Page 22 of The Rake OR The Orca Who Met His Match in a Selkie Desiring Revenge

The owner’s eyes went wide. "That’s not like Trina…"

"Normally, no, but I think she is a bit jealous of my new bride…" Aegir rubbed the back of his neck, a bit embarrassed now that he was faced with the confrontation and telling more people his half-truths about Elspeth. As soon as hethought of her, she materialized next to him, placing a hand on his chest to calm him.

"Really, sir, I understand," she said. "Alwin is quite the catch, and were I in her place, I’d be disappointed too."

Heart squeezing in his chest, he looked down at the woman who’d caught him so completely and was quickly making her way into his heart. She smiled, cocking her head in a self-deprecating way.

Would she really? Be disappointed? He’d have to ask. He knew he’d be disappointed now if she belonged to anyone else. Somehow, in a few short days, with the aid of the bond, she’d practically become his entire world.

Theoretically, they were trying to find a way out of it, but as he sat with the idea, he found he was beginning to like being tied to Elspeth. Caring for her felt so much more tangible, more real than any of his work against the Empire, and he knew he’d miss the overwhelming way she consumed his thoughts. He’d always been one for a good time—always enjoyed the company of a partner, but with Elspeth, it went deeper.

He wanted to fulfill her dreams, hewanted to help her find peace, be a place she felt safe. Aegir wanted to create a world, a life, where she could practice her art without fear of the Empire coming to scoop her up. To explore the pleasure her body could bring her without feeling… whatever it was she felt that made her distant from him.

Truthfully, he didn’t understand her feelings. He’d never experienced them. However, the fact remained that even if he never could, he wanted to be there for her.

"Would you mind, sir, sending up our food and telling me which room is ours?" Elspeth asked, dragging him from his musings.

"Of course. Upstairs, and to the left, it’s different from where you’ve stayed in the past, Alwin, since you’ve a lady with you," his old acquaintance said. "There's a bath with a tap in that room—figured the lady would appreciate it after the road."

"She absolutely would." Elspeth beamed at the elderly faun, causing him to blush. "I appreciate it so much."

With a hand on his elbow, Elspeth steered him away from the counter and toward the stairs he’d climbed no less than ten times.

In the past, he’d often climbed with Trina in tow, or with the promise of her joining him in his room shortly. It had always presenteda pleasant diversion, but with Elspeth? With Elspeth he was shaking. His knees quivered as he held her arm and his heart sped in his chest.

They reached the top step in a blur, one second, they were on the stairs, and in another, Elspeth was opening the door.

Like all rooms in the inn, it was simple. It held a window to the outdoors, a bed, a table with two chairs, and a door which surely led to the privy. Gaslamps ringed the room and Elspeth expertly struck the match to ignite them.4

The room illuminated and Aegir’s eyes focused on the singular bed. Obviously he’d let Elspeth have it if she so desired, but he’d chop off his left baby toe to sleep there with her.5

"Would you like first shot at the bath?" he asked.

1. All selkies from Hillskerry are short. In general, humanoids with an animal affinity seem to have heights that mirror their animal species’ size.

2. Originally, I believe that fauns and satyrs may have been entirely separate peoples. Evidence suggests, however, that the Empire forced the two to cohabitate, out of an assumption that they were the same. Over time, the two have merged to form one people that uses the names interchangeably.

3. When pressed for more specific information, Aegir only shared that he felt like he was covered in spiders. The wretched man did not elucidate on species no matter how I prodded.

4. Again, the similar styles of decoration between the two continents suggests the Lady’s influence, though she was asleep.

5. Nevermind the fact that he could re-grow his left toe at will.

Chapter nine

Elspeth

IN WHICH THE COMPULSORY BATH SCENE GOES AWRY IN THE FACE OF TRAUMA

The small bathing areawas hidden by a partition and when Elspeth ducked behind it, she found herself perplexed. There was, of course, a large tub for her to bathe in, but there were no buckets filled with hot water, or sign of how she might obtain one. Instead, there were knobs on the walls and two things that looked like metal pipes.

She must have made a noise of confusion, because Aegir called out to her. "Is everything all right?"

"I think so, it’s only that I don’t know how to use this type of bath."

"Oh, well, that’s understandable. I can come in and help.”There was a pause. “If you’re decent, of course,” he amended.

As he spoke, she could feel the tension rising in her, her shoulders knitting together, and her stomach clenching, until he asked if she was dressed. She didn’t like to think about her time in captivity, but she couldn’t deny that it affected her. Whatever positive emotions she felt for Aegir were normally tempered by feelings of frantic, fluttering anxiety that flooded her chest. That simple courtesy, an indication of his respect and regard, settled it. Her anxiety still flooded in the background, of course, but the choice was what she'd needed to ease the panic.