MERIBELLA

Meribella sat on the edge of her bed, staring into empty space. Addien had left nearly an hour ago, neither of them talking much as the woman dressed her. She tugged her eyes to the mirror and sighed. Her upper half was covered by a white, lace corset. Her mouth twisted- covered was a poor choice of words. She saw more skin than lace, and the soft, white leather leggings on her lower half molded to every curve of her backside and legs. At least the waist length fur cape- also white- would help her hide.

And help hiding was what Meribella needed most right now.

"What have I done?" she growled, flopping back onto the bed with a tortured sigh.

Scrubbing her hands over her face, she fought back tears. Once, Meribella would've never considered herself to be impulsive. Every move she made had been mulled over, thought through, and determined to be the best choice. But that described a girl whose only goal in life was searching for a magical selkie skin she believed would make her feel complete.

Then, that girl found something better. Someone better. And when things got rough, she threw Raff to the side and returned to her obsession with her selkie lineage. It was a defense mechanism. Meribella finally had answers to many of her questions, but instead of making her feel like she belonged to this world, it just reinforced her place in Raff's.

But what could she do now? Selkie Island still needed her help, though she had no clue as to how long she had to be on the island to infuse it with magic again. Or if that was even the solution.

To return to Camden would only reignite the problems she'd left behind. Meribella wanted every part of Raff- just thinking of him made her body- still heated from witnessing the selkie lovers' abandon the night before- tremble with need.

Hell, she thought if he walked into the room right now, she'd demand he take her, consequences be damned. Her hand drifted to her throat, and she trailed one finger along her skin. If he refused, she could always use her Siren skills.

At the thought of the seduction magic she rarely used, something prickled in Meribella's mind. A vague push for her to think longer on that type of magic, but her mind was too hazy with lust. Images of Raff's rippled abs and blazing artic eyes kept intruding, and she finally let them take over.

Panting, she drew the hand at her neck down, letting her nails scrape over the scalloped material edging her breasts. In her head, it wasn't her fingers but Raff's, tracing circles around her sensitive flesh. Her back arched off the bed, and she whispered his name. Just saying it made her moan-the roll of the R on her tongue, the single syllable synonymous with love and pleasure. Gods, she never knew just a name could have so much power.

Meribella...

She shot up on the bed, her fantasy frozen as her name, spoken in Raff's throaty voice, ricocheted through her mind. Had she actually gone so deep in her dreams that she was imagining him speaking to her now? Her hand went to her head. Wouldn't she have at least imagined him speaking with desire or longing? He sounded anguished. Desperate. Panic flared in her breast.

He sounded hurt.

Raff? Raff, can you hear me?

Nothing but her own voice echoed back at her, but she could feel him. She swore she could feel his essence lingering in the dark spaces. He was muted, the way a sound was beneath water, but he was there, struggling to reach out to her.

Raff? Answer.

A knock on the door jolted her to her feet, and she tried to smooth the agitation from her features before she answered. Whoever it was, she wanted them gone so she could focus her efforts on hearing Raff speak again.

"Hello," she chirped, whipping the heavy wooden door open.

Caspian's mother, Nerida, arched an eyebrow at the bright greeting. She was a petite woman, and the diaphanous, floor length cape tied about her shoulders cast her curves in shadows. "Hello to you too, darling girl. I was growing concerned when you didn't appear after breakfast."

A flutter went through Meribella's stomach as the woman leaned into her room and looked around it as if searching for something... or someone.

"Sorry to worry you," Meribella said, "The journey is finally beginning to take its toll. I was enjoying a lazy morning."

"No worries. I know you spent the day with your family yesterday, and I had hoped you would allow me to occupy your time today." When Meribella hesitated, Nerida continued in haste, "Of course, I understand you must wish to spend more time with them. To discover such a big family after so many years must be exciting, but you have many days left on the island. Humor an old woman."

Meribella snorted. "You and I look to be the same age."

Nerida winked and threaded her arm through Meribella's as she stepped out of the room and closed the door. Not a single part of her wanted to spend the day with Nerida- anyone, really- but Addien's warnings stayed with her. She must play her part while she was here.

"Nearly endless youth. Such a blessing from Astra. I assure you, I am much, much older than you."

They left the cottage and strolled along what Meribella supposed counted as a main street. Caspian had taken her directly to the beach, and the Harpy Clan dwelled on the cliffs. Here, the buildings were all businesses, though the wares they sold were simple. Materials for clothes, dishes, some cooked foods that made Meribella's stomach rumble in appreciation.

Nerida must've heard it growl because she started to laugh. "I hope they're feeding you enough, my dear. Though, the fresh air here can increase the appetite." The woman patted her flat stomach.

Meribella thought of the breakfast tray Addien had brought to her room. It had been heavy with raw fish and fresh fruits, and she'd eaten enough for two.

"No worries there. It's just this is really the first time I'm seeing cooked food among the selkies. Even most of what Valencia served last night was raw."

Nerida's hazel eyes softened. "A few of our people enjoy traveling, and they bring their discoveries to the island. Over the years, we absorb those things into our culture, make them unique to us. Most won't make these dishes in their home, but they are a nice treat to try during a day at market."

"Caspian mentioned that some people like life to remain simple," Meribella began, choosing her words carefully, "Do you find it can cause problems among the people? A culture clash?"

"Is that not the way with any society?" Nerida said.

Her response drew a frown to Meribella's face. She recognized a non answer when she heard one. Valencia had called Nerida a manipulator, and Meribella knew the woman, like her son, considered Morgan le Fay to be her queen. But was it really fair to search for secrets in every word because of hearsay? 

The politics of this island would be the death of her.

And that reminded her of her need to get back to her room. She needed to search for the connection again. Just to make sure Raff was okay.

When they reached the end of the street, Meribella stopped and withdrew her arm. "I think I'd like to return to my room for a little while. I really am very tired."

"We're much closer to my room," Nerida insisted. She pointed to a hedge of trees. Between the dark brown trunks and emerald needles, Meribella spied gray slate.

"That looks like a dead end."

"The leaders of the Leopard Clan live in the caves running through the mountain. During times of trouble, they have offered refuge to our people."

"Are there often times of trouble? This place is so isolated."

"We do not have problems often," Nerida admitted. Somehow she'd drawn Meribella towards the caves. "But there have been wars. Amongst ourselves, though this is rare, and amongst other sea Fae. The Finfolk are particularly aggressive, and during times of famine, they've been known to fight against us for resources."

"Finfolk?" Meribella was breathless. For a member of the supernatural community, she was fairly uniformed.

"Merpeople dear," she winked and gestured to a corridor to the left. "My rooms are this way."

Meribella stared down the hallway. Torches provided the only source of light, and damp puddles, formed by the condensation dripping down the walls and off the ceilings, covered the uneven floor. No part of her wanted to spend the afternoon here, but if she continued to put up a fight, she would only cause suspicion.

Wrestling a smile to her lips, she said, "Lead the way." Raff, please be okay.