This felt like a conversation they wouldn’t want an audience for, so I hooted softly. They both startled and looked up.
Arwyn’s head tilted to the side. “Orla?”
I hooted again and flew to a tentacle.
They both hurried, opening the gate, and met me on the deck.
“Are you okay?” Arwyn asked.
“Can you shift and talk to us?” Declan wondered.
I hopped down to the bench beside them and then spread out a wing to touch Arwyn’s hand. I could have shifted to make all of this easier, but I was afraid that something would be lost during the fire of reforming. Changing tactics, I plucked at Arwyn’s glove, my claw snagging the fabric.
“Orla? What—why are—” Arwyn stuttered to a stop, trying to follow what I was doing.
“It looks like she wants you to touch something,” Declan said. “Is that right?” he asked me. “Do you want Arwyn to read something?”
I hooted, turned, and then looked down at my tail feathers, trying to make it obvious.
Arwyn looked up at Declan. “She talked about going back to the bridge last night. Maybe she did and brushed against him or his home or something.”
Declan nodded. “It’s worth a try.” He took the backpack off his shoulder and reached in for an octopus-shaped bottle.
Arwyn took off a glove and allowed Declan to squeeze water from the little bottle into her palm. She curled her fingers into the wetness, slowly let out a breath, and then reached for my feathers. Eyes closed, her brow furrowed slightly but she otherwise showed no signs of distress.
Declan, though, sat on the bench beside me and gently guided her down to his knee before wrapping an arm around her. “If the vision is bad,” he whispered, “she sometimes ends up on the ground.”
After what felt like a very long time, Arwyn blinked her eyes open and leaned back into Declan’s chest. “We should get Arthur and Nick on the phone.” She gripped Declan’s arm tightly. “I have a thought, but I want to talk with Emrys or my dad.” She glanced back at me. “You know my dad’s fae, right?”
I hooted.
“Emrys is his selkie guard.” She looked out at the water. “He’s usually around, keeping an eye on me.”
She stood and walked to the railing, holding out her hand as she scanned the water. A fountain of seawater shot up into her palm. She shook off the droplets and then put her glove back on. “Come on in, Orla. Let me find you something to wear.”
When she opened the studio door, I flew in and landed on the loft railing.
“I have sweatpants and t-shirts in the top drawer of the dresser,” Declan told me. “Use anything you want in there.” He turned to a frowning Arwyn. “She’s tall. Your clothes won’t fit her.”
Nodding, she said, “Good point. I’ll call Osso.”
I shifted and went through the dresser for clothes. When I caught a glimpse of myself in her bathroom mirror, I realized I was a mess. “Arwyn? Do you mind if I use your shower?” I could wait until I got home, but I was feeling gross and I’d be seeing more people soon.
“Of course. Go ahead,” she called up. “Can I speak with Detective Osso?” Her voice changed when she started talking on the phone. I took the sweats and tee into the bathroom.
When I padded down the stairs after my shower, I found Arthur, or Detective Osso, just walking in the back door. He nodded at me and then loomed over Arwyn on the couch, his hands on his hips.
“Okay. What’s the emergency?” he grumbled.
Completely unbothered, she asked, “Is Nick coming?”
Arthur checked his watch. “He was going to try to, but he wasn’t sure he’d make it.”
There were footsteps on the deck and then Nick appeared in the door. “I can’t stay long. What’s up?” He took off his sunglasses and noticed me standing awkwardly at the foot of the stairs. “Hey, I didn’t realize you were here too. Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”
I nodded, fighting a wave of exhaustion.
Declan stepped out of the bathroom with a bottle of aspirin and a small glass of water, saw Arthur looming over Arwyn, and growled. It felt like it shook the room.
