Page 48 of Selkie AU: Beyond the Storm

Silence.

“Selkie safe space,” I chuckled nervously.

Silence.

Yeah, that had been a stupid thing to say. I wouldn’t have responded either. Fuck, what was I supposed to say to them?

“Um, I don’t know what Milo told you… but… I want to help you with the poachers. I’m not sure how many of you there are, but as many as can fit on the boat are welcome.”

Silence.

I could feel the weight of their judgment as they assessed me and found me lacking.

“I know,” I said softly. “I’m… not much to look at. Not the best with words either, really. But… Milo… well, I know you aren’t supposed to interact with humans, but he says your goddess sent him to be with me. I’m not sure about that either.”

Good job, Rowan, really inspiring confidence here.

“Milo is… well, Milo deserves someone much better than me. I’ll agree with you there. He’s…” I inhaled deeply. “Well, everything. He’s light. He’s joy. He’sgood. I might not be worthy of him, but… with the permission of his people, and the goddess, I promise to do everything in my power every day to be good to him. I’ll care for him. I’ll keep him safe, well fed, and warm. I’ll provide for him. Whatever he wants, I’ll do everything I can to get it for him. I’ll protect him. I won’t ever tell anyone about what he is. I’ll never try to change him, or keep him from his people, or the sea. He’s a free spirit. A beautiful, spectacular hurricane.”

I smiled softly, feeling a warmth blossom in my chest that came with just thinking about my little hurricane. My savior. My Milo. My mate.

“I know it hasn’t been that long, but I know how I feel. I’ll be devoted to him with everything that I am. So please… please look past the fact that I’m a human, and see me for the man who’s well and truly fallen in love with Milo.”

The selkies watched me, their judgment still present. I wasn’t sure what else I could say to win them over.

There was a splash behind me, and I turned to see Milo pulling himself up onto the boat. Relief, hope, and warmth filled my soulas I went to him, wrapping him in my arms and not caring about the icy water dripping from his skin.

Milo’s hands smoothed over my neck as he pulled me down to him. Our lips clashed. He tasted like home. Milo’s tongue sought entrance and I granted it, met it with my own.

When we finally pulled back to breathe, our lips were pink and swollen. Milo gave me a wide grin. “You’re in love with me?”

I flushed. “Uh… yeah. Yes. I am. I probably should have told you that directly, before I told your people.”

“My people?”

I gestured my head toward the selkies behind us, and felt more heat rise to my cheeks remembering that they’d just watched us basically making out.

Milo tilted his head to the side as he looked behind me. “Those aren’t selkies, Rowan.”

“They aren’t?”

His grin grew wider. “Nope. Just seals. They can’t understand you.”

Well… that explained the silence.

Milo laughed before yanking me down into another kiss, just as passionate as the last. “I love you too,” he panted when we parted.

“Is someone going to help an old lady up, or do I have to do everything myself?” came a frail, feminine voice.

Milo was still grinning as he pulled away from me.

“This is my grandmother, Rowan. Aanaa Et’el. Leader of the selkies,” Milo said as he pulled a muchmuchsmaller woman up onto the boat.

She was just as naked as Milo, and I hadn’t considered the fact we were about to lead dozens of naked selkies in a mission to rescue Miki’s coat. I only had a moment to come to terms with it before something else he’d said became far more important. “Wait,leaderof the selkies?”

“Yes. Queen of selkies.”

“That would make you—”