Page 52 of Saved By the Selkie

I don’t even know. They scared me a bit, if I’m honest.

Maybe that’s why I like Aramis so much. He’s not intimidating at all. Definitely not scary when he’s petting Blizz’s head like that.

“I don’t know my drasili either,” I say. “It’s better that way.”

Aramis frowns at me. “How can you say that?”

I snort. “Alphas kill pups. Or worse.”

Aramis frowns, then looks down at Blizz. “I don’t think it’s better,” he says. “Do you?”

It takes me a second to realize he’s talking to Blizz, who trills around a mouthful of milk, then starts choking. Aramis jumps back, and I toss Blizz over my shoulder and smack his back while he coughs.

Finally, he rasps a couple of breaths and his hacking calms to almost nothing. I glower at Aramis. “See? Alphas kill pups.”

“I didn’t—”

“Don’t talk to him while he’s eating,” I grumble. I hold Blizz out at arm’s length. “And you. Don’t talk with your mouth full, hm?”

Blizz sticks his tongue out at me, the little brat. I make a face at him, then pass him to Aramis. “I’m going to wash down.”

“But,” Aramis says, but I shake my head and grab my pelt. “Lir!”

He dashes in front of me, cutting off my march to the door. “Just hang on a minute, Lir, I—”

I shake my head. “It’ll be faster to wash if I go for a swim,” I inform him. “And less cold.” The water is frigid, something I don’t notice nearly as much in my seal form.

Aramis sighs, then hangs his head. Blizz gives me his best puppy eyes.Brat, I think. He’s lucky he’s cute.

I give Aramis’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll be back, Aramis.”

“Promise?” he asks.

I roll my eyes. “Promise.”

twenty-eight

Aramis

I

’m awake for what feels like hours. Blizz drowses and eventually falls asleep on my chest. I’m not sure how Lir sleeps with the baby in his arms; I’m scared I’m going to crush Blizz or drop him or something.

Plus, he’s heavy.

I wish the sun was still rising and setting. At least then I’d have some indication of what time it is. If it’s a new day or the same old one. Right now, there isn’t even a moon; the sky is dark.

I try to think about the journey south instead of how long Lir’s been gone, but it’s no use. All I can do is worry that Lir didn’t really mean it when he said he loves me and he’ll stay with me forever.

Maybe it’s heat. He seemed all too eager to leave Blizz earlier this evening. That didn’t feel right. I’m trying to be understanding. Lir’s a selkie, and it sounds like selkie families aren’t like human families.

Still. I don’t want Blizz to grow up feeling like I did. Abandoned. I always wondered why my father left. I’ll never know, but the question eats at me sometimes. Was he scared of me? Too much of a coward to face up to what he’d done? Or was he just an asshole?

I don’t want to think Lir is an asshole, but he does seem like he’d walk out on Blizz without a second thought, and I hate that for my son.

I glance down at the baby on my chest. Blizz is sleeping peacefully, his eyes closed, lips parted just a bit, his breathing calm and even. I put a hand on his head—he has dark curls like me, not silvery like Lir’s mop. “Don’t worry,” I murmur, “I’ll never leave you, little guy.”

Blizz’s response is to scrunch up his face and turn over. He curls up again, putting a thumb in his mouth. I sigh.