Star Blessed

Scents

MERIBELLA 

Water rocked the boat gently when she woke the next morning. Stretching her long legs, she suppressed the urge to moan with pleasure as her tense muscles relaxed and lengthened after a night of tossing and turning. The reality of what she'd agreed to do had finally come crashing down after last night's girl talk.

Meribella chuckled. When had she ever had a girl talk like that? Her grandmother and mother didn't count; their opinions on men were simple: just don't. How either of them had managed to conceive a child was a mystery.

From the sounds drifting down the stairs, Thorne was in the galley making breakfast. The fragrant aroma of maple and pancakes tugged her out of the bed. "That sounds amazing," she called out in a sing-song. That stopped abruptly when she saw their guest.

"B, why didn't you tell me Caspian was so scrumptious?" The young witch demanded while flipping an egg, her loamy skin glowing in the morning sunlight.

"I didn't really notice," Meribella lied, pouring herself a cup of coffee and trying to wipe the stink eye from her face. "How did you find me? I haven't been swimming lately."

The selkie gave a disarmingly handsome smile as he folded his large frame into one of the small kitchenette chairs. "Once I've scented someone, it doesn't take much. It helps that you stay near the water."

"Gods, you animal people and your noses," Thorne whined.

"Would you like to know what you smell like?" she asked her friend sweetly and was rewarded with a stuck out tongue.

"You'll have to forgive me. I do not know much about humans as we aren't permitted to interact with them unless the need arises. Do you not use your nose in the same way? Smells tell us a lot about each other. For instance, the desire rolling off of you let's me know that you would be receptive to sex."

Choking on the hot coffee she'd just swallowed, Meribella couldn't hold back her laughter. The other girl was mortified. She couldn't hide it.

"Oh, I'm sorry Thorne. You deserve this. Especially after last night."

"Did I say something wrong?" He reached out a hand to comfort Thorne, but she jerked back. Remembering the way he'd embraced her in the cottage, so soon after they'd met, Meribella wondered if selkies were given to being touchy feely. She'd have argued against that as no one in her family had ever been one for touching, but after the way she'd jumped Raff (now on two separate occasions), she hoped she could blame her wanton ways on genetics.

"Yes, here on dry land, we don't talk about sex when we've only known someone for five minutes."

Snorting, Meribella said, "That's stretching the truth. I know several people who don't take all that much time to get to that subject."

"Talking not having. There is a difference."

"So humans will have sex immediately, but not speak about it. Interesting."

Caspian tapped his chin, drawing her eyes to his strong cleft. He was handsome, light where Raff was dark. Perhaps an inch or two shorter, but still tall and well muscled. Who would win in a fight was a toss up, but as her mind skipped down the dangerous path of imagining them shirtless and sparring, she shook her head. No time for that.

"Not that I'm not thoroughly amused by this conversation," she began, trying to inject some of her old, icy demeanor into her words, "but really, what brings you back?"

He paused a moment before speaking. "You're much less emotional than when we spoke last."

"You didn't answer my question. And yes, I've a little more time to deal with the bomb you dropped." And I've found a possible solution.

"I'm still searching for Kai, but I wanted to check on you. I heard of your involvement with the Starless pack, and I wanted to make sure you were safe. You're just a human, and-"

"Excuse me," she shouted, her vision blurring with her anger. "Let's just unload those sentences. First of all, how the hell do you know who I'm involved with? Secondly, I may be human as you like to point out, but I am Star Blessed. And I have all the same selkie senses as you do. I can siren men, smell emotions, and shape water."

"Yeah, and thanks to me, she can kick ass with ease," Thorne added.

"Exactly. Even large asses liked yourself."

Caspian looked taken aback, but his dark eyes were wide with amusement. "My apologies. I've not met a selkie descendent like you before. I will keep in mind that you are capable, but please be careful. Our queen uses the Starless pack because they are ruthless. They will have no qualms about hurting you once you've served your purpose."

"Our queen?" It was her turn to be taken aback.

"Morgan LeFay."

"She's no queen of mine."

"Don't let her hear you say that. Fae blood runs through you, and as such, she will believe you are her subject."

"Oh," she grumbled, "Now I'm Fae. Of course."

"Meribella. Please don't fight me on this. A war is brewing in the supernatural worlds. It's part of the reason it's so important that I find Kai, and I don't want you-or your delectable friend- to be caught up in this."

Thorne trilled her fingers in front of Caspian's face, the pearl on her ring flashing. "I'm a witch dumbass. I'm involved, and whether you like it or not, B is involved too. But thanks for trying."

"What war?" It was times like this when Meribella resented how secluded she'd been kept from the world of magic and its people.

Before either of her companions could speak, a knock sounded on the door. Both of them shrugged as if to say they weren't expecting anyone, and since she was dressed more appropriately than Thorne, she stood to answer the door.

His scent hit her before she opened the door. Caspian must've smelled him when she did because he shot up out of his seat, his spine rigid and his body tense. Waving him back, she took a deep breath and twisted the knob.

"And how exactly did you find me? I gave you my number, not my address."

The smile on Raff's face was already falling, but it wasn't her words that caused the collapse. He pushed past her, his nostrils flaring as he caught wind of the other male in the house. "Excuse me!"

"Who is this Meribella?"

"Um-my cousin?" It wasn't a lie. Though, maybe it was another one of her half truths. Whatever it was, Raff didn't care for the answer.

The two men sized each other up, and she doubted it was with the same consideration she'd given when comparing the two earlier. Sighing, she stepped around Raff and snagged a bite of fresh fruit. A few months ago, she'd have been hyperventilating around all of these people, especially the posturing men. Now, she just wished they'd do what was needed to get over themselves.

Thorne moved to her side and munched on a piece of crispy bacon. "Do you wish you had popcorn for this?"

She remembered her fantasy of the two men shirtless and wrestling. "Oh yeah. Extra large."