“Let’s get that pelt back to Mella.”
The selkie was bingeing daytime TV when we arrived. I’d lost all sense of time and glanced at the alarm clock next to the bed. 1pm. I’d lost an entire night and the next morning. Time obviously moved differently in the underwater kingdom. I glanced at Kyla.
“Tell me you didn’t wait on that beach the whole time.”
She shrugged. Now that I was looking at her, I noticed the dark circles beneath her eyes. “I’m driving the whole way back,” I said. She shrugged again. She must be exhausted if she wasn’t arguing.
I handed the pelt to Mella. The tension visibly drained from her body as she stroked it.
“Thank you for this,” I said. “I know it can’t have been easy.”
“I would’ve done it without the favor.” She smiled at me.
I grinned back. “Now you tell me.”
Her expression turned somber. “Seriously Danica. I know you were probably just being nice, but some days, knowing that you would be kind—that you’d stick up to Bruce for me… it was all that got me through the day.”
“No one should be tormented that way, should be made to feel like they’re unworthy. I’m sorry I didn’t do more.”
“You did more than enough.”
“I’m glad you killed Bruce.”
“Same.” She smiled, and it was wicked.
“We need to get moving.”
Mella nodded. “Don’t be a stranger. Oh, there’s a portal to the seelie realm near here if it’s easier.”
“I have a stop to make first.” Now that I had the sword, I was practically vibrating with the need to give it to the seelie king and swap it for the counter spell. Samael’s silence was freaking me out.
But there was something I had to do first. Kyla frowned at me and I shrugged. Mella handed me a few more of the white stones Mariam had given me. “If you need anything… or just want to hang out…”
“Sounds great. I’ll take you up on that.”
Kyla snoozed on the way back to Durham. I barely managed to keep my eyes open myself, finally opening the window so the cool air could help me stay awake.
By the time we pulled up outside Selina’s house, Kyla was opening her eyes.
“Why are we here?”
I blew out a breath and climbed out of the car. “Because your bargain with Finvarra wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t helping me. So we’re going to talk to Selina. If anyone can give us some information to help, it’s her.”
“We don’t have time.”
“I’m making time.”
I had to believe that there would be life after this. That we’d all survive. And if we survived, there were consequences for the decisions I’d made over the past few days. I refused to let Kyla deal with those consequences alone.
We got out of the car. Selina’s house was painted in soothing colors—the dusky light blue welcoming and peaceful. Maybe it was something to do with Selina’s wards, but simply being here made me take a long, deep breath and let it out.
Selina opened the front door. I was betting she’d expected us. Today, she wore apricot-colored pants with a wide leg, a cozy white cardigan, and a wide smile.
“I hope you’re hungry,” she said. “I made lunch.”
Kyla grinned at her. “I’m always hungry.”
Selina led us through to the kitchen, and I inhaled the rich, savory scents.
