Page 4 of Beyond the Veil (Endangered Fae #4)

Chapter Two

Selkie – Classification: Dual-natured fae shifter

Selkies are of that unique class of fae shifter that requires a pelt or second skin to shift to animal form, in the selkie’s case, to seal.

Found in large family groups, selkie pods readily interact with each other and visiting fae, but are wary of humans and magically altered humans, with whom they have a long and rather unpleasant history .

“ Y ou want to try the Sig?” Kevin gestured to the handguns lined up on the counter, all carefully pointed downrange.

Theo picked it up gingerly. He wasn’t certain he’d ever be comfortable with it.

“You’re not gonna break it, kid,” the range instructor, a bald bulldog of a man, growled.

“I’ll try not to.” The problem was that Theo had broken three smaller handguns before Kevin had finally taught him to shoot using a larger .44 Magnum. He would tense so badly when firing that he gripped too tightly. Sig Sauers weren’t designed for vampires.

He kept his two-handed grip gentle and tried to relax, but he hated the noise of gunfire. Even with protection on, it hurt his sensitive ears. The target popped up. He let out a breath and fired six shots in quick succession.

The range instructor grunted and pressed the button to retrieve the target, shaking his head as he glanced at the shot grouping. “Maybe slow it down. You only hit once.”

Kevin let out a strangled cough. “Better look closer, Murphy.”

“At what?”

“That’s all six shots in that one hole.”

“What the…fuck?” The man turned to him, tight-jawed and angry. “Pick up the damn Magnum. Let’s see you do it again.”

Why is he angry if I’m doing well? Theo swallowed a sigh and picked up the heavier weapon, the one that felt less like a toy in his hands.

He took up his stance, both hands on the grip, though he could easily fire with one, and found the calm space inside him.

When the target popped up, the Magnum roared six times, barely kicking back in his hands.

He could see the result from where he stood, but his eyes were much better than the instructor’s. The man retrieved the target, stared at the single, larger hole through the center, and muttered, “Freak.”

The fae security staff used several different weapons. Theo qualified easily with each. The man was still muttering about him having cheated somehow as they left.

“Asshole,” Kevin snarled as they climbed back into the van. “You did good, kid. I won’t make you carry a Sig, but I do want you carrying when you guard His Highness.”

Theo nodded. They both knew his weapon of choice, if he had to carry at all. He had tried to argue early on that he didn’t need a gun, but Kevin had remained firm on that point.

“I know you’re pretty damn close to indestructible, but I’m willing to bet if some jackass puts a bullet in your heart, you’re as dead as the rest of us. How about we not give him that chance?”

That was that and Theo had soon learned when and how one could argue with Kevin.

At least Kevin accepted him as he was, for whatever strange reason.

Many of the fae did, too. They were better adjusted to the weird parts of the universe.

The human security officers, except for Kevin and his husband Marcus, were more wary, some because he was a vamp, some because they saw him as an Angelino punk, and some because he had, for a short while, been the enemy.

The last one he understood. He might have to keep proving himself to them for a long time before they fully trusted him.

“I hear those gears grinding in your head, Aguilar,” Kevin said as they parked his truck in the ferry’s lot. “Don’t let that asshole at the range get to you.”

“No, sir.” Theo chewed his bottom lip, careful of his fangs. “I’m not. I won’t.”

“But? I hear a thing you’re not saying.”

A half-smile tugged at Theo’s mouth. Kevin was getting too good at this, hearing between the lines. “People will always stare. Say things. Be afraid.”

“You make it sound like bigotry is normal.” Kevin shook his head at Theo’s shrug. “Look, Theo, I’m a gay retired Marine. I grew up in red-as-patriot’s-blood Nebraska. You think I don’t know? Don’t think I ever had to fight my way out of a bar ’cause someone didn’t like faggots?”

Theo winced at the word, the one he hated more than freak . “No, sir.”

“Sure. The world has assholes. But it’s not normal and you don’t have to accept it.”

I have to pick my battles, or people die . Theo shivered, the memories of a hot Los Angeles night ambushing him, the screams, the bones splintering, the horror on his sister’s face when she’d realized the monster slaughtering her attackers was her brother.

“No, sir.”

Kevin gave him an odd sideways glance. “You give me one more ‘yes, sir’ or ‘no, sir’ and I’m partnering you with Vivian.”

I would die from auditory overload . Vivian didn’t treat him badly, but she never stopped talking. “ Sí, jefe .”

“Smartass.”

When they had docked on the island and cleared the security checks—yes, Kevin insisted on protocol, even for familiar faces—Kevin stopped in the doorway of the pier-side command center. “You need a rotation change? Meal break after being out in the sun all day?”

Theo took off his hat now that the sun was setting. The top of his head felt tight and achy still, but bearable. If he begged off to go feed, he would inconvenience the person who would have to take his place.

“I’m fine. Feeding’s scheduled tomorrow.”

Kevin narrowed his eyes. “Go see medical first. They clear you, fine. If not, we’re pulling you.”

“But—”

“Your ‘I’m fine’ is on a level with most people’s ‘I feel like crud’. No arguments.”

Theo nodded, keeping his face carefully neutral, and set off down the pier toward the path that led up the hill.

There really was no medical department on the island, so he would need to find one of the fae healers or the consul himself for clearance, since Consul Morrison had been a medic and a nurse during his military career.

His steps slowed as he neared the consulate.

The cozy, two-story building didn’t seem impressive or official.

It looked like someone’s grandmother lived on the island in isolated splendor.

Occasional visitors would see only that, the cozy house with offices at the front and common living spaces at the back.

If they were important guests, they might be treated to tea by the lovely garden fountain out back.

But few humans, even magically changed humans, knew the extent of the consulate, the network of caverns running underneath, the secret door that led to an entire separate world.

If there was anywhere a vigilante vampire belonged, it was here. At least, it had been. Now, Mr. Sandoval was home…

“Theo?”

He had stopped on the pink cobbles outside the front door. Carol, the consulate’s administrative supervisor, had her purse over her shoulder, obviously leaving for the day.

“Mrs. Arseneau.” He nodded, twisting his hat in his hands.

“Are you all right?”

“I—” I’m afraid to go inside. I’m not sure I can do this.

Somehow, she knew. She placed a hand on his sleeve, on an arm strong enough to snap her spine with a careless blow. “He’s probably just as worried about seeing you.”

Theo nodded, his eyes glued to his hat. “Mrs. Arseneau? Could I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Why aren’t you afraid of me?”

She smiled, though there was something sad and fierce in her gaze. “I know better than to be scared of the good guys, Theo. Take care on patrol tonight. There’s a storm moving in.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He stepped aside to let her by, watching her for a few moments as she made her way to the dock. The backs of his eyes stung. Maybe he was more tired than he realized.

Murmuring carried through the walls as he padded silently through the consular offices.

Within a few moments, he knew who had left for the night and who was still in the building.

Wolf scent crept down the hallway from the kitchen.

Consul Morrison was there. Had he been alone, Theo would have stopped in for some water.

But Mr. Sandoval was with him and Finn the pooka, their voices rising and falling in quiet conversation.

I just can’t yet.

Taking the cowardly route, he turned right and headed downstairs toward the fae caverns where he had his own room.

It wasn’t that he blamed Mr. Sandoval for what he had been.

A spell gone awry had temporarily stolen part of his soul and left him without compassion.

His quick intelligence, his ability to sway people, though, those things had remained intact, and Theo had swallowed his version of the universe, this dark Mr. Sandoval’s.

He would have followed the dark mage into hell because he’d been able to make his mad plans all sound so reasonable, so sane .

That was the problem. It wasn’t Mr. Sandoval’s fault, but Theo had been ready to obey him of his own volition. He had been ready to become a true monster for the promise of a better world.

He couldn’t quite name the lead ball in his stomach. Shame? Anger? Fear? Dark and tangled, he didn’t want to face it, not yet. The caverns were cool. The lights dim and soothing. He closed the door to his cave-room and drew an easier breath. Sanctuary.

“You’re not Quasimodo,” he muttered as he shrugged out of his leather jacket and yanked off his boots.

Black. Unrelieved black, every piece of clothing he owned except for the white dress shirts he had for diplomatic security details off the island. He supposed he could start adding color again, but the black felt comfortable now, as if a perpetual state of mourning was natural for him.