Selkie's Revenge Read Online Free PDF Page A

shape-shifter had lowered his fins, his spell on the woman had been broken. Mack turned, saw her pitch forward into the deep water with a scream, and saw her flounder. As she struggled to stay afloat, her arms flailed and she snatched at air. But panicked as she was, she sank like one who had rocks sewn into her hem.
    He shifted into his seal form again, knowing the seal would be quicker than the man. Machar swam as he’d never swum before, using his powerful back flippers to propel himself toward her. Within seconds, he spotted her under the dark water. Luckily, she wasn’t a large woman, and selkies were much bigger than the average seal. As a result, Mack was able to cradle her while he drove her upward for air. On and on he swam, pushing the woman ahead of him until they reached the beach. Only then did Mack permit himself a glance back to reassure himself that the finman had indeed disappeared.
    As soon as he hit dry land, Mack slid out of his selkie skin, not even caring if anyone else was around. Right now, all that mattered was that this woman survived her ordeal in the sea. He wrapped her in his selkie pelt, knowing it would warm her chilled body. She was shaking so hard it made him tremble. And she was so pale it made his heart hurt.
    She began to choke up seawater, and Mack rolled her over so she could bring it forth with as much ease as possible. As she coughed and sputtered, he held her close to his naked form, feeling a strange comfort in her nearness. He cradled her there on the beach until the spasms subsided and she began to moan.
    Inch by inch, he rolled her back so he could see her face. Two bright blue eyes stared up at him in awe and terror. “You’ll be all right, love,” he whispered to her. “You just had a spot of trouble in the water. It’s a cold day for swimming.”
    Her gaze darted toward the water, and she let out a cry when she realized the finman was no longer there. Her shoulders began to shake. “Luke! Where is he?”
    The woman fought to get out of his arms, fought to stand up, but Mack held her fast, knowing she was distraught. “Hush, now. There’s no one there.”
    She swatted at the arms holding her captive. For a wee thing, she put up a good fight. “I have to go to him! Let me go. Please. My Luke is out there.”
    Her pleas shattered his spirit, but he knew she was hallucinating. It was the sway of the finman. They could make people see whatever they damn well pleased, foul tricksters. “There’s no one out there for you. I swear it, lass. It wasn’t your Luke.”
    “No!” She beat at his chest and he let her, hoping to absorb some of her pain.
    Her wail was the most pitiful thing he’d ever heard. And even though she was pounding the hell out of him, Mack held her there on the beach until her fists finally dropped to her lap. After a few more moments, her anguished wails subsided and turned into sad sniffles. Defeated, her head fell against his chest.
    Mack knew he had to get her out of there. She’d been submerged in the freezing water, and he wanted a doctor to have a look at her. Besides, he didn’t want the finman to resurface and take another crack at her. Selkie folk were strong, but they simply didn’t possess the dark powers of the finmen. And without his arrows, he could never kill one.
    Mack slid out from under her. As the woman sat on the sand, rendered catatonic by her ordeal, he took the opportunity to get dressed again. Once clothed, he returned to her and picked her up. He kept her wrapped in his seal skin to ward off any chills and carried her away to his parents’ house just down the beach. He and his brothers all drove Harleys, which would make transportation to a hospital uncomfortable, but his dad had a Mustang. A bit posh, but it would do the trick.
    Mack carried her toward the Kirk home, eager to reclaim his weapons. It looked as if he’d be needing them sooner than he’d thought. And as he hurried away from the scene, he tried hard not to