by Bianca D'Arc
“Well, she did ask my opinion, and I had a good time swimming with you yesterday. I can tell a lot about a being by the way they swim.” Janice gave her a knowing look as Moira burst out laughing.
They laughed most of the way down to the water too, but then, they both shifted—Janice into her fishy mermaid form and Moira into her seal. Play was second nature to her seal form, and when Janice escorted Moira through parts of the cove that had been set aside for mer settlement, Moira found herself surrounded by a few curious youngsters. The pint-sized mer girls and boys seemed to enjoy playing with her, and Moira did a few tricks for them, but Janice put an end to the fun after a while, reminding Moira that there was a serious side to their swim today.
They went out toward the mouth of the cove, leaving the children and the peaceful parts of the cove behind. Even on the good side of the magical ward Urse had cast, Moira could feel the malevolent attention of the leviathan’s evil minions. No one quite understood how the smaller creatures had tagged along with the big one when it had skipped through the numerous planes of existence and popped out in the mortal realm. Perhaps, the smaller creatures were its children. Or perhaps, they were a smaller variety of sea monster that fed off the leviathan’s leavings. Either way, they were a problem.
She noted the way they swam—almost like a patrol—just beyond the influence of the magical ward. It was as if they were waiting for anyone foolish enough to step beyond the ward. Maybe this was just some sort of show of might. Some non-verbal way for the creatures to show the mortals that they were in charge. After all, they were effectively barring the only entrance or exit.
It wasn’t effective because the mer were creatures that could live on both the land and in the sea, but Moira had no idea if the creatures understood such subtleties. No one could say for certain whether the smaller creatures had any sort of real intelligence. It was hypothesized that the leviathan was the brains, and the smaller minions just followed where it led.
One thing they’d been able to establish was that the smaller creatures did indeed follow where the big one went. Moira’s Clan had done its best to track the leviathan while it had been in the Atlantic Ocean, and they were almost one hundred percent certain that the smaller creatures didn’t stick around once the big kahuna left. They traveled as a group. A big evil, magic-sucking group of nastiness.
Janice helped Moira get a better look at the smaller creatures, and she noted the different look of the monsters they saw today versus the ones that had been patrolling the edge of the ward yesterday. She would ask Janice when they surfaced and shifted shape if that was the norm, and she would request through Nansee that the mer who patrolled this side of the ward begin to take notes on their observations—if they weren’t doing that already.
Between the information Moira’s Clan had already gathered and the things the mer could see from this unique vantage point, they might just be able to come up with some solid intel on the creatures and their leader. Moira wasn’t sure what it would mean in the grand scheme of things, but she’d always believed that knowledge was power. The more they knew about the enemy, the more likely they’d learn something that would help them combat it in the long run. And this set up was the perfect place to observe the creatures from a position of relative safety. It would be foolish not to take advantage of it.
Moira spent a valuable few hours with Janice, but eventually, it was time to head back to land…and the scrumptious man who waited for her there. With Seamus to go back to, Moira was feeling less and less like spending all her free time in the water, no matter how inviting Grizzly Cove was to her seal side.
*
Seamus spent his afternoon working with tile. It was a hobby that could easily become an obsession for him. He had dabbled in tile mosaics before, but here in Grizzly Cove, he had been able to immerse himself almost completely in the work…the art. He’d been able to forget his troubles—if only for a short time—by working with the tiny shapes and bright colors. He’d discovered an art form that spoke to some heretofore unknown part of his psyche.
Lyn Ling was a recent immigrant from mainland China. She’d come to Grizzly Cove to make a new start after her mate had been killed. She was a giant panda shifter, and she had a young daughter named Daisy who was cute as a button in both her forms. Daisy had quickly stolen everyone’s heart in the cove, including Seamus’s.
Lyn ran a gallery on Main Street where she sold all sorts of bamboo sculptural pieces from wind chimes to garden fountains, and everything in between. It made sense, really, since both she and her daughter enjoyed bamboo when they were in their animal form. The first thing Lyn had done when she’d moved into the little house up in the woods that John and the rest of the bears had helped build for her was plant a stand of bamboo.
The gallery had an enclosed courtyard in back with a high privacy fence designed as a play area for Daisy while Lyn was working. The fence was lined with bamboo plants so Daisy would always have her favorite snack available if she went furry.
Daisy was out there now, in fact, playing while Seamus worked on his tile mosaic and Lyn rearranged the pieces in her gallery. Lyn’s shop was the first gallery that had been completed, but there were several others on Main Street. They were all part of the cover story that Grizzly Cove was just some new artists’ colony where a bunch of malcontent hermit artists had gone to get away from the world and create. When the tourist traffic increased, the galleries and public mission statement of the community would provide a reason for the town’s existence, and also be a way to keep the place exclusive to shifters—or those they chose to live among them.
Seamus was happy while he worked on the mosaic. This one was an add-on to the already finished building. When Lyn had seen what he’d done on the boathouse, she’d commissioned him to do a few pieces to dress up her store. Seamus had been both flattered and happy to give Lyn some happiness in her life.
He’d known females who had lost their mates, and right now, Lyn was a sad, sad lady. The only thing that really kept her going was her daughter—a bright ray of sunshine in a gloomy world Lyn had to inhabit without a large piece of her heart. At least, that’s the way Seamus had heard such loss described.
The Alpha part of his soul wanted to help those in need. Lyn and her daughter were females in pain, and the entire town had rallied around them in subtle ways, helping them get through the toughest times and try to forge a future. The mosaic Seamus was doing for Lyn was designed to make her smile. It contained protective glyphs from his Aboriginal heritage and was much more detailed than anything he’d done in Grizzly Cove to this point. He hoped it would bring Lyn some small bit of pleasure every time she saw it.
The complex work absorbed all his concentration, though a little corner of his mind remembered that, when he finished with this task, he’d be meeting up with Moira, and that made him happy too. My, how his life had changed in just a day. Moira had brought him closure on what had happened to Eamon and hope that the lioness was being actively searched for up in those mountains. He felt so much better just knowing those two facts, but Moira had also brought him hope for the future, which was something he hadn’t had in a long time.
He worked steadily through the afternoon, and a few hours after he arrived, he finally finished the grout work. The mosaic was done. The design was set and would have to dry, then he’d come back and seal the grout in a day or two, but essentially, it was finished.
Seamus cleaned up, collecting his tools and sweeping the area free of any debris from his work. He was really proud of this piece and couldn’t wait to see what Lyn thought of it. When he had made the area as spiffy as possible, he set his tool bag aside and went to find Lyn.
She was looking out the back door at her baby girl, smiling softly. It was a tender moment, and though Seamus hated to interrupt, she evidently heard his approach. Lyn’s face turned to him, and she smiled faintly. She was such a brave woman, putting her all into forging a new life in a new country for herself and her little girl
. Seamus admired her gumption. There was a wisdom in Lyn’s eyes that was hard-earned.
“Is it done?” she asked, her voice heavily accented. English was most definitely her second language, but she was quickly gaining fluency the longer she lived in the cove.
“It is. Would you like to come see it?” Seamus felt like a conjurer about to pull a rabbit from his proverbial hat.
Lyn’s smiled widened. “You bet.” The level of enthusiasm in her voice made him feel a sort of joyful anticipation. He hoped she liked what he’d done for her.
He let her precede him back into the shop and followed slightly behind as she rushed over to inspect his work. She pulled the canvas cloth he’d put over the tile installation away in a rush, only to stop short, her mouth forming an O of delighted surprise, if he was any judge. Just what he’d hoped for.
“Seamus! This is beautiful!” She gasped and clutched the fabric to her chest as a tear formed in her eye. “Your soul is in this,” she whispered. “A generous gift of art to my household.” She turned to face him and bowed her head. “You honor me. Thank you.”
Then, she went from formal to informal and rushed forward to hug him. She was a petite lady with the strength of a giant panda. Her hug was a little on the bone-crushing side, but Seamus was okay with it. He’d made this sad widow happy, and that helped heal his own heart a little bit.
She let him go just as quickly and beckoned him to follow her to the back of the shop. “Come. I have something for you now,” she told him as they walked rapidly back to the door leading to the enclosed courtyard that was private for Daisy and her mother—and special invited guests.
Seamus had seen the bamboo-lined area through the doorway before, but he’d never been invited into the space before now. He felt honored. And he was completely floored when he caught a scent he recognized as he walked through into the secure space.
Sure enough, Lyn had somehow procured a gift that was perfect for someone like him. She bowed slightly as she presented a large potted plant to him.
“From your homeland,” she said. “For your beast.”
Seamus accepted the gift and damn if he didn’t feel a bit of moisture gather behind his own eyes. He bowed to Lyn, trying to put into words how much her gift meant to him.
“You are a thoughtful and kind woman, Lyn. Thank you.” He held the plant’s fragrant leaves up to his nose and inhaled deeply.
For the first time since those amazing moments with Moira, his beast side stirred without needing the haze of alcohol, wanting to come out into the light. Seamus had feared, after being stuck in his fur for so long, the poor bastard was exhausted and didn’t want to come out to play anymore. His animal spirit had been broken—or so he’d thought. Lyn’s gift of a eucalyptus sapling was more than just a thoughtful gift. It was a token of hope.
It was Seamus’s turn to pull Lyn in for a quick hug. She was such a sweet woman, this poor widow. She had a gentle heart that had been very obviously broken by the untimely passing of her mate, but she’d survived and carried on, and now, she was even showing signs of starting to live and enjoy life—at least a little—again.
A small furry body attacked Seamus’s legs as he let Lyn go. It was Daisy, of course, in her adorable baby panda form, wanting attention. He put the plant down and picked her up, giving her a hug too. He met Lyn’s eyes over Daisy’s furry head.
“You’ve given me more than you know, my friend,” he told her.
“As have you. Your heart is in your tile art, Seamus.” Her simple words struck a chord in his soul. “If you stay here, I want you to do mosaic pieces for me to sell in the gallery. I bet you could make lots of money with them.”
“I never really considered that, but it’s a good idea. If I stay,” he added. “I’ll definitely think some more about it.”
Daisy squirmed, so he let her down to play in the grass. She sniffed at the eucalyptus sapling, but it made her sneeze. Both Lyn and Seamus laughed as the little panda bowled herself over, then rolled around and headed for the plants she knew much better. In moments, she was nibbling on bamboo, and all was right with her world once again.
CHAPTER TEN
“The plant awakened my beast half without the need for alcohol,” Seamus told Moira later that night, after they’d returned to her guest cottage. “I never said this to the bears, but I was really worried that my other half had been too traumatized by the imprisonment. I didn’t think he’d come out for a long, long time…if ever. The only time I could sense him was when I was drunk. And after all those months in my furry form, I was heartily sick of eucalyptus, but the smell of my other side’s favorite treat didn’t turn either of us off. Instead, it made him stand up and make himself known for the first time—without me being drunk—since…”
“Since you escaped,” Moira completed the painful thought for him. She took his hand, squeezing it. “I’m so happy for you. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to not be in touch with your wild side all the time.”
“It’s not fun, I can tell you that,” he whispered in a ragged voice. “I’m just glad it doesn’t seem to be a permanent condition now.”
“Well, have you shifted yet? The plant Lyn gave you looks intact. Didn’t you even take a nibble?” she teased a bit, hoping to lighten the mood.
“To tell you the truth, I’ve been sort of apprehensive about shifting,” he admitted, breaking her heart a little. “I haven’t done it since that ill-advised drunken appearance in the bakery when I first got to town. And that was the only time I’ve shifted since fleeing the menagerie.”
“All right, then,” she told him, standing. “I think you should just do it now and get it out of the way. End any concerns you might have once and for all.”
“You think it’s that simple?” He looked so hopeful she had to bend down and give him a kiss. Before it could escalate, she made herself pull back.
“This doesn’t have to be hard. I’m right here. I’ll watch over you, and if you have problems, I’m here to help in whatever way you need.” She tried to be reassuring.
“I’m not sure.”
She squeezed his shoulders. “I am. Change now before you spend so much time thinking about it that you think yourself into a corner.”
Seamus shook his head and smiled in that loveable, crooked way he had. Her heart melted every time he did that.
“You’re right.” He stood back and began unbuttoning his shirt.
Moira gave him a wolf whistle, hoping to keep the mood as playful as she could. She’d never seen a koala shifter. Heck, she’d never seen a koala up close. She was looking forward to seeing what Seamus’s furry side looked like, and more than that, she wanted this…for him. She knew how it was to have two sides living in harmony in one body. Every shifter did. She sensed that Seamus had been a little lost since escaping because his beast side had gone deep within, traumatized by what it had been through. Seamus needed the beast side to come back to parity within his soul. He wouldn’t be complete until it did.
At least, that was her theory. She thought she was right, but the next few minutes should go a long way toward either proving or disproving her ideas.
Seamus grinned at her and tossed his shirt toward her, like a mini strip-tease. She caught it and gave him a comical leer when his hands went to the button of his jeans. Hubba hubba.
“You know, you could make a fortune in dollar bills if Grizzly Cove ever opened a strip club.”
Her observation made him stumble and laugh out loud, which was just what she wanted. The mood was light and easy, all the better for his first shift since being held captive for so long.
His pants dropped to the floor, along with his kicked off shoes, and then, he was naked. He took a deep breath, and a swirl of gray mist seemed to envelop him momentarily. A few seconds later, he dropped to all fours, a lot shorter than he had been in human form. He was definitely smaller in his fur than he had been in his skin. Although…he was a bit bigger than she was as a seal, which she supposed meant
he was a giant among koalas.
She approached him cautiously, taking the sapling Lyn had given him with her. She set it down in front of him before reaching out one hand to see if he’d allow her to touch him.
She shouldn’t have worried. He accepted her touch and even seemed to bask in it when she scratched behind his tufted ears. He was so soft. And utterly adorable.
Then, he yawned, and she got a look at some serious chompers. Maybe koalas weren’t as soft and fuzzy as she’d thought. They had some really scary teeth!
“I like this side of you, Seamus. Soft and cuddly, but with big sharp teeth.” She chuckled as he began to nibble on the eucalyptus. “I’m so happy you found your beast side again. I want you to be whole.”
Damn if she wasn’t sniffling. It was just so beautiful, the way Seamus had been able to recover not only his dignity and pride, but also his animal half. She didn’t know how long they sat there, on the floor of the guest cottage—him chewing on the plant and her watching him with a bit of awe and a whole lot of soft-hearted happiness.
When he finally changed back to his human form, he didn’t kiss her lips, but he brought his lips to her skin, leaving a trail of intense sensation wherever he went. The eucalyptus must have left a little trace even when he shifted so that she could feel its exciting effects against her bare skin.
There were no words. Not at first. There was just feeling as he touched her and placed kisses all over her body as he undressed her. She was a willing participant, helping him remove her clothing so they could be skin to skin as soon as possible.
“That tingles,” she whispered as he licked his tongue over a particularly sensitive bit of her flesh. Seamus chuckled, and she found the sound sexier than just about anything she’d ever heard before.
“That’s the idea, sweetheart.” He turned them so that she was on her hands and knees, ass up in the air. The animal spirit seemed to be riding him hard at the moment, but she was right there with him, feeling the same things. She wanted it hard and fast…and from behind.