In the Shadow of the Selkie

by M. A. duBarry

  She ran her fingers through his hair and over the back of his neck.

  He lifted his head and nuzzled her ear, the points of his fangs grazing her skin.

  “Do you need to feed from me, Roane?”

  He raised his head and gave her a glaring look.

  The question seemed innocent, to Theo. She didn’t know what angered Roane.

  He ran his tongue over his teeth and then retracted his fangs. “No,” he said. “I can…control the vampire to a degree. But I can’t promise I will always succeed in that area, Theo. Eventually, we’ll need to talk about the vampire that rules my soul.”

  “What does it feel like?”

  “Being vampire?”

  “Being made,” she said.

  He took a deep breath and rolled onto his back, pulling her with him. “It’s a magical experience…the union of two souls bound together for all eternity…”

  Theo pondered the thought. She could easily accept being linked to Roane for all time. “Are you bound to the one who made you?”

  He didn’t answer her.

  “Roane?”

  “I fear the rest of this conversation will have to wait for now. It’s almost dawn, I can sense the sun and I have little control over the sleep that claims my body at sunup.”

  She brushed a stray hair from his forehead. “I don’t think I can stay awake much longer either, Roane. Our talk can wait.”

  With Roane’s arm wrapped around her waist, Theo drifted off to sleep, her body well sated. If only her mind were as relaxed and not so focused on Dubheasa and the crypt, and the uneasy sense that, if Roane ever turned her, she’d have to share him with his maker.

  Chapter Seven

  Theo pushed down the blanket and stretched. Between Roane’s lovemaking and the warm bath, she’d slept like a baby, something she hadn’t done in years. Life with a vampire king was something she could easily get used to, if it weren’t for thoughts of Dubheasa still plaguing her mind. Mayhap her father did make the right choice for her. The notion of her marriage arrangement perplexed her—she didn’t believe her father knew he was marrying her off to a creature of the night. The man simply wouldn’t do something so severe. She’d hoped soon Roane would take her back to the mainland, but for now, she’d enjoy learning about his dark, mysterious world. And she had the seals. Cu Mara was a haven for the kind-eyed animals.

  Thoughts of Roane’s wicked touch came rushing back to her. Theo rolled onto her side and reached for her husband, but much to her dismay, found him gone already. Maybe she’d overslept. With only an oil lamp for light, she didn’t know if it was day or night. This rising at dusk and sleeping at dawn was going to take some getting used to.

  She pushed the covers down and rose from the bed. A pale pink-colored gown sat draped over the chair next to the tub. Her ladies’ maid must have been in the room while she slept because Theo didn’t remember the dress being laid out before she’d gone to bed. Neither did she remember moving her undergarments from the floor, but they now sat neatly folded on the chair.

  Dismissing the thought, she made her way across the room and reached for the stockings. Her garters sat perched on top. After securing the silk hosiery to her legs, she grabbed a small oak nail from the mantel and slipped it inside the secret pocket. Theo didn’t think she’d actually need the weapons here at Cu Mara, but her habit of having at least one safeguard on her person wasn’t something she was willing to give up yet. Feeling better with the nail hidden in her garter, she leaned over and picked up the gown. Small roses were embroidered onto the fine silk. The dress wasn’t one she’d brought with her from the mainland.

  “Do you like it?” Roane’s voice called from somewhere behind her.

  Theo turned around, startled. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

  He ignored her comment. “Most of the household is still asleep,” he said as he made his way over to where she stood.

  Theo noted his tight black breeches and shiny boots. From the waist down he was dressed impeccably. From the waist up he was naked. The sight of Roane’s bare, muscled chest and strong arms made her think wicked thoughts. Over his right shoulder he carried a white shirt and cravat, the lace from his neckerchief sticking out from beneath the shirt hem.

  Roane tossed the clothing items onto the bed and turned his full attention to her. In his hand he carried two pink ribbons. “I’m sorry we couldn’t have dinner with your parents yesterday, Theo, but I hope you understand now, considering my vampyric state.” He placed the ribbons on the chair, then took the gown from her hands. Standing behind her, Roane slid the garment over her head. He ran his fingers over her breasts as he straightened out the fabric.

  Theo reveled in the sensation, but didn’t voice her feelings. “I don’t hold grudges, if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

  “Then you won’t mind if tonight we dine with my brother?”

  The thought he had a family hadn’t crossed her mind before.

  He offered a devilish grin. “Why should my having a brother seem so strange to you?”

  She didn’t know, really, she just hadn’t expected a vampire to have a bloodline. She wondered if he’d had any offspring…if he could…

  “I have no children, no mistress. My world is Cu Mara.”

  She hated him reading her mind. She also hated the fact he hadn’t mentioned her in his statement. Even in an arranged marriage the wife counted for something. Apparently vampyric unions were different.

  He really had to refrain from eavesdropping on Theo’s thoughts. If he gave in to her desires, she’d only end up hurt, and when he had a whole species to worry about, personal feelings had no place in the matter. His feelings for his brother were the closest thing to what he imagined was known as love. Theo would simply have to accept his cold heart, for he had nothing else to offer. Perhaps, as his wife, she didn’t deserve such stark treatment, but he couldn’t give what he didn’t have. And he had made the mistake of letting his guard down once in the past and that error of judgment cost him his mortal soul. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. Besides, the woman did try to kill him. Remembering the night at the crypt made his coldness a bit easier to justify.

  He felt compelled to give her an explanation about his family. “My parents were killed when I was eleven, leaving Miles and me alone for most of our lives. My brother is ten years younger than me. He’s never been to the mainland, and he’s infatuated with my role as king of Cu Mara. For some odd reason he believes my life to be full of wild adventures.”

  “And is it?”

  The question caught him off guard. So did Theo’s present recollection about the battle with the bats and their later lovemaking. He shook his head in an attempt to erase her thoughts from his, but it did him little good. “I’d hardly call fighting off an onslaught of flying beasts an adventure. Maybe what followed, yes, but definitely not the battle part.”

  “Please don’t read my mind, Roane.”

  “Forgive me. It’s just so easy and natural for me.”

  Theo worried her bottom lip. A bright rose color blushed her cheeks. “Is there any way we can prevent this exchange of thoughts?”

  He blocked out what she was thinking at the moment, but by the look on her face, he didn’t need to be a mind reader to know what illicit thoughts were dancing in her head. “I’ll try my best to concentrate elsewhere, Theo, but I can’t promise I won’t slip every now and then. If you do the same, we will at least have fewer incidents. I can offer nothing more.”

  “I can live with that,” she said, her cheeks still flushed.

  He leaned over her and retrieved the pink ribbons from the seat cushion. “I bought these for your hair, to match the dress. Without having met you, I had no idea what you liked. I hope you’ll wear these tonight.”

  She took the ribbons from his hand. The soft caress of her fingers against his palm made him catch his breath. “They’re beautiful, Roane.” She handed the ribbons back to him. “Can you lace them through
my hair or at least around the chignon?”

  “Of course.” He waited for her to gather her long black locks and wrap them in a neat pillow at her neck.

  “There,” she said, dropping her hands from her hair.

  Roane looped the first ribbon where Theo had pinned her hair at her neck. The second he laced through the first, letting it cascade over the shiny pillow of hair she’d wrapped so neatly. The pink color accentuated the ribbons against her dark locks and he had the sudden urge to undo his handiwork along with hers and smother his face in her silky hair. He pressed against her, the scent of roses filling his nose. Roane imagined life shared with Theo could be a good thing. Perhaps he did have room in his heart for more than just political work.

  Theo’s thoughts bolted into his head. She liked him so near her, so close against her body she could feel the heat of his vampyric blood.

  He needed to focus his attentions elsewhere before his body reacted to Theo’s thoughts. Blocking her out of his mind wasn’t going to be easy. “About dinner…my brother has a vivid imagination. Don’t put much thought into his tall tales.” He stepped away.

  She turned and smiled. “Does he fancy the myths?”

  “Far more than he should.” He lied, but at least that would cover any slip of the tongue Miles might have. Leaving Connor to the task of keeping an eye on the young man might not have been the best of ideas. Roane prayed to the gods his brother wouldn’t divulge all their selkie secrets, especially the one about how he was made vampire.

  Chapter Eight

  After Roane left her in the bedroom, Theo headed down to the library and started searching through the countless volumes of myths and legends. The man had an incredible collection of ancient texts, even surpassing her father’s. As she scanned the shelves with her hand, relishing the feel of the worn leather bindings, a small hook caught her dress sleeve.

  Theo cursed a mild oath, but managed to free the garment without too much damage to the fabric. Only a single loose thread hung from her sleeve cuff.

  She turned her attention back to the books. A nagging voice echoed in her head. Eyeing the far end of the shelf, she gazed at the small hook. Sticking out in the middle of the wood ledge from beneath a large volume of political documents, the crooked piece of iron didn’t appear as if it belonged there.

  Theo edged her fingers back along the shelf. She glanced over her shoulder to make certain no one watched her. The sound of servants’ voices echoed from the hall outside the library. Satisfied the household was busy enough with various chores, Theo threw caution to the wind. She flicked the hook with her forefinger and stepped back, waiting to see if anything happened. The room remained the same, no sliding bookcase, no secret door, nothing. She shrugged and went back to scanning the books. Mayhap a stray hook was simply what it appeared to be and nothing more. She really needed to curb her overactive mind.

  She returned her focus to the books as the distinct smell of musty, old paper wafted to her nostrils. A breeze ruffled her dress. Theo looked down and searched for the source of the cold air. Much to her amazement, she noticed a square vent under her feet.

  She knelt and pulled on the grate, and the metal covering lifted with ease. Inside the small space, Theo slid her hand under the floor and felt several leather-wrapped packages. She retrieved them one by one and stacked them on the sofa next to her.

  As she started to unwrap the first package, a single piece of parchment fell out. She studied the paper and noted it was a list of the Cu Mara family lineage. She traced her fingers over the writing, working her way from the top of the page down to the very bottom. The last lines were added in different ink.

  Roane Cu Mara, Selkie of the First Blood

  Miles Cu Mara, Selkie of the First Blood

  Her heartbeat escalated. She gasped and reread the words. In the Barrett family tree, each name was followed by a similar notation, only instead of Selkie of the First Blood, her family names read Selkie of the First Blood once Removed. Her family hailed from an ancient line referred to as that of the Children of the Selkie, descendants of mortals who coupled with selkies. The implication of what she read in the hidden volumes could mean only one thing. Roane was not only vampire but also a selkie vampire. He was born of the very creature her family lived to protect. She thought back to the sealskin on the wall in the tower. Roane didn’t hunt selkies. He was one.

  Dubheasa came to mind. It had to be her and her vile bats that were killing the seals. Only the dark queen would hunt the kind, loving selkies. The thought disgusted her.

  A maid entered the adjoining room.

  Theo grabbed the leather-bound packages and placed them back under the floor. She reached for the grate and returned it to its former position. Rising from her knees, she headed out of the library and up to the tower. Thoughts of the tapestry haunted her mind. She had the distinct notion the sealskin hidden behind the wall hanging didn’t exist solely to warm the room. Nor was it a prized trophy. The skin had to be selkie and it had to be Roane’s. The tower was his personal space. And if it was his, it would make sense why Dubheasa thought the skin would be in the crypt.

  Theo pondered the situation for several seconds. Roane was selkie. And a vampire.

  A cold chill ran down her spine.

  Dubheasa didn’t care for Roane’s possessions, she was after him. Theo cursed to herself. She should have seen through the dark queen’s wicked scheme.

  A bevy of emotions assaulted her senses as a second, more frightening, realization settled in her brain. Roane was the selkie she’d staked in the crypt. He was the creature she’d made love to. The realization stirred her to the core. She didn’t even want to begin to think about the consequences should Roane realize he’d taken a bride who had attempted to kill him.

  But she still couldn’t figure out why the dark Fin-Folk queen wanted Roane’s selkie skin in the first place. The one who owned the skin controlled the selkie to whom the skin belonged. And Theo knew firsthand, controlling Roane was something no soul could do, least of all a woman.

  Theo made her way up the last few steps of the winding staircase leading to the tower. At the top landing she turned and headed toward the end of the corridor. Knowing she’d have no luck without a device similar to Connor’s, Theo lifted the hem of her gown and reached for the small silver knife tucked in the top of her stocking. She prayed a silent prayer to the gods and begged them to let this work. The knife slid into the dagger hole with ease. A second later the latch clinked.

  Theo breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the door open. As she stepped inside the tower, she reached for one of the flaming torches flickering overhead in the entryway.

  Stagnant air assaulted her nose as it had the night before, but this time she didn’t mind it as much. The only thing she cared about was getting a better look at the selkie skin hidden behind the tapestry. She headed toward the window and used her knife to undo the lock. With fresh coastal air filtering into the room, the tower’s atmosphere didn’t seem so stagnant.

  She went back to the tapestry. Stopping in front of the floor-to-ceiling wall hanging, she searched the area for a place to set the flaming torch. A metal sconce dipped forward from the wall. Setting the torch in its holder, she turned her full attention to the sealskin. She studied the brown fur and noted several darker patches dotting the smooth surface. The skin’s color matched that of Roane’s eyes. As she searched for telltale signs providing definite proof, a cold chill caressed her spine.

  “Never leave a window open in the presence of a vampire,” a voice said from somewhere behind her. A voice she knew all too well.

  Theo shuddered. “Dubheasa?” A knot of fear twisted in her stomach. She hadn’t realized the evil queen was also a vampire.

  A dark shadow formed to her right, a woman’s outline taking definite shape from a black mass. “I never would have believed him to have kept it here all these years. The crypt was a much better hiding place.”

  “What are you doing here?”

/>   Dubheasa smiled and then wrapped her arms around Theo’s shoulder as if they were long lost friends. “You disappoint me, Theodosia. I had such high hopes for you.”

  “You destroy the very lives my father and I protect. I will never join your cause.”

  The dark queen pursed her lips. “Tsk, tsk, such cruel words. And you haven’t even heard my offer.”

  “I think it best you take your leave, lest I shout for Roane.”

  Dubheasa played with Theo’s hair. She ran her gnarly fingers through the loose strands and untied the ribbons Roane had given her earlier in the evening. “He won’t come,” she said.

  Theo pulled away from the dark queen. “Maybe not for you, but he will for me.”

  “He can only do what his maker allows him to do, my dear Theodosia. Did he not tell you this?”

  Shock accosted her every nerve. From her head to her toes, Theo felt every inch of her body go numb. Dubheasa made Roane. …A magical experience…the union of two souls bound together for all eternity… Roane could never love her. He was owned by Dubheasa and shared something with the dark queen she would never experience with him.

  “I see you do understand, my dear. Don’t you?”

  She couldn’t speak.

  “I’ve one last proposition for you, Theodosia. And it concerns your beloved Roane.” Dubheasa ran a scaly finger over Theo’s neck. “Give me your life-force and I will free your selkie king.”

  “Life-force?”

  Dubheasa covered her lips with her hand, portraying a fake look of shock. “Perhaps I’ve revealed too much,” she said from behind her fanned fingers.

  “Don’t mock me, Dubheasa. I want to know the truth.”

  The dark queen dropped her hand from her face. “Roane needs your life-force to stay alive. It’s Fate’s cruel way of making you pay back your crime of staking him. Only the energies from your soul will do.”

  So he’d married her solely to kill her. The fact devastated Theo. But she had a duty to the selkie. And that was something she couldn’t neglect, even if she wanted to. She had a duty to the Barretts and giving up went against everything she’d been taught. “I’ll agree, but under one condition.”