What Ophelia and I did.
What she said.
“… if I can keep anything, I want that to be you.”
She doesn’t realize yet how easy I’ll make it for her to keep me.
At the sound of a rumbling motor, I straighten further in my seat, searching for the flash of her truck through the trees. But there’s nothing. Only a nudge on my arm. I glance over and realize Niko was the one to claim my attention, and he’s pointing toward the water.
A pontoon boat lazily turns into the inlet, and seated at the very front is Ophelia. She faces into the wind, the breeze playing with the long golden strands of her hair. Her eyes are closed, and she’s smiling.
I wonder if she’s thinking of flying.
“Ahoy!” Owen calls out from behind the wheel as he slows the pontoon to a crawl and aims for our dock. “When Ophelia told me where she was headed, I thought I’d offer my services. Who wants a happy-hour boat ride?”
We have a dock, but no boat, so everyone climbs on board for the novel experience. At first, I’m worried that our whole group won’t fit. But I shouldn’t have been concerned. The boat is basically a floating living room, and our party of nine settles in, close, but not crowded. Especially because Ame and Jack only take up one seat.
The PDA between my sister and her wolf boyfriend was awkward at first, but I’ve grown used to it. Plus, it’s not like they’re making out in front of everyone. The werewolf simply has an incurable need to hold her.
As Ophelia settles at my side, I have a sudden, deep understanding of that urge. Despite the warmth of the summer night, I still lean closer, soaking in her hot cinnamon presence.
“Do you want something to drink? Owen stocked a cooler.” She points to a large Yeti tucked into one of the few sections of the boat without seating. “He said he wants to form a selkie-witch alliance, and booze is the best friend–maker.”
I already finished my first beer, but saying yes means she’ll leave my side even if only for a moment.
“I’m fine. Thank you though.”
Yeah, I understand Jack completely.
As Owen steers us out onto the lake, Ophelia takes hold of my wrist and guides my arm around her shoulders. Then, she snuggles deeper into my side, and I perish from happiness.
The cruise is beautiful, showing us a view of our home that can only be enjoyed from the water. Building on the lake is limited, which leaves large stretches of untouched, thickly forested shoreline. There’s a wildness to Lake Galen, and the mostly opaque water holds an air of mystery.
What might be lurking beneath the surface?
As we travel past the opening to one inlet, a chill goes down my spine, and Owen makes an abrupt turn.
“What was that?” Mor calls above the drone of the engine. “Did you all feel that?”
Everyone nods, but before my worry about a malevolent force in the lake can take root, Owen laughs.
“Sorry! My fault. Forgot that’s the stretch reserved for Galen’s Gauntlet this year. Warding spells are already up.” He grins. “No peeking allowed. Any of you competing?”
Beside me, Ophelia raises her hand, and a glow of pride lights in my chest. This past week, we’ve met every day after she gets off work to practice her swimming. She’s treading water like a pro and even managing to swim a decent distance from the dock.She’s not the most graceful, and speed isn’t her strong suit. But every day, I watch her confidence grow, and that alone is a type of winning.
Glancing around, I’m surprised to see Jack and Niko also have their hands raised.
The kappa grins at Ophelia, his expression open and friendly. “Didn’t know you were signing up. Want to be part of my and Jack’s alliance?”
I glance down in time to watch a hesitant smile take over her lips. “I-I would. But I’m a slow swimmer. Broderick has been helping me learn.”
Owen lets out a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest. “How dare you! You asked for a witch to teach you how to swim when you know a selkie? I think this might be a fireable offense.”
Ophelia snorts, and I get the sense Owen has a similar personality to my brother. A tendency to tease and most of the words he speaks sounding like flirting.
“We practice in the evenings if you want to come by and offer your wisdom,” Ophelia says.
Part of me wishes she hadn’t because the selkie’s presence will largely cut down on the end-of-lesson make-out sessions. But with Owen’s help, she might learn faster, and more than anything, I want to see Ophelia’s confidence in herself grow.
