Chapter 2 Finders Keepers
Caspian
I nearly spilled my beer when the woman walked in. Platinum hair spilled over her shoulders in shiny waves, framing beautifully tan skin and dark eyes. I couldn’t tell their color from across the room, but I had a feeling they were blue like storm clouds.
She moved to her table with such grace, she had to be a ballerina, or perhaps something more than human. I checked her ears—rounded. Not a fae, then. When she smiled, her teeth looked normal, so not a vampire or shifter either.
Adrian noticed my preoccupation and punched my shoulder.
My lip curled as I twisted to scowl at him. “What?”
He shrugged, his charcoal hair falling over his brow. “You see something you like? ”
“This monk? Absolutely not,” Malik said, leaning over to grin at me. His black hair shone in the string lights. He could pass for human until his smile grew a little too wide and displayed lengthened canines.
“Shut the fuck up,” I muttered, taking a swig from my drink. It took all of my self-control to keep my gaze on my brothers until they were sufficiently distracted.
Finally, I can sneak another look at the woman.
She spoke with a friend, and when her lips curved into a smile, it felt like I’d been punched in the gut. She was unreasonably gorgeous. I wanted a closer look, like sitting across the same table during a date or looking down at her when she was on her knees.
Fuck!
I’d never had that kind of reaction to anyone before. I shifted unconsciously in my seat, my jeans getting uncomfortable the longer I watched her. It took all of my self-control to not jump up and cross the restaurant to her.
“You totally see someone you like,” Adrian hissed, leaning into me. “Those cute witches over there?”
“Witches?” I asked, blinking at him.
“Oh yeah, I’ve met the one with purple hair. We have a mutual friend or two. But I don’t know the other chick.” He shrugged, his gaze lazily skimming over the crowd to come back to me. His mouth twisted into a suggestive grin. “Are you finally going to get laid? She looks like she’d be down to—”
It took a lot to piss me off, but joking that this witch was a meaningless hookup lit up my temper like the Fourth of July.
I narrowed my eyes in warning. “How about you be respectful for once in your damn life, Ari?”
“Yeesh, touchy!” he said. “Forget I said anything. Mal is right. You’re such a prude.”
“We can’t all be man whores like you,” I said under my breath.
Adrian clutched his chest. “You are so judgemental. You miss out on so much fun that way.”
“Not judging,” I said, raising my glass to my lips. “Just noting the differences between us.”
“You wish you were this charming,” he said with a wink. “Speaking of, I’ve got someone waiting for me.”
My eyes went back to the witch as Adrian stood up and said his goodbyes to Malik. Luckily, my middle brother was quiet and didn’t really care if I wanted to stare at a stranger all evening. I appreciated that no one would tease me for watching the pretty witch like an absolute creep.
After a while, Malik clapped his hand on my shoulder and headed out, leaving me at the bar alone. The two witches were almost done with the bottle of wine. I was far too fascinated with the blonde’s lips as she sipped from her glass.
She was entrancing. Every movement was a revelation. I knew I had to meet her, but I didn’t want to interrupt her evening with her friend. I was still trying to figure out what to do when she rose and hugged her friend. They walked out as I scrambled to get the bartender’s attention.
The disgruntled bartender glared at me, looking a little too much like Geralt of Rivia staring down a monster, when I made the mistake of snapping my fingers to get his attention.
“Please, I’ve got to go,” I said, wishing I had cash. He finally handed back my card. “Thanks.”
My heart pounded in my chest as I strode from the bar.
A soft tug in my chest pulled me to the right, and I turned, spotting her curvy figure.
Her hair looked like a lighter silver than mine in the moonlight.
My instinct was to run to her, but from the way her steps swayed, she was more than a little tipsy, and I’d probably scare the shit out of her.
My steps were clumsy as I tried to casually follow her. Trying to appear as just a normal dude out for an evening stroll, I headed back to where I’d stashed my selkie coat—definitely not a stalker following a gorgeous witch. I had to go this way anyway.
She moved to the sand and stooped to pull her shoes off. I bit my fist, trying to stay silent as she displayed her round ass. I didn’t know someone's ass could look that good. I wanted to sink my teeth into each rounded cheek and hear her gasp.
My hands clenched at my sides, and I willed my cock to stop getting hard. At least no one was there to see me acting like a horny teenager.
She dug her toes into the sand, and I nearly swooned. Yes, a six-foot-five selkie man, swooning over a woman I didn’t know. But she was quite possibly the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen, so who could blame me?
I took a deep breath and tried to psych myself up to approach her. We were almost back to my selkie fur, and I’d have no excuse to follow her any further after that.
Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I got ready to call out a greeting.
I can do this.
I’d tell her how beautiful she was, charm her, convince her to give me a chance. Something whispered in the back of my head that we were meant to be.
Just as I opened my mouth, she stopped and stooped, staring at one of the big rocks along the edge of the beach. My heart leapt into my throat. She lifted something very familiar and important to me—my selkie coat that allowed me to return to my seal form.
I stood there like an idiot, staring as the witch examined my coat and then carried it away.
How is this even possible?
Usually, people didn’t notice our coats. Hell, she’d ignored Adrian’s coat on the rock beside it like she hadn’t even seen it.
After my shock wore off, I lurched forward, trying to keep pace with her. My voice had dried up, and I curled my hands into fists as all my thoughts swirled around in my head.
The street was too quiet, too empty, and I would definitely scare her if I approached, so I forced myself to keep my distance, quietly trailing her as she climbed the steps to a condo. The door closed behind her, and the lock clicked into place.
My shoulders slumped. She was home safe, but she had my coat.
That wasn’t ideal.
Minutes ticked by as I stood in the shadows and tried to sort out the best plan of action. Ultimately, I’d have to come back the next morning. I didn’t want her opening the door to strange men in the middle of the night, even if it was me.
It felt like leaving a piece of myself behind. Ignoring the wrenching feeling in my gut, I started the long walk home. If I’d had my coat, I would have swam.
If I’d approached her earlier, I wouldn’t be in this situation. Maybe I’d even be back at her condo with her. Heat sparked through my body at the thought.
My feet ached by the time I made it back, and only a few hours remained until morning. Of course, I spent none of them sleeping. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw a full mouth and dark eyes surrounded by pale hair.
The moment the first hint of sunrise gleamed above the horizon, I was up, throwing on clean clothing and taming my mess of hair. I’d barely buttoned up my pants when I jogged down the stairs.
Malik sat at the kitchen island, eating an omelet as he typed away on his laptop. “Good morning, Cas. ”
“Morning,” I said absently. “I’m heading out, and I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”
“Cool.” Malik didn’t even look up. Good to know he wouldn’t be worrying about his baby brother. Hell, Adrian probably hadn’t even come home the night before.
Shaking my head, I closed the back door behind me and headed across the sand. Scowling, I turned toward the sidewalk, remembering I couldn’t shift and swim. I was in for another long walk.
The sun crept above the horizon, painting the ocean with streaks of orange and pink by the time I made it back across town. Residents enjoying the cooler weather whizzed past on their bicycles.
My feet led me right to her, as if she was a lighthouse leading me home. Stopping, I looked up at the pale blue condo.
What the hell am I going to say?
“Hey, I know we haven’t met, but you took my coat, and also can I please take you out? I think you’re gorgeous and I want to lick you all over?”
Poseidon's tits, I was all twisted up over this witch. I needed to focus on getting my coat back, and if I could charm her into a date, all the better.
Squaring my shoulders, I knocked on the door.
Nothing happened.
Tilting my head, I tried to listen for sounds of life inside. Quiet. Had she left? I knocked again, louder this time. A banging sound echoed inside the condo.
My body tensed as my anxiety spiked. Maybe she was hurt and needed me. That tether in my chest urged me forward, but I held myself back, clenching my hands at my sides.
The door inched open, and huge eyes the color of the deep ocean blinked at me.
I knew they’d be that color.
“Hello?”
“Hey,” I said, unable to help my smile. She was adorable, her pale hair in a messy bun on top of her head and smudges of dark makeup around her lashes.
“Can I help you?” she asked, her voice adorably husky.
“Oh, yeah, sorry,” I said, grimacing. “You actually have something of mine.”
“What?”
The door opened wider, and I was blessed with a view of a slouchy t-shirt draping over her delicious curves. Her nipples peaked the thin fabric, and I had to force my gaze away. My heart rate accelerated, my skin heating.
“Um, my coat?” I sounded so disoriented, she probably thought I was an idiot.
She stared at me for a few seconds before recognition lit up her features. “Oh! The fur coat! Wait, how did you know it was here?”
Good question.
“Tracking,” I said dumbly, not wanting to tell her I’d followed her home like a stalker. Besides, I could feel the draw of my coat nearby, so it was entirely plausible.
Her small hand curled around the edge of the door. Each finger was tipped with dark blue polish that matched her eyes. Instinctively, I reached out and brushed my hand over hers. It could have been an accidental touch, it was so casual and brief.
Those luminous eyes widened in shock, but I barely registered her reaction as magic raged through me. It was like being struck with lightning, and in that moment, I knew two things.
First, she was definitely a water witch, with her magic surging to meet mine.
Second, this little witch was my fated mate.