6
The mention of my teeth was like a bucket of cold water going down my back.
It was a conversation I’d never had to have before, but there were more than enough stories of revealing our true selves going very very badly. Some Selkies had died for being honest. Others were enslaved.
Some had their pelts torn apart. Just having mine stolen had hurt in a way I had not imagined. I could only dream that the feeling would be akin to ripping your skin from your bones. And to always have that ache and not being able to become one with the sea again?
Humans had a bad track record with our kind.
The thought sobered the heat in the room. I took a step back. Max let me go, though not completely. Somehow our hands met and fingers entwined between us. It was a tether. One I didn’t know I needed as I let out a shaky breath.
Max’s head was tipped to the side, brows drawing together. The obvious concern eased the stabbing feeling in the pit of my gut. Just a little.
“I don’t know if you’d believe me if I told you.”
No matter how safe he made me feel, Max was still human. There were so many things that could go wrong. I hoped that everything would go right, though.
“You could try me.” A small grin. More of the pain eased. “You did follow me all the way here. Maybe I’m the one who should be worried?”
Given how different our physiques were, without the supernatural edge, Max would have the advantage hands down.
“You were having a bath earlier? It would be better to show you.”
Max didn’t say anything. Instead, he walked backward. The tether of our hands brought me along with him.
The bathroom had an ocean theme. It was fitting. Even the design was locally inspired and I recognised the scenery. Many of those places I had swum before.
The water was still warm. Max must have thought he would make it back into the bath after answering the door. The salts he used smelled like him. I could imagine him floating in the water till the scent had become such a part of him it couldn’t be separated from his skin.
I wondered how I would feel once I smelled the same as Max. Right now, it did nothing but excite me. Even supernatural bodies were prone to stupidity as much as humans.
Letting out a breath, I undressed, my pelt carefully placed on the towel rail first. I did it so often the movements were almost mechanical; my human body sometimes did not feel like my own.
“Are you sure?” Max hand gripped my arm. His brow was furrowed but the touch was just warm.
Patting the arm, I popped the button on my jeans. Max’s pupils were so wide, and he twitched beneath his sweats again. Even with the obvious seriousness our bodies were in sync.
Perhaps they were smarter than I gave them credit for.
“It’s you who will need to be sure after this.”
I was careful as I extracted myself from his hold, pulling my pelt back over my shoulders. It was hard to be graceful in a small bath but I was small enough and my body knew what to do when my feet hit the water. It was like coming home.
Even as I turned to face Max, the change was happening. I was larger as a seal, but it was in a different way, and I could hear my joints pop and shift as I grew. Most supernatural shifters were larger than the animal they became, and harbour seals were not known for their small stature.
My pelt melted into me, the prickle of fur covering my skin only lasting a moment, and I folded my legs as if to kneel. It brought me closer to the water and my fins began to shape.
The change was usually instantaneous. We were known to move from one shape to the next quickly; a defence mechanism. Orca liked to surge onto land; being able to change to human legs quickly had been a must for my ancestors. But today I let it come slower. I wanted Max to see me. To know what he was getting into.
Colours disappeared from my sight; I missed that more than anything else. Not being able to blink meant I didn’t miss a moment of Max’s widening eyes, of his hand going to his mouth. The surprised gasp was at least better than a scream.
Fear inched through me and I fought with my instincts. I wanted to thrash and surge out of the bath. To swim and get away from what was threatening me.
Stamping it down, I grunted, trying not to sound terrified. That would not be a good sound for a seven-foot seal that was now in Max’s cramped bath.
“Are you...” The words were muffled by his hand but they weren’t angry. More awe filled. “Are you a Selkie?”