Page 45 of Selkie AU: Beyond the Storm

A tiny cry broke the tension. Miki pulled her hand from Panak’s before disappearing into one of the side rooms.

I cleared my throat awkwardly, and Panak scratched the back of his neck as he stood up again. “You’ll be staying for dinner, then. I’ll make more,” he said, dismissing himself to the kitchen.

Milo looked at me with big puppy dog eyes and a pleading pout on his lips. I wasn’t sure if he knew how much he was agreeing to here, or if this was just a normal thing selkies would do for each other, putting themselves in danger to save one of their own. The world would be a much better place if humans were more like that.

Miki returned, a silver-haired baby Sila in her arms. He wasn’t crying anymore, but his lower half was wrapped in what was undeniably a white fluffy seal coat.

Milo’s feet tapped excitedly on the floor before he stood up and walked over to her to greet the baby. He cooed at Sila, who grabbed his offered finger. Miki smiled before holding the baby out to him, and Milo happily accepted.

“Aren’t you just the sweetest,” Milo fussed as he sat down again next to me. “Look, Rowan. He’s so precious. We’re going to have a baby soon too, and you’ll both be the best of friends,” he declared, booping the baby on the nose.

Miki didn’t seem at all surprised by his words. She smiled softly at us before going to help Panak in the kitchen.

“We’re going to save your mama, aren’t we, Rowan?” he asked, giving me those puppy dog eyes once more.

I sighed. “We’ll do what we can,” I promised him. I just hoped it would be enough.

22

Milo

We were going to get Miki’s coat back. I was absolutely sure of it. Rowan was less sure, but he couldn’t feel the guidance of the goddess like I could. Rowan had worries that we would already be too late, that the coat would have been moved or sold and they would no longer have it, but I knew my goddess wouldn’t have pulled me to Miki if I wasn’t able to help her.

If we were going to be successful, though, we were going to need help. Panak wouldn’t leave Miki’s side, and Miki wouldn’t go back to the people who had hurt her and stolen from her. They also had cute baby Sila to watch over. We were all in agreement that the family needed to stay here, where it was safe.

I also acknowledged that facing the poachers on our own was too risky. We needed backup, and I knew just where to get it.

The sky promised us hope, rainbow lights guiding our way as the boat carried us over pitch-black waters. This was going to work.

The moment we’d stepped out of Panak and Miki’s home, I felt the familiar pull I’d dreaded most of my life. The call to return to the colony, the call of my duties.

I knew what it meant, though. It wasn’t that I had to go back and take up the role formerly assigned to me. It was the goddess telling me where to go next. The closer we got to the colony, the stronger I felt the pull.

“Slow down,” I told Rowan, and he listened immediately.

Once he pulled the boat to a full stop and killed the motor, I yanked him against me, claiming his lips furiously. Saving Miki was my mission, but Rowan was still and always would be my purpose. Once Miki had her coat returned, and we’d taken care of the nasty poachers, then we’d get the goddess’s blessing and we’d be able to start our own family. I just knew it.

“I wish you could come with me,” I whispered against his lips.

“So do I,” he responded. “Be safe, please, Milo.”

I nodded. “I will. I’ll be back soon, I promise.”

His eyes looked so sad as I stepped away from him. Maybe one day there’d be a way for me to take him to the colony. As it was, he wouldn’t be able to hold his breath for long enough to get there.

I pulled my coat on, giving him one last long glance, before sliding off the boat and into the icy dark waters.

Darker and darker. Colder and colder.

The further I got from the surface, the more my heart reached for Rowan, even if my soul pulled me back toward the colony. I needed to do this quickly, so I could get back to him.

When the waters were at their darkest, and my seal’s eyes could hardly see, tiny lights sparkled in the distance, signaling home.

More appeared as I approached, and from this distance, it felt like swimming above the stars. The comb jellies were strong and happy. The colony cared well for them, and their population flourished enough to light up our home. There was a smaller population of biofluorescent snailfish visible once I got closer. Greens, oranges, and iridescent blues.

The entrance to the colony was concealed behind overgrown reeds and seaweed. I made my way through the long passage, dark once more until I neared the surface.

The walls glowed a soft blue from strategically placed aurora stones. I shed my coat, slinging it over my shoulder.