Page 48 of The Rake OR The Orca Who Met His Match in a Selkie Desiring Revenge
Waggling his eyebrows, Aegir rejoined the game. “Now here we have a lovely lady of the sea, who surely will be unafraid to try my coveted delicacy!”
Elspeth suppressed a giggle and attempted to match the regal air Aegir had affected. “Oh, of course, but I’ve got plenty of hair on my chest, so I couldn’t possibly take it from you!”
From behind her, Ursule made a guttural sound of confusion.
“You have a hairy chest?” she whispered, her face contorted with horror.
“Only the most gorgeous hairy chest!” Aegir said.
“When I shift I do. If I understand right, your mother does as well, when she’s a hare?”1
Eyes and mouth wide, Ursule nodded her understanding. “Oh, I see, like that. Well then, we will soon be, too. Sorry to disappoint you, Uncle, we just don’t need it!”
“Oh, but I think—” Aegir dangled it in front of his face, creeping closer toward them.
“Hair swug!” Bjorn shrieked. The little boy, whose hair was a dark brown rather than white like his siblings or mother, leaned down and slurped the slug from Aegir’s fingers, smacking his lips and humming his enjoyment.2
The remaining four were silent as they watched him, before bursting into belly laughs, the twins falling to roll on the floor.
"Alright, alright!" Torsten bellowed, sweeping up all three children in his arms. "Supper's ready, and anyone who has touched, or even beennear,a worm needs to wash up!"
Torsten deposited the three kids in front of a basin at the side of the room. Ursule turned and looked over at Elspeth.
"You can stand right here, Auntie Elspeth!" she said, waving next to her.
Auntie. The word stopped her and caught Elspeth's breath. Feann didn't have any children, so it was a first. Looking around the room, to where Aegirwashed up in the sink before helping Cat and Torsten bring food to the table, to the three children standing with her, splashing water at each other, she realized all she could gain with Aegir. The past decade had been one of loss and isolation for her people and her family. She and Feann had worked hard to hold their life together after her father's death, but they'd never quite managed. Easy, joyful nights like this were a thing of the past, and her mother hadn't even bothered speaking about grandchildren the way many did. This, though, was in reach. She could have this, and it made her face tighten as she tried not to cry.
"Everyone to the table then!" Catrin called. The children scrambled over, and Elspeth found her seat next to Aegir. The conversation was free and silly, ranging from new races the children had seen at the market to Torsten's work with the embassy. They all peppered Aegir with questions, looking for news of his travels, or from back home in Sanctuary. Elspeth added a few words here and there, but largely, she sat and enjoyed their company. They didn't seem to mind that she wasn't particularly chatty, and Elspeth was comfortable letting Aegir have the stage.
He swept his arms around as he described their chase scene, making all three childrengasp when he got to the part where he bit Elspeth. He made fun of himself, characterizing himself as a bumbling pirate that Elspeth had to put up with. By the time the story was done, all three children were yawning.
Halsten waved his hand in front of his face while he yawned. "It's a good story, Uncle Aegir. It's not the story..."
"No, indeed," Catrin said. She and Torsten stood as one and started clearing the table. "It's been a long and exciting day for all of us. You three, go upstairs and get ready for bed, please. Papa and I will be up soon to read."
"But can't Uncle Aegir read?" Ursule whined. She held little Bjorn's hand and pulled him toward the door.
"We will see, but no one is having a story if they aren't clean and jammied before we arrive..." Torsten said.
The children scurried out of the room, leaving the adults to tidy up. Elspeth dried for Aegir as he washed, and Cat and Torsten picked up toys that littered the downstairs and doused lights that wouldn't be needed. While they worked, Aegir told her Cat and Torsten's love story, with occasional interjectionsfrom them.
"So you see, because the humans do not know about any of us," Aegir continued. "Torsten had to wear this large cloak and keep to the shadows, which also meant he couldn't go in the tavern with Catrin."
"Do they really not?" Elspeth asked. Truly baffled, even though only weeks earlier she'd thought humans a myth.
"Oh aye, and so the poor sod had to sit outside and listen as Cat walked into this bar and was nigh immediately propositioned!"
"And did he not worry that she might take them up on it?"
"I did, I'm not afraid to say, until I heard Cat's voice and knew she was having none of it."
He told her of a thrilling horse heist, their flight on a dragon, and the summons to Berggeheimnis which was nearly the end of them.
"So you just packed up your life and left?" Elspeth asked Catrin.
"Aye, and it was the best choice I've ever made for me and the children." She kissed her husband and turned back, smacking her hands together. "The littles should be just about ready now. Did you want to do story time, Aegir?"
"I'd love to." He kissed Elspeth on the forehead. "I'll join you in just a bit?"