But I can certainly guess I’m not back in Waikiki.
This beach is empty. My home beach is filled with umbrellas and massive hotels. As I step from the water, I feel the hot sand between my toes, and I can’t help but relax. There is something about the heat crawling up my legs that will always bring a smile to my face. Looking around, I see that this beach is tiny and for a moment I think I’m alone.
Then I see someone watching me.
He sits on a rock at the far end of the beach and I walk toward him, trying to figure out where I am.
Palm trees sway and the sand is hot on my feet. I look down at my legs... Still sparkling green. I swallow. I’m seriously out of patience for this whole body-changing-over-night-thing. I need to know what the hell is happening.
Tugging down the hem of my t-shirt, I force myself to stop feeling so self-conscious as the man up ahead watches me.
I twist my hair as I walk, wringing it out, and squinting under the bright sun.
As I approach him, he stands, reaches his hand out for mine. I let him take it; not knowing why. I mean, I don’t know this man--but hell, my mind hasn’t exactly flashed stranger-danger this week, has it?
The moment we touch though, something electric courses through me.
My eyes widen, searching his.
He turns my hand over in his own, examining the ring my mom gave me for my birthday. My thigh burns and I look down, noticing my tattoo is emblazoned in shining blue and green light.
I look back at him, my heart skipping several beats--not in fear. In knowing.
“You’re the seal... the one I’ve been following.” His dark eyes penetrate my heart. I know this man. “Who... Why... What are you?”
He smiles slowly, and his smile draws me in. I take a step toward him.
“I’m a selkie. Part man, part seal. But I’m guessing that idea doesn’t scare you as much today as it did yesterday.”
He looks down at my legs.
“I’m not a mermaid if that’s what you mean. I don’t have a fin.”
“Yet.” His word is cold. Like he knows a lot more than I do.
“What do you mean?” I laugh tightly. This entire adventure may have been thrilling, but my actual life is on dry land. Not in the ocean where I’m enchanted by dolphins.
“If you don’t listen to me, and heed my words, you’ll be trapped in the sea for the rest of your life.”
I narrow my eyes. “How do you know this about me? Anything about me? Why did you come find me last night?”
“I am your guide, but last night, you didn’t follow.”
Frowning I shake my head. “What do you mean, didn’t I follow you? I was pulled into the sea and swam toward you as fast as I could.”
“But then you were kidnapped, drawn in with a net. And I lost you, Harlow. I didn’t know if I’d ever find you again.”
“What do you know about the ship?” I swallow, emotions flooding my heart. It’s not embarrassment, but what is it?
“You weren’t supposed to be with them.” He holds a powerful stance, and I’m unable to look away from him. It’s like he knows me.
Not like the guys last night. They worshipped me. They gave me strength.
This man though, it’s like he carries an aura that is rooted in something ancient. Something I don’t quite grasp.
Yet something I understand in the most primal way.
“You were supposed to come with me,” he continues. “And now...,” The man stops, clenching his jaw. “Now everything has changed.”
“Changed how?”
“It will be harder to protect you,” he tells me, his voice softening. “Those men were after something. After you.” He pulls back his wide shoulders, and although he is a selkie, he’s the most intimidating man I’ve ever seen. No wonder I was drawn to follow him. He is all-powerful.
I bite my bottom lip, remembering Kai, Crew, West, and Eric. They didn’t pressure me or force anything last night. They said they heard my call. A call I don’t even remember making.
They said they were drawn to me, unable to fight it even if they wanted to.
But now as I look at this man, my spirit animal--my guide--the one who is here to protect me, I see everything so differently.
I gave those sailors my body and I never considered the cost.
Now it seems like the cost is greater than I realized.
Still, those men may have cast a net last night and caught me but is the man before me any different?
“Why do you care about me?” I ask, looking intently into his eyes, seeing a reflection I don’t understand. My own.
“You’re stronger than you know,” he tells me.
I step away, frustrated by his word games, the lack of concrete answers. “I don’t want nonsense. I want the truth. Understanding. Tell me plainly, who asked you to protect me?”