Page 42 of Selkie AU: Beyond the Storm

“Okay, good. Come here.”

He fell into me immediately, and I placed a soft kiss on the top of his head. “Whatever is happening, we’ll get to the bottom of it together,” I said, smoothing my hands up and down his back.

Milo’s arms wrapped around me firmly. “Okay,” he said again, sounding calmer. “Together.”

I kissed him again, then released him as he shed his coat and hat. I put them away, then went to make us a warm drink and put away our shopping from the market.

“Can we get her alone?” Milo asked, as I handed him the hot mug and took a seat beside him on the blankets.

“It’ll be tricky. They go everywhere together.”

His lip pulled up in a snarl.

“We’ll help her,” I assured him, smoothing my hand over his thigh.

Milo sighed as he dropped his head onto my shoulder. “Why can’t all humans be like you?”

“Humans probably wouldn’t survive as a species if they were all like me.”

Milo huffed. “If they aren’t like you, maybe they shouldn’t.”

I chuckled, leaning my head to rest on top of his. I didn’t know exactly what we were going to do in order to help Miki and her child, but I knew Milo was going to do whatever it took, and I knew I was going to help him.

“We need more information,” I said after thinking it over for a while. “I can’t remember a time I haven’t seen them together, and I doubt he’s going to let us talk to her alone. What if… we try to observe them for a while? See if we can get any more information that way. And if they separate, we can try to talk to her then.”

Milo exhaled heavily. “Why can’t we just grab her and the baby and bring them here?”

“Well, we don’t know what he’s capable of, or where he’s hidden the coats. If we force them apart, he could be dangerous.”

“Yeah, but you’re bigger and stronger than him.”

“I’d still rather not fight him unless there’s no other option.”

“I’ll fight him, then,” Milo grumbled.

“No.” I wrapped my arm around him, holding him closer to me. “You need to stay safe. Just let me handle Panak, okay?”

Milo huffed.

“Okay?” I asked again, poking him gently in the side.

“Mmmm fine. But if you’re in danger, then I’m fighting him.”

Well, I’d just have to make sure that didn’t happen. I wanted to help Miki, but keeping Milo safe would always be my priority.

Panak’s home was close to the docks and surrounded by other houses. The plan was to scope out the situation and not get seen.

I had my doubts about how stealthy Milo could be, but he seemed completely on board with the plan and, for the moment, was sticking close and silent behind me.

They mostly kept the curtains closed, but slight beams of light guided us to the potential areas we might be able to peek inside.

This felt so strange. My heart thumped rapidly in my chest, adrenaline building in the face of potential danger and the unknown.

The first room was a living room and kitchen. My heart rate escalated as I saw Panak. He was turned away from me, his attention on what he was cooking, and he seemed to be alone. That was good.

I turned to show Milo, only to find he wasn’t there anymore.

I scanned the darkness and came up empty, my heart speeding even more as I rounded the corner of the house, ensuring to step as lightly as possible, though my boots still made soft crunches over the snow.