In the Shadow of the Selkie

by M. A. duBarry

  Arriving at the window, she noticed a tall, claw-shaped iron holder similar to the one in the crypt perched on the wall. She reached up and placed the flaming torch inside. Several stray embers cascaded down to the floor. The coincidence of there being similar torch holders in the castle as in the crypt unnerved her, but she refused to think more of that night. She needed to know how Roane fared against the onslaught of bats.

  She ran her fingers over the stones lining the window area and searched for a place to insert the dagger. Toward the bottom of the ledge, she found what she’d hoped was the keyhole. She slid the blade inside the slot and prayed. Inching the dagger into the opening wasn’t as easy as Connor made it look when he’d unlocked the door. The blade didn’t want to go in all the way. She gave it a push with her open palm and waited. She cursed to herself, swearing at the dagger for failing her. But no sooner did the oath fall from her mouth than the latch suddenly clinked.

  Theo reached up and pulled back on the wood shutter and then pushed out on the glass pane. The sound of crying bats rattled in her ears. In horror, she peered downward, leaning over the wood ledge, and gasped at the sight before her eyes.

  Several dead seals bobbed in the sea, some of them washed up on the shore. Roane stood on the beach, a crossbow steadied in his hands. His men were scattered about the area, all armed with similar equipment. As he shouted something Theo couldn’t make out, flaming arrows shot from his weapon.

  Wounded bats fell from the sky, littering the beach in various places. The noise outside grew softer. Theo searched the open air and noticed the hoard of winged creatures flying away from Castle Cu Mara. Relief calmed her nerves.

  Roane turned and looked up toward the tower.

  Bloody hell… She stepped back and hoped Roane hadn’t seen her. But considering she was the only one up here and the tower window was the only accessible one in the castle, her odds weren’t looking all that good at the moment.

  She wondered what type of man Roane would be when he grilled her about her presence in the forbidden room. If she told him about the vampire, maybe he’d understand. Of course, considering the fact he just spent precious time fending off bloodthirsty bats, he probably wouldn’t be too understanding of her love of crypt roaming. For now, she’d be better off not discussing her vampire incident with her new husband, even if keeping such secrets wasn’t what she really wanted to do.

  A hand touched her shoulder.

  Theo jumped. She spun around, fully prepared to find some hideous ogre, but instead found Roane standing behind her. “You move fast, my king.”

  The woman had no idea. Roane decided against giving an explanation, fearing Theo had already been through enough on her first night at Cu Mara. The added fact her husband was a selkie vampire certainly couldn’t make things any better. “What are you doing up here?”

  A confused yet frightened look crossed her face.

  He wanted to reach out and tell her she had nothing to fear from him, but the pain in his chest stopped him from letting his guard down.

  “Why is this room sealed off from the rest of the castle?”

  The woman had an inquisitive mind, too keen for her own good. “I don’t care for my questions to be answered with questions.”

  “I needed to know what was going on outside.” Theo stepped away from the window. “I didn’t know what was happening.”

  “This isn’t the mainland, Theodosia. Cu Mara is a wild habitat, still not fully developed. All sorts of wild prey exist in the area.” He prayed to the gods his explanation would quash Theo’s apparent curiosity of the subject.

  “Tell me more,” she said.

  Apparently he’d fallen out of favor with the gods. “I can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Bloody hell, woman. Were you taught no manners at all?”

  “There’s no sense in hiding the truth from me, Roane. I am a Barrett and my father’s only heir. Despite having been born a woman, I’ve been fully entrenched in the Barrett way of life.”

  That, he already knew. Her reasons for betraying her bloodline, he didn’t understand. “Tell me what you know of this way of life.”

  She bit her bottom lip as if she were sorry for having blurted out something she didn’t want him to know. If only he could read her mind better, he’d know how to approach the matter. But Theo apparently had a built-in defense mechanism. Her thoughts only came to him in bits and pieces and that didn’t help him much.

  “I am fully aware the Barretts are tied to the selkie myth, perhaps even to the legendary creatures themselves. But we are also very much mortal. We die, we give birth, we eat, we sleep, we live on land. Yet, despite our human world, the selkies surround every aspect of our lives. I couldn’t escape the bloody creatures even if I so desired. My family’s lived in the shadow of the selkie for centuries, yet sometimes I wish we didn’t. We have no life our own—everything revolves around the myths.”

  And now she was married to one. Roane hated himself at the moment, or at least hated what he was. “How much of this Barrett lifestyle consumes your passions, Theo?”

  She brushed passed him and took a seat in the small Elizabethan chair propped against the wall, next to the window.

  “My father trained me to be a relic hunter, as well as…” She hesitated.

  Roane’s hope rose. He wondered if she’d now tell him about the vampire hunting.

  “Well, he trained me in various fields.”

  His hopes deflated.

  With a shaking voice, Theo continued, “I joined the Society of the Vanishing Islands when I was twelve, its youngest entering member to date.”

  So the woman lived for the myths that shrouded her world. He wondered what she’d think if she knew he was one of those living, breathing legends. She responded well to him that night in the crypt, but was that out of duty toward her family or out of choice? “Do you believe in the true existence of selkies or…other creatures?” He had to know where he stood with his bride, even if she hated him for not being human.

  “I don’t know what I believe when it comes to the myths. My father has a collection of ancient texts that mention the existence of selkies and certain secrets of their lifestyle. But large sections of the tomes are missing. It was my hope I would one day recover them and bring them home, back to the Barrett library for safekeeping. That hasn’t happened. And now I doubt it ever will.” She frowned.

  Roane didn’t like seeing Theo’s luscious lips puckered in a scowl. He needed to find ways to please his bride so that diminishing her curiosity wouldn’t upset her emotions. If the woman was so set on studying the legends, perhaps she wanted his pelt only to see if selkies really did exist, and she hadn’t purposely provoked him to bring out the vampire. He pondered the thought, but quickly dismissed the notion. If she didn’t believe in selkie vampires, then she wouldn’t have been armed with a stake that night.

  Roane let out a deep sigh and tried to concentrate on how to make his new bride as comfortable at Cu Mara as was possible. Keeping her from finding out more than she needed to know at the moment had to be his top priority.

  He leaned back against the wall. His right shoulder nestled at the edge of a large tapestry. He stared at Theo sitting across from him and noted how she looked quite the temptress, despite the chaotic events she’d witnessed. Roane couldn’t think of any other woman who would have been as calm as his Theo at this moment. His breeches were starting to grow too tight again. Devil be damned…he was already claiming the woman as his. And he hadn’t even found out why she’d attempted to kill him.

  He shifted against the wall and tried to look away, but couldn’t. The soft glow emitting from the flaming torch above illuminated Theo’s small, slightly upturned nose and full lips. The thin fabric of her gown appeared even sheerer bathed in the orange-gold light, and he liked seeing her almost naked. If he had any sense, or if he’d take a serious moment and follow the lead of his hardening cock, he’d be enjoying the benefits of his marriage
bed right now, not standing in a dank tower trying to make conversation with the woman he just married.

  Theo squinted.

  Roane didn’t like the way she looked at him. “What’s wrong?”

  “There’s something behind that tapestry.”

  He turned to his right and saw the weight of his shoulder had pushed aside the heavy fabric. A wave of sheer terror washed over him.

  Theo rose from her chair and headed straight for the wall.

  She reached out her hand before he could stop her. “In the name of the gods, Roane. What sort of monster are you?”

  He stared at the selkie skin splayed out on the wall behind the tapestry. “I can explain.”

  She shook her head and backed away. “My father would give his life for a seal. If he knew he married me off to a man who built his kingdom on killing seals for the sake of their skins, he’d be horrified.”

  She didn’t suspect the skin was his. A rush of relief flooded through him, but the relaxed sensation didn’t last long. “You don’t understand.”

  “I understand more than I care to.” Theo dropped her hand from the wall hanging and turned on her heel. She marched straight for the door.

  Roane flew to the far end of the chamber and slammed the door shut before Theo made it to the threshold. He stood behind her, pinning her between his body and the door.

  She let out a deep breath. “Let me go. Then fetch me a coach.”

  The smell of sandalwood teased Theo’s nose again. Despite her anger, she couldn’t help but find Roane’s scent intoxicating. She hated liking something she despised, but devil take it, the man kept finding ways to tantalize her.

  His breath warmed her neck.

  His tongue sought her skin, taking small licks between her collar and ear.

  She leaned her head to the side, giving him better access.

  “You’re not going anywhere, my queen,” Roane said. “Save for the bedchamber.”

  She moaned. The heat from Roane’s body warmed her back, the length of his hard cock pressed against her buttocks. Anger, mixed with excitement, tantalized her.

  Between kisses and flicks of his tongue against her neck, he said, “I have…only four rules…and you will follow them.”

  Right now, she’d follow any rule he’d institute.

  “One…we rise at dusk…”

  She didn’t like mornings anyway.

  “Two…we sleep at dawn.”

  Another plus, especially if she could spend mornings sandwiched between Roane and an inviting mattress.

  “Three…we stay out of the tower.”

  He nuzzled her earlobe.

  “Four…”

  She didn’t let him finish. Theo fell farther back into his chest, her knees starting to give way.

  Roane nipped at her flesh, taking small nibbling bites up and down her neck. The feel of his teeth against her skin sent heat waves surging through her body straight to her clitoris. Her core ached for his touch, craving to feel him inside her.

  He ran his hands over her hips and tugged at her dress.

  The feel of silk rising up over her sensitive flesh tickled her.

  Roane grabbed hold of her leg. He inched his hand across her skin until he reached the apex at her thighs. He ran his fingers through her hair.

  Theo pushed back and parted her legs, wanting Roane to explore her more intimately. The pressure building inside her tormented her.

  Roane pulled her closer to him. His hand now planted at a better angle, he flicked his finger over her swollen bud.

  She cried out.

  He continued playing with her clitoris, heightening her sensitivity and igniting insatiable cravings. Roane had an incredible way of making her wet and leaving her wanting for more.

  He slipped first one, then two fingers inside her, teasing her hole.

  She cried out, clenching him.

  Roane growled like a beast against her neck and drew his fingers out of her.

  He let go of the door in front of them and moved his other hand to her other thigh.

  His soft caress made her skin tingle.

  As Roane massaged her inner thigh, he toyed with the garter tied around the top of her stockings. A trickle of water poured down her leg.

  Roane pulled away on the instant. “Sweet mother of Jesus.”

  The smell of burning flesh assaulted Theo’s nose.

  “What in the gods’ name are you wearing, woman?”

  She turned around and sought Roane’s hand. The sizzle of burning skin echoed in her ears. Holy water. Her worst nightmare had just come true.

  Chapter Five

  Roane pulled his hand away and clamped his palm closed. “I didn’t want to have to explain it like this.”

  “Say nothing, Your Majesty. I know full well what you are.” And devil be damned, she wasn’t going to let him know who she was, especially now. The details of the night she broke into the Cu Maran crypt were something she’d have to take to her grave.

  “Theo, I’m not what you think I am.”

  “I’m fairly certain I know exactly what you are. Besides, it doesn’t really matter. Nothing you say or do will change my life at this point. I’m no longer a Barrett, but rather a Cu Maran. And I’ve been taught to make the best of the worst situations in life.”

  A look of true disappointment crossed Roane’s face.

  She knew she’d sounded harsh, but bloody hell, but what did the man expect? For her to welcome the fact he was vampire with open arms? Perhaps she should have chosen her words more carefully, but the fear rising in her soul made her talk when she should have remained silent. Some people clammed up, but she spilled her guts in the midst of terror.

  “Why are you armored with holy water?”

  She didn’t know what to say. The truth definitely wasn’t an option. “As a relic hunter, I never know what to expect in my daily life.” At least she gave a believable explanation. She’d hoped Roane thought so as well.

  “I assure you, you’ll have no need for holy water here at Cu Mara. You have nothing to fear, neither from me nor from anyone else. Despite tonight’s visit by the bats, the castle is an impenetrable fortress.”

  And just as strong against someone on the inside trying to break out. “I wish to retire for the night.” She didn’t want to talk to him anymore. She needed to plan an escape or some sort of plausible scheme to get herself out of Cu Mara. Visions of the slaughtered seals on the coast the night she’d explored the crypts came flooding back to her. If Roane harvested seals, then Dubheasa had every right to steal the selkie skin she sought. Perhaps the dark queen only desired the skin for proof against Roane. In the world of legends, Theo knew full well the laws governing right from wrong were vastly different than in man’s realm. In the Society, killing a seal was punishable by death. She wondered what implications the same crime had in the laws of the Vanishing Islands.

  Roane headed toward the door. “We aren’t finished discussing this matter, Theo. Sleeping won’t make it go away.”

  No, it wouldn’t, but she didn’t know what else to do at the moment. She needed time to herself to sort it all out. “I am your wife, Roane. I have no need to make this situation go away. For as long as we live, it will remain. I simply need some rest.” She turned and followed him toward the door.

  He reached for the inside handle but didn’t undo the latch. Instead, he tilted his head and stared at her, his dark eyes sincere. “I’ll see to it you have full access to my personal library here at Cu Mara. The household staff will be notified to allow you access to the collections.”

  The idea of spending her days researching pleased her, even if she knew Roane probably figured keeping her pent up in the library would mean she’d stay out of his hair and away from exploring the castle and the island. Playing the dutiful wife would have to do for now. “I won’t cause you any trouble, Roane. I’ll follow your rules to the letter, and I’ll spend my free time reading.” She reached for the door handle and pushed his hand ou
t of the way.

  The woman may think such a statement would appease him, but he was king of the selkies, for the gods’ sakes. And no one walked out on him, especially a woman who sounded more than a tad bit peeved at him. He wasn’t going to let her off so easily. He saw the sparkle in her eye, the mischief she tried, but failed, to hide from him. “About those rules, Theo.”

  She pulled her hand away from the door and eyed him straight on. “What about them?”

  “I never told you the fourth one.”

  She let out a deep breath and rolled her eyes. “Then tell me now.”

  “We both must fulfill our marital duties.”

  “I already said I’d be an amicable wife.”

  He smiled at her and prayed his expression looked as devilish as he felt. “The rule has nothing to do with being amicable.” He flicked his wrist and popped the latch on the door, opening the wood plank. “I need to talk to Connor about the matter of the tower. The time it will take me to address him should be ample time for you to prepare our marriage bed.”

  She gave him a wide-eyed stare. “You certainly can’t expect me to… I mean…after all that transpired here…”

  “Oh, I do indeed expect you to. And…” He reached his hand to her chin and tilted her head upward, admiring her pale beauty. “I expect you to enjoy it as well.”

  The door inched open.

  Roane dropped his hand from Theo’s chin and glanced over his shoulder. In the hall outside the tower room stood Connor, apparently waiting for him, a look of curiosity veiling his face.

  He hated to let Theo out of his sight, but Connor needed to know the severity of the situation. “If I may have a moment alone with my envoy, my queen.”

  “Take all the time you need,” she said, her lips turning upward in a fake smile.

  He stepped back and allowed Theo to pass. The scent of her rose perfume lingered in the air even after she turned the corner and vanished from his sight.