Star Blessed

Threats

Gods she loved the ocean. The way the water infused every cell of her body with power, but what she loved even more was the way it felt to have her arms around this man while she was submerged.

"Just remember, you asked for it." His eyes widened, but she couldn't pinpoint the emotion that played across his face. Acceptance? Disappointment? Curiosity?

Fighting through the cold, she called on her ability to manipulate water and tugged him beneath the waves. He didn't even take a last breath as his dark head disappeared. If he could've heard her, she would've cussed him for being a stubborn fool. As it was, she held him under long enough to suggest that she might go through with his stupid plan before using the water to race them to shore.

Meribella lifted him over the jutting rocks and deposited his wet, sputtering form on the beach as she let her own feet settle back on dry land. Fat water droplets rolled down Raff's incredulous face, but he didn't say a word as she sent each molecule back to the ocean, leaving his dark hair tousled and slightly curled, but dry.

"Would it be wrong to make a joke about you looking like a wet dog?"

"That was..." he began. "Something else."

"I believe the word you were looking for was impressive." She hoped he would leave it at that. From what Caspian had implied, her gift of hydrokinesis could be tied to being Star Blessed. It would be a grave error to imply that all selkies were capable of such feats only to find out later she was wrong. This tangled web she'd weaved was growing more and more fragile with every story she told.

"It was certainly that." He stood, his impressive height stirring something warm inside of her. Few men had ever made her feel small and feminine, her own height often matching or exceeding theirs, and she found it incredibly attractive.

The Alpha walked to her side, his arctic eyes void of emotion, and she wished, not for the first time, that she could read his thoughts. "Are you angry?"

"That you couldn't kill me?" The ice melted. He chuckled. "No. Even though it would make things so much easier on you."

"But what about your men? I can't take their leader from them."

"We're well prepared for a leadership chain. Every werewolf knows their place, right down to the Omega. If something were to happen to me, Lincoln would assume control."

"Regardless, I'm not worth your life."

Raff slid his fingers through hers. "We'll just have to agree to disagree. Now, if you don't mind, could we perhaps find something to eat?"

"Food? You want to talk about food at a time like this?"

They were almost back to the main street, but he came to a sudden halt. "What else is there to discuss. Tell me if I've missed anything? You made a piss poor decision, came back to kill me, and have decided you're not going to?"

"Well- that's the gist, yes."

"Okay, then the only thing we need to talk about is how we're going to get the skin from the Starless pack without trading my head for it. And that is a conversation that can take place over food."

He started walking again, his grip firm as he pulled her along. The sidewalks were much more crowded than they'd been when they were walking to the beach, and Meribella couldn't help but noticed the stares directed at Raff. Some were looks of concerned, but most people looked at him with something akin to respect.

The truth came crashing down. Mac was a complete and utter liar. None of his story could be true. Not when she had so much evidence to the contrary, and that meant she had to find out the real reason he wanted this good man dead. But could she tell Raff the truth now? After spinning that story on the beach. No, wait until you have more answers.