voices. “What about the third one? Y’know, the piggy one.”

“Ain’t seen him. But the cap’n said to be on the lookout …”

I barely breathe a sigh of relief. When I can no longer hear them, I creep out from behind the kegs, wincing at how my entire body has seized up—my legs ache, as do my arms.

I sneak back up to the deck. It’s a cautious exercise—there are crew members everywhere, but they’re not paying much attention. Most of them seem distracted either by the kegs of grog and pickled herring that are open on the deck now or taunting Anna and Porthos, who are now tied up.

I creep my way to the aft, then shed my clothes. I step into my pelt, sighing as it grips me, clinging instantly to my legs, like a long-lost lover.

There’s a cry, and I look up to see both Anna and Porthos staring clear across the deck at me—as well as one of their guards. I glance to my left and see a couple of other men running at me, brandishing guns—maybe the same ones who had been in the armory.

I gulp a breath and drag the sealskin over my head, letting the transformation take me. I drop to the deck on my belly, wincing. I wonder if the pup felt that. Is transforming all right for him?

I have no more time to think on it. Giles fires at me, hitting the deck beside me, and I realize, suddenly, how helpless I am against humans.

Without wasting a second more, I hurl myself off the deck, into the waters below.

Hitting the water hurts, but I slide under, diving deep, the waves welcoming me. It takes my eyes a moment to adjust; I have to remember what it feels like to kick my tail and use my flippers. I’ve been trapped in my two-legged shape for so long, I’d almost forgotten what it feels like to be in my sleek seal form.

I close my ears as I go deeper. I already know where I’m going, and it will be some time before I resurface.

fifteen

Aramis

I

groan as I open my eyes. Everything hurts, worse than if I’d been drinking from noon ’til night. The world swims before my eyes, seasick and hurting. I release a shaky breath, longing to vomit.

A black boot smashes into my chest, sending me sprawling across the deck. It is the deck, I realize; I can feel the breeze, see dappled sunshine peeking between the overhanging clouds. I heave another breath.

“You bastard,” Johan snarls in my face, spittle landing on my cheek and I can barely turn my head in a weak attempt to avoid it. “He’s a bloody selkie.”

My head throbs. “Who?” I croak.

Johan shakes me furiously, and my head snaps back. I catch sight of Anna and Porthos, both of them sitting there, watching with horrified faces. “Don’t play dumb with me!” Johan barks. “You know exactly who I’m talking about!”

He drops me, and my head lolls against the deck. I grit my teeth against another groan. “Bastard,” Johan growls, then aims another kick at my head. I flinch, but he doesn’t connect. “You knew the entire time.”

I force my eyes open and meet Anna and Porthos’s gazes. Porthos looks worried; Anna’s schooled her visage into a mask of apathy as she watches me. I can’t tell if she’s angry at me or not.

Maybe if I’d just been honest with the crew from the start, none of this would have happened.

I huff and roll onto my stomach, forcing myself up. Something connects with the back of my head and I sprawl against the deck again.

“Stay down,” Smitty growls at me.

Johan grabs me by the front of my chemise, dragging me up. “Where is he?”

“Where is who?” My voice is ragged. I’m dehydrated. I ache everywhere. I must be dying. I feel like I am, for sure.

“Lir,” he snarls, then tosses me down.

I manage to roll myself into a sitting position, breathing heavily. Nobody smacks me down this time. I touch a hand to the back of my head—no blood, but, fuck, is it sore. “What do you mean, where is he? You can’t find him?”