Page 17 of Hammerhead (Kinkaid Shifters #4)

“F or what it’s worth, I wish you well with Deidre. She is a good woman,” Jose said, gazing out at the calm water. “Too good for the likes of you,” he added, grinning as he turned to look at Miguel.

Miguel chuckled and agreed good-naturedly. “Thanks. After I see you off, my next task is to get her to agree to be my mate.” He still felt nervous about that and shook his head. “Wish me luck,” he muttered.

“You won’t need luck. I’ve seen the way she looks at you,” Jose said encouragingly. “I predict success. And if she rejects you at first, just keep at it. Wear her down. She will be the making of you, bro. I feel it in my bones.”

“If it is the Lady’s will, Deidre will be mine,” Miguel replied, his tone a bit philosophical. Then he shrugged. “The fey lady you will meet is quite something. Ancient, even for one of their race. She is an old friend of the High Priestess Betina, who gave her this ring.” Miguel held up his pinky, where the ring was still riding between his first and second knuckle. “The lady of the island gave it to me so Betina would know it was really her, and they both told me to give it to Deidre.”

“So, in essence, they gave you an engagement ring to give to Deidre,” Jose summed up, smiling. “Sounds like they have every faith that Deidre will agree.”

“I hope so.” Miguel looked out at the water. “I really love her, you know? I’ve never felt like this before. Both halves of my soul want to be with her. Always.”

“Sounds just about perfect, bro,” Jose said softly, clapping his brother on the shoulder. “I am both happy for you and a bit envious too.”

“The only problem—if you can call it that—is that my priorities have necessarily shifted. I’m no longer willing to take on the risky missions. My mate has to come first.”

“As it should be,” Jose readily agreed.

“Regardless, the lady said I wasn’t the one she was waiting for. It’s you, Jose. You’re the one destiny has tapped on the shoulder, and I know you’ll make us all proud.” Miguel felt an overwhelming sense of magic as he reached out to hug his little brother for what would be the last time in a long time, if he was any judge. Without looking out to sea, he knew somehow that the island was about to reappear. “It’s almost time for you to go. I will miss you, brother. Be good. Be careful. And come back to us when the time is right. You will always have a place in my life.”

“As will you, Miguel.” Jose kissed his brother’s cheeks, then drew away. “You and Deidre and whatever little rugrats you might be blessed with before I return.”

“Hopefully, you won’t be gone that long,” Miguel said, squeezing his brother’s shoulder as they both turned to look out at the water.

“It’s time,” Jose said, opening the door in the rail that would allow him to jump straight into the water from the deck.

Jose shucked his clothes, folding them and stowing them in his pack, which he took with him as he went over the side. He went into the water as a man, then turned to wave up at his brother. They exchanged a salute, and then, Jose positioned his pack on top of the water where he could snag it as soon as he shifted.

He went shark and hooked the strap of the pack with his elongated head. He wiggled his fins in salute, then dove beneath the surface and headed straight for the island that was shimmering with magic in the late afternoon sun.

The island was closer than it had ever been, but it would still be a significant swim. Miguel watched his brother’s path for as long as he could before realizing that Tom had come up beside him. The older man held out a pair of high-powered binoculars to Miguel, who took them gladly.

“You see the island now?” Miguel asked, just to be sure. For so long, it had seemed that only he, Deidre and Jose had been able to see the phenomenon.

“I see it,” Tom confirmed.

Even with the advanced tech of the binoculars, Miguel had a hard time spotting Jose, but he finally saw him walking on that faraway beach that wasn’t truly in this realm at all. Jose walked up on the beach, bent to get his clothes out of his pack and dressed quickly. A moment later, the lady walked out of the greenery, and they exchanged a few words.

The lady smiled, then waved directly at Miguel, who drew in a breath. Then, very unexpectedly, she gave him a thumbs up. Miguel started to laugh. The lady had the right brother this time, and she’d just let Miguel know it.

Miguel shook his head as he turned to glance at Tom. He, too, had military-grade eyepieces and was watching the action on the island. Miguel shouldn’t have been surprised.

“They’re filming this up in the wheelhouse. None of us have ever had a glimpse of the fey realm and probably won’t ever get another chance like this,” Tom said, still looking through his own pair of binoculars.

Miguel looked back at the island, which he could feel fading even as he spotted his brother waving from the distant shore. The lady stood with him, and she was smiling in that serene, fey way she had.

“It’s fading,” Tom observed.

“I feel it,” Miguel confirmed. “They will not be back again anytime soon.”

The island disappeared from view before Tom lowered his binoculars and turned to regard Miguel. “I almost forgot you had a touch of mortal magic in your family line. Could come in handy in the events to come if things really heat up. I’m glad you’re on our side.”

Tom clapped a stunned Miguel on the shoulder as he drew even with him, heading back up to the bridge. There, he paused, probably gauging Miguel’s reaction to his words.

Miguel had no idea how the sneaky old selkie had uncovered so much about his family’s history, but then again, he was a Kinkaid. They had a reputation for resourcefulness.

“The Clan has ties to some human mages firmly on the side of Light if you ever want to get formal training,” Tom offered, surprising Miguel yet again.

“I don’t have all that much magic,” Miguel admitted, “but I’ll keep the offer in mind.”

“Do that.” Tom said as he dropped his hand from Miguel’s shoulder. “I think Deidre might be awake soon. She was just beginning to stir as of the last report I had before coming on deck.”

Miguel’s spirits lightened, and an unconscious grin spread across his face. He thanked the selkie and handed back the binoculars, then headed straight for the cabin where Deidre was resting. It was time to figure out the rest of his life.

*

Deidre surfaced from a deep sleep to find herself tucked in bed in her cabin. She looked around, finding Miguel seated next to her, watching her with concern in his lovely dark eyes.

“How do you feel?” he asked before she could say anything.

She leaned up on one elbow and shook her head a bit. She felt sort of hungover, but she couldn’t remember drinking anything. Then she recalled the island.

“That fruit…” Her sluggish mind was trying to put two and two together.

“Do you remember the lady on the island?”

“Vaguely. You were talking with her, right?” She sat all the way up. “But I can’t recall what you were saying. Her voice was like music, though. I remember that.”

“She was fey,” Miguel told her. “She is a mage of great power and has been bringing the island into the mortal realm looking for someone. My brother just went there. He’s the one she was seeking, though that is a bit of top-secret knowledge.”

“Oh, Miguel.” Deidre cringed as compassion filled her heart. “Jose is gone?”

Miguel nodded, and she could see the sadness and bravery on his face. “He’ll be gone for some time. We were only on the island for a few minutes, and yet, two days passed here. They had search parties out for us.”

“You got me back to the boat?” The passage of time confounded her. How much time had she lost?

Miguel nodded. “That was yesterday. The fruit you ate was part of the defenses of the island, meant to knock out those who ate it so they couldn’t cause mischief. The lady said you would sleep off the effects since you hadn’t had that much, but you were pretty much out of it when I found you.”

“I don’t remember much after biting into that apple. Or whatever it was.” She pushed a strand of hair back off her forehead and shook her head.

“Why did you?”

“It just seemed so inviting. Like I couldn’t go farther into the tree line without pausing for a moment to take a bite from that fruit.” Her eyes widened. “The lady was a mage, you said? Was the fruit enchanted?”

Miguel firmed his lips and nodded. “I believe it was. Not just to put the person who ate it to sleep, but probably also to entice them to eat it in the first place, judging by what you just said.”

“Wow.”

She levered her legs over the side of the bed and put one hand to her head, feeling a little dizzy. Miguel was there instantly, sitting down beside her on the edge of the bed and putting his arm around her to steady her. He felt so strong and good. She’d missed his touch, she realized. She snuggled into him, enjoying his warmth and solidity for a long moment, until other needs took precedence.

“I’m going to take a quick shower,” she said, straightening away from him with reluctance. “I must look a fright.”

“You are always beautiful to me, Deidre,” Miguel said in the sweetest tone as he brushed her hair away from her face, and their eyes met and held.

“You say the nicest things,” she whispered back, but she couldn’t allow herself to be distracted. She needed the bathroom and a chance to clean up a bit. “Hold that thought,” she told him as she rose to her feet, taking a moment to get her bearings. She really did feel sort of hungover, and her mouth felt furry. Yuck.

She made her way to the small, attached bathroom and took care of things, including brushing her teeth and getting into the shower. Pity the shower stall was so small. She’d have liked to have invited Miguel to share it with her, but he was just too big for the tiny shower cubby.

She decided she’d have to get him on land and lure him into a bathroom large enough for them both where she could seduce him properly. That is, if they were still together once this job was over. She really wanted it to be. She wanted to keep him forever, if only he felt the same. She thought maybe he was beginning to feel something. She didn’t know how sharks mated, but her inner seal wanted to keep him. It really, really, really liked him. In fact, she thought maybe it loved him as much as her human side did.

That thought made her pause. Well, if that didn’t beat all. She loved him. No more questions in her mind about it. She was well and truly, deeply in love with the man.

Now she just had to get him to say it first so she would know for certain that she hadn’t pressured him into a premature declaration. She’d jumped the gun before, and it had ended disastrously for all concerned. This time, she was going to cultivate a patience that was nearly impossible for her, but she would do it. She swore she would. This was just too important.

“Are you all right in there?” Miguel’s voice came to her from the other side of the thin door.

“Fine. I’ll be out in a minute,” she called back, finishing rinsing her hair.

She shut off the water and stepped out of the little cubby to wrap a towel around her wet hair and put on the terrycloth robe that hung on the back of the door. She felt enveloped in fluffy white fabric when she opened the door to find Miguel on the other side, with that look of concern on his handsome face.

He held out his arms, and she walked straight into them. She loved the feel of his strength surrounding her. He made her feel delicate and cherished. He made her feel special. Really special.

“I was worried,” he admitted, “but I’m glad to see you are recovering from your encounter with fey magic.” His words touched her deeply, spoken in soft, caring tones. “I want you to know something. Something important.”

He moved back and sank to one knee in front of her. Confused, she frowned at him. What was the man up to now?

He brought his hands together, and only then did she notice the glint of something sparkling on his left pinky finger. It was a ring. Her heart leapt in her chest as he took the ring off and held it up to her.

“The lady on the island gave this to me, to give to you,” he said, and her hopes flattened. “I later learned that it was a gift to her years ago from the High Priestess Betina, and she used it as proof of identity. When I spoke to the High Priestess, she recognized it immediately. I offered to send it back to her, since it had been hers to start with, but she also wanted me to give it to you. Because…you see…” He took a deep breath. “I love you, Deidre.”

“You do?” she breathed, hope blossoming again in her heart.

“Yes, meu amor , my shark knew almost from the first time we met that you were someone special to me. The shark has never before noticed any female I have pursued. It didn’t care, because none of them were its mate. You are the one, Deidre. You are my mate.” He held up the ring, and his expression seemed a bit nervous. “The question is, do you feel the same?”

“Do I?” She was floored. All her dreams were coming true. She reached for the ring and felt a little tingle of magic when their hands touched. For a moment, the ring shone brightly, and a chiming sound filled the small cabin. When the light faded and the sound ended, she smiled at him. “I love you too, Miguel. With all my heart. You are my mate, and I would be proud to wear this ring as a symbol of our love. Even though I think this ring is a little bit more than just a ring.”

They both laughed as he placed the ring on her finger.