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“That will be our son’s name. We need something to call him, and the name feels right to me.”
Angus glanced down for long moments. When he raised his gaze to hers, he cradled the side of her head in a long-fingered hand. “Jonathan it is. Shall we find the Selkies?”
“Aye. Do we call them?”
“We could, but it’d be better if we joined them.” He began stripping off clothes, piling rocks atop them in case a brisk wind blew out of nowhere.
She did the same. When they were both naked, they joined hands and walked into the chill, salt surf of the Irish Sea. Once water reached their chests, they stroked for deep water. Angus raised his voice in song to call the Selkies. She couldn’t tell where they came from, but the water churned with their warmth and multi-hued pelts.
“Goddess!”rang around her, followed by,“You honor us with your presence.”
Arianrhod preened. Humans had long since ceased to worship pagan gods. To find that the sea people hadn’t forgotten her warmed her spirit and renewed her faith in the future, a future where a child of hers would play a key role.
She followed Angus and the pod deep into the ocean, instructing her lungs to process oxygen from seawater. By the time she was done marveling that she could breathe underwater, they’d closed much of the distance to a structure right out ofThe Little Mermaid. Coral towers in pastel hues rose in a pattern suggestive of a castle. Glowing fish graced its corners, and some variety of numinous kelp hung from what looked like parapets.
The largest seal-creature she’d ever seen emerged from between two stone towers and swam straight toward them. The black Selkie bowed to her and said,“I am Aegir. Welcome, goddess.”
Before she could reply, he gestured for them to follow him and swam deeper still. Arianrhod stroked through the clear water, swimming by Angus’s side, and recalled what she knew about Selkies but didn’t come up with much. There had to be more to them than their ability to take human form while carefully hiding their skins, so they wouldn’t be trapped on land.
Twisted coral stalks rose around them, and they swam through an underwater forest in whites, pinks, and lavendars. Reminiscent of a maze, the coral reminded her of the Minotaur’s lair in Knossos, except far more beautiful.
The coral opened onto a grand hall. Selkies swam in small groups but formed rows once Aegir clapped his flippers together and nodded at Angus.“Your visit honors us. What can we do for you?”
“Thank you for the hospitality of your welcome.”Angus’s words held a formal edge.“We seek a boon, and there is no time to waste.”
The Selkies turned to gaze at her and Angus. Arianrhod opened her mouth, then laughed. Bubbles rose above her head. Even if she could force her voice out, no one would hear it. She glanced at the fifty or so Selkies. Most were dark brown or black, but a few lighter pelts were in evidence.
“I come to ask a favor of the sea people.”She kept the same formalityAngus had adopted.“I am pregnant with Angus’s son. ’Tis a forbidden thing, and the Pantheon would exile me. I seek shelter among you until I have my child and he is weaned.”
“What happens to the child after that?”Aegir asked. He leaned forward, his whiskers quivering with concern.
Another coal black Selkie swam to Angus’s side and draped a flipper over him.“I could raise him after the goddess must return to her world.”
“We all would.”Voices rose around her, and it took all Arianrhod’s self-control not to cry.
“I will take him once he’s weaned,”Angus said.“I saw his future, or the first part of it anyway, in a dream. He is mine to raise.”
“So long as the child will be cared for, we willingly accept our role.”Aegir swam to Arianrhod and touched her face with his snout.
The black Selkie next to Angus swam to her side as well.“I am Celene. I care about Angus too, and I’ll help any way I can. Will you be with us from now until the child is weaned?”
Arianrhod considered Celene’s question. The safest path would be for her to stay with the Selkies until it was time to give her child to Angus, but she’d never liked unfinished business.
“I’ll be with you soon. First I must visit the Celtic Council and close off some loose ends.”
“Are you certain?”Angus asked.
“Aye, quite certain. It willna do anyone any good if the Morrigan turns the world inside out hunting us. And she will. I need to come up with a credible reason why I’ll be gone for a while.”
“What will that be?”Aegir asked.“In case one of us is confronted by a Celt. It isn’t likely, but it’s best to be prepared.”
Arianrhod thought about it. When an answer came, she was pleased by its simplicity.“I will tell them I must return to Caer Sidi to hone my moon mother magic. Caer Sidi is my special place. ’Tis closed to them, so no one will come looking for me.”
Angus reached for her hand and closed his fingers around hers.
“Find me as soon as you return,”Celene said.“I’ll see you’re well settled.”She clapped her flippers together, and her jaws spread into a wide smile.“A child. I’m so excited. I never had pups of my own.”
“Thank you.”Angus bowed, awkward in the water.
