I spread my arms wide, a silent ask. With a hesitant smile, Ophelia steps into them. Hugging me.
Gods, each one of these is better than the last.
“You didn’t hurt anyone. That’s all that matters.” I breathe in her smoky cinnamon scent. “If you caught on fire in the middle of town, there probably would have been some PR damage control and a stern talking-to from the Mythic Council. But in Folk Haven, our kind isn’t punished for what we are. I’m sorry if that’s what you were led to believe.”
“I don’t want to live with Georgiana anymore,” Ophelia confesses. “She’s not near as bad as my father, but sometimes, she reminds me of him.”
Fuck. One more person in the firebird’s life causing her pain.
“We can find you another place to live.”
I consider asking Mor about a free room in the library. There should be one since I moved out.
But as if she can read my mind, Ophelia shakes her head. “I can’t live here.” She tilts her chin toward the Victorian structure. “With my fire and the books, I’d be too worried all the time.”
“Mor would still have you.” She’d probably just start frantically researching fireproofing spells. “But there are other places to rent in town, I’m sure.” Just as I say the words, an idea comes to me. “Actually, I might know of a place. A temporary one, but if they agree, you could use it while you search for another.”
Ophelia stares up at me, an adorable streak of soot on her face. “What place?”
I grin. “How do you feel about selkies?”
11
OPHELIA
Broderick should have knownI was a fan of selkies. One of my bosses is one after all.
And Owen MacNamara’s house is exactly the destination the witch had in mind. Well, more like the MacNamara homestead. Turns out, the family of selkies—one of Folk Haven’s founding families—owns a stretch of land along one of the coves. Multiple houses litter the property.
And one Airstream trailer.
Delta Novac is mated to Calder MacNamara—Owen’s brother—and she used to use the trailer as an office before she stopped working remotely as a professor and recently joined the Ramla staff. She’s Broderick’s colleague—also a faculty member in the English department—and mentioned to him that her trailer wouldn’t get much use with her having an official office at the university.
He called her as I was busy washing ashes off of my skin in the library bathroom. The dragon shifter was happy to immediately start renting me the place for the rest of thesummer, especially when her brother-in-law gave me a glowing review.
I didn’t realize my work ethic had impressed my boss so much.
“Is it going to be weird, having me living here? As one of your employees?” I ask.
Owen lingers in the doorway of the Airstream as I maneuver around the compact space. He showed up with the plan to help me move in, only to discover all my belongings fit into two duffel bags.
The selkie smirks. “Nope. As long as you keep your mouth shut about my nude sunrise yoga routine.”
My horror must show on my face because he bursts out laughing.
“I’m kidding!” He chortles. “It’s fine. You’re an outstanding employee. And now, my parents can grow enamored with you and forget about their errant son. Mark my words—less than twenty-four hours from now, you’ll have a dinner invite.”
I try not to grimace. After last night’s horrendous dinner, I’m antsy at the thought of future social events.
Unaware of my disquiet, Owen turns to acknowledge someone over his shoulder. “And here’s the professor.”
I lean down to glance out the small window above the desk in time to see a red head of hair passing by. Owen steps down from the entryway, and Broderick appears.
“She found the spare.” He holds up a key.
Delta greeted me when I first arrived, giving me a brief tour of the camper, then went back to the house she shares with Owen’s younger brother to search for the second key. Broderick offered to go with her so I could unpack my belongings.
I find I like how small this space is. The compact camper makes it feel like the tiny number of items I own was planned.
