Evermore

EVERMORE

MER TALES, BOOK FOUR

BRENDA PANDOS

©2015 by Brenda Pandos, All rights reserved, worldwide. No part of this ebook can be reproduced, copied, or redistributed on the Internet without written permission of the author.

Photograph by Kelsey Keeton of K Keeton Designs

Cover Design
©
Brenda Pandos

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination, or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

Mindy Minz Janicke

Nicole Hanson

Barbara Stoker

Emily Krouk

Katie Doan

Stacey Nixon

Amanda Hughes

Jennifer Lessard

Valerie Martinez

Debbie Poole

Synopsis:

The underwater world of Natatoria is enjoying a long awaited period of peace -- and with it, the merpeople’s very first chance to visit human civilization. Ash and Fin’s wedding marks the perfect opportunity for the mers to celebrate their newfound freedom. But when they return home to Tahoe to prepare, Ash’s absence from the human world has raised more than a few questions about where she’s been. When blaming fingers point to Ash and Fin as the culprits who burned down Fin’s home, even his mind-jacking mojo hasn’t stopped the authorities from issuing the happy couple an early wedding gift — a matching pair of arrest warrants.

Instead of bringing their families together, Ash and Fin’s upcoming wedding drives a wedge between the very cultures they’re trying to bridge. And when their reality takes an unexpected twist, Ash realizes her dual existence comes with a hefty price. Neither her human nor her mer family understand the sacrifices they’re asking of her, and as much as she wants to please both her mer and human mothers, she knows she’s one misstep away from breaking two maternal hearts.

But with humans now aware of the mer, Ash and Fin must scramble to save their families, their societies . . . and their love. The only thing they know for sure is that when it comes to Natatorians, old habits die hard.

And a royal should never get too comfortable.

Get Brenda Pandos’ starter library FOR FREE

Sign up for a no-spam newsletter and get GLITCH, plus a Talisman short, all for free.

Details can be found at the end of EVERMORE

Alaster Helton:
Brother to Jack Helton, Uncle to Fin and Tatiana, father to Colin, pure-born.

Ashlyn (Ash) Lanski:
biological daughter to Phaleon and Desirée, raised by Bill and Karen, sister to Lucy, promised to Finley Helton, a pure-born but was switched and changed into a human at birth.

Azor, Prince:
(deceased) Bill and Karen’s biological son, switched at birth and converted to human, raised by Desirée and Phaleon, betamer.

Barlemede (Badger):
friend of Jack, betamer, rescued from the sea by Sandy when human and later became her mate

Beta-mer:
when a human is converted to mer by drinking essence.

Bone Island:
the island were mers are taken to be dried to death when banished from Natatoria, or where the bodies of deceased mers are left.

Brooke:
Callahan’s ex-girlfriend from Ash’s high school who blames Ash for their breakup.

Callahan O’Reily:
Ash’s date to the Senior Prom.

Colin Helton:
Son of Alaster, cousin to Fin and Tatiana, pure-born.

Desirée, Queen/Regent:
Ash’s biological mother, mother to Girraween, Garnet, Galadriel, pure-born. Promised mate to King Phaleon.

Dradux:
Azor’s crooked guard who were murdered after Merric and the Lost Ones restored order in Natatoria.

Essence:
a blue sparkling liquid that gives a youth like appearance, or if ingested, makes one turn into a mer.

Finley (Fin) Helton:
Son of Jack and Maggie, brother to Tatiana, promised to Ashlyn Lanski, pure-born.

Frank Delatore:
(deceased) Human grandfather of Ash, married to Iris.

Galadriel (Gladdy/Lia), Princess:
Eldest daughter of Phaleon and Desirée, sister to Ash, lost her ring and pinky fingers after Phaleon chopped them off when she secretly promised to Jax, pure-born.

Garnet, Princess:
Daughter of Phaleon and Desirée, sister to Ash, pure-born.

Georgia:
friend of Ash from high school.

Girraween (Girra), Princess:
Daughter of Phaleon and Desirée, sister to Ash, pure-born.

Hans:
Sissy’s mate, resides in and runs the Florida safe house for runaway mers later known as the Lost Ones, pure-born.

Iris (Gran) Delatore:
Human grandmother of Ash, Mother to Karen.

Jack Helton:
Father to twins Finley and Tatiana, mated to Maggie, pure-born.

Jacob Vanamar:
former royal guard, Tatiana’s promised mate, father of Nicole, pure-born

Jaxtonian (Jax):
Mated to Galadriel.

Karen Lanski:
Mother of Lucy and Azor, raised Ash from birth, married to Bill.

Lost Ones:
those who escaped Bone Island and survived.

Magdalene (Maggie) Helton:
Mother of twins Finley and Tatiana, mated to Jack, betamer.

Meredith Hamusek:
Rival swimmer to Ash from another high school.

Merling:
a baby mer

Merric, King/Chancellor:
Phaleon’s father, presumed dead after Phaleon murdered him to become King, pure-born.

Natatoria:
the mer kingdom under the mantle of the earth, home of where the pool of essence resides.

Nicole:
Azor and Xirene’s orphaned child who was passed off as Tatiana’s child when Azor and Tatiana were King and Queen. Named after the servant Nicole who risked her life to save Tatiana’s during an attack at Azor’s compound, pure-born.

Pearleza (Pearl):
former servant, healer, assistant to the former Queen Desirée, pure-born.

Phaleon (Leon), King:
(deceased) Ash’s biological father, mated to Desirée, pure-born.

Promise polygamy:
When a mer kisses more than one person, making them bonded to the kisser.

Promise tattoo:
The mark that shows on the ring finger of a promised person: colorful for women, black for men.

Promise:
the bond created when a mer kisses another (human or mer), the intertwining of two souls.

Pure-born:
Born of two mer parents.

Sandy:
Badger’s mate, pure-born.

Sissy:
Hans’ mate, resides in and runs the Florida safe house for runaway mers later known as the Lost Ones, pure-born.

Tatiana (Tatchi/Tatch) Helton-Vanamar:
Daughter of Jack and Maggie, sister to Fin, best friend to Ash, mated to Jacob, mother of Nicole, pure-born.

William (Bill) Lanski:
Human father of Ash, married to Karen.

Wynie, Mistress:
former servant, royal dress maid.

Xirene:
(deceased) servant that was secretly promised to Azor, died during childbirth of Nicole.

“So, can we finally talk wedding? I’m dying to get started.”

I startled out of my thoughts and swung my gaze to Tatiana, my best friend since we were ten.

She gave me a guilty smile as she pinned up my hair. “I mean, together.”

“Started?” After everything had happened, I wasn’t sure if both sets of family, mer and human, were ready to have an actual wedding on land.

“Starfish! You’re killing me here.” She grabbed another bobby pin from between her teeth. “At least tell me the colors.”

I let out a gentle sigh. Visions of promising my life to Fin on the beach in Tahoe with my friends and family surrounding me made me smile. Yes, I wanted to plan it and finally be his wife more than anything, but there was a lot to do before we could start our happily ever after.

My stomach spasmed in fear and excitement. Fin and I were planning to return to Tahoe in an hour and check in with my parents because we’d mind-jacked them about a supposed mission trip to Africa when leaving for Natatoria. Fin’s dad was coming along to check out the damage left after his brother, Alaster, burned down their house. I wanted Tatchi to come, too, like it wouldn’t have officially made things right unless she returned home with me.

“If you come with us today, I’ll tell you the colors,” I said as a bribe.

She let out a long sigh. “You know I can’t. Not with the merling.”

“What about Pearl?” I asked. “Can’t she watch Nicole?”

Tatiana rolled her eyes. “Last time I left her with Pearl, she cried the whole time. Nicole is super attached and wants me right now; like she’s worried I’ll disappear, too.”

Nicole, Prince Azor and his servant Xirene’s orphaned merling, had been adopted by Jacob and Tatiana, making them parents overnight. I looked away to hide my disappointment. Though I’d grown to love my adoptive niece, I knew that until Nicole was older, college and land life with Tatchi — like we’d dreamed — would be on hold.

The shell-encrusted ceiling of their room shimmered green, purple, and silver light onto the mirror, illuminating my red tresses as Tatchi continued to pin them up. Fin and I had a similar apartment of our own in the palace, but I still couldn’t get over how surreal Natatoria was, almost like a dream. Normal had been plunged underwater without a chance to dry — new rules, new ways of living, new beauty. And even though we’d been living here only a few short weeks, returning home would be a culture shock to say the least.

“Being a mom won’t stop me from planning the wedding if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’m not worried.” I rotated and smiled at her. “Nicole would make an adorable flower girl.”

“Wouldn’t she?” Tatiana giggled.

“In something green or pink…”

Tatiana’s mouth gapped. “Are those the colors?”

I shrugged sheepishly. “Maybe.”

“You’re such a tease.” She slid open the drawer next to me. Inside was a notebook stuffed with what looked like magazine pictures.

Sitting next to me on the bench, she laid the notebook on the desk. “Okay, don’t kill me, but I’ve been putting together a visual masterpiece for your approval.”

She flipped past page after page of gowns, flowers, decorations, and cakes.

“Where’d you get this?” I said, salivating at the gorgeousness.

“Girra’s magazine stash. Where else?”

Of course my curious little sister Girraween, with her love of all things human, would have had someone smuggle in wedding magazines for her. At the visual masterpiece, my heart flipped. Could this finally be happening? My dream wedding finally coming true?

“And Desirée said we could have whatever you wanted. Spare no expense.”

At the mention of my birth mother’s name, something pinched inside me, like she was overstepping my human parents’ bounds, which was ridiculous considering she was my mother.

I ran my hands over a picture of a beaded gown. “She doesn’t have to do that. My parents have some money.”

“You can’t say no to Desirée. Trust me.”

Trust. That was a hard thing to do when your mother switched you at birth because you weren’t a boy. Even still, I wanted to mend that relationship, considering my strained one with my human mother.

“And technically, I’m still the Queen,” she finished. “So, I decree it!”

“What?” I nudged her arm. “No, you’re not.”

“Tell that to the mer. They keep bowing, and calling me Queen, even though they know Azor wasn’t born royal. They see the mark and bow as if on instinct.”

She pushed out her hip to flaunt her fleur-de-lis tattoo. I had a matching mark, one I’d always thought was a birthmark, but was actually a tattoo given to me at birth. But Tatchi’s point was made. Half the time, though, the mer confused me for Princess Galadriel, my rude older sister, and snubbed me.

“Old habits die hard.” I licked my finger and flipped the page.

“And Queen Desirée isn’t about to give up her title.”

“Regent, you mean,” I corrected with a snotty tone.

King Merric, who’d come to the rescue when Azor was about to kill all the rebels for trumped up charges, thought it would be less of a blow to the mer people than to take away all the customs overnight.

“Regent, shmegant. Luckily, it’s just a title and she’ll never rule again. It was horrendous being on the court with her.” Tatiana rolled her eyes. “If I had to listen to one more complaint, especially when her son was the one causing all the problems, I would have screamed — no, sirened.”

From what I could see upon arriving at Natatoria compared to now with the Council ruling, I couldn’t agree more.

There was a knock on the door interrupting us, and then someone pushed it all the way open. We both jumped.

“Tatiana?” Regent Desirée said with a large smile.

“Mom,” I said, getting to my feet.

Tatiana did the same.

Her eyes brightened. “I didn’t know you were here. Sorry to interrupt.” She gazed toward the merling’s room. “Is Nicole sleeping?”

I gave Tatiana a sideways look. Had she overheard us?

“She’s still napping, Regent.” Tatiana bowed.

“Oh,” she waved her hand, “you don’t have to do that. Call me mom… or, um…” Her gaze met mine. “Desirée is fine.”

“Okay.”

At the sound of Nicole’s cry, Tatiana scurried toward the baby’s room.

“Allow me,” Desirée said, intercepting.

“Oh, okay.” Tatiana stopped, then spun to me, biting her lip, when her ex-mother-in-law entered the child’s room.

“Why is she here?” I mouthed.

“She feels a connection since it’s Azor’s child,” she whispered back.

Tatiana kept a close eye on the opened door, body taut, ready to spring into action if Nicole needed it.

“I don’t want the wedding to be too ostentatious, considering the audience,” I said quickly to distract her.

Tatiana touched my arm. “Well, actually… I was hoping to ask a favor.”

My gaze swung to hers. “Okay?”

She paused. “Could my students come?”

I felt the blood drain from my face. “Your students?”

She bit her lip. “I’ve been wanting to test them. I think they’ll be ready for some human interaction by then.”

My mouth dropped. “At my wedding?”

“Well…” She cocked her head. “They are Fin’s friends and family. It would give them a chance to use their aliases, and they could help with the planning. And with a good handful of mermen ready to sing away any flub ups, it’ll be perfect. I mean, I’m guessing it’ll take three or four months to plan everything — like late August? Don’t let me set your date for you, but I do need some time, and that’ll be right before we start college.” She winked.

I pinched my eyes shut, massaging my neck. I could just imagine the nightmare, especially with Girra, the most curious of my sisters, interacting with the likes of my high school friends, like Georgia.

Nicole started to wail, almost at the point of a siren. I plugged my ears while Tatiana darted to the door.

At the last second, she pivoted toward me. “Just think about it, okay?”

“Okay.” I most definitely didn’t want them there, but how could I say no to my best friend?

“I’ve got it.” Desirée came out of the room with Nicole wriggling and shrieking while she reached for Tatiana, blasting everyone’s eardrums.

“She’s hungry,” Tatchi said anxiously. “Let me feed her, then you can hold her.”

Reluctantly, Desirée gave Tatchi the merling. The babe calmed instantly.

“Did you have a good nap, sweetie?” Tatchi asked Nicole as she settled on the settee.

I marveled at how she’d taken to motherhood so easily. Nicole settled in her arms, her little hand shooting up, tugging on Tatiana’s blonde hair as she nursed.

“I’m still in awe that she bonded with you,” Desirée said.

“Bonded?” I asked.

“A merling knows their mother’s voice. It starts from the womb. They respond to it like a magnet, swim to it, calm to it, crave it. It’s instinct, which makes adoption so… difficult.”

I sat back and thought of my human mother. Was that why things were never peaceful between us? That I couldn’t bond to her because I didn’t recognize her voice?

“Really?” Tatiana asked.

“Yes. Many times the merling is inconsolable, especially the boys.” Desirée’s eyes lingered on me. Was she thinking about my adoption? About what she’d done to me?

At the awkward pause, I returned to the wedding notebook, flipping past the pages, trying not to think about what we’d been through as of late… it started after Fin and Tatiana didn’t return after a family emergency, and I’d stupidly fallen into the icy waters of Lake Tahoe, nearly drowning. That fateful day, April 3
rd
, Fin happened to be visiting the bay and was forced to give me mouth to mouth while I was unconscious, to save my life, thus entwining our souls together with the mer promise in order to save my life. I didn’t remember a thing, but that little kiss changed everything. No more dreams of college, or going to the Olympics. Finding him became my obsession, but I had no idea where they’d gone.

Tatiana and Fin were just trying to break free from Natatoria and find their dad, Jack, but they were captured on my beach by Prince Azor and his goons, and that’s when I finally saw what they really were — merfolk. Before Jack could stop him, Azor stole Tatiana’s promise — at his ruse of a promising ceremony — and she’d become bonded to him and wouldn’t leave. Accused of treason, Fin and his parents narrowly escaped, destroying the gate bridging Natatoria and Lake Tahoe. But they weren’t safe for long. Azor and his minions swam up the rivers from the Pacific in a tactical attempt to capture the family, which forced them to abandon their house and go to the safe house in Florida. I was to finish out high school in Tahoe, then join up with Fin’s family once I attended college.

But Fin’s treacherous Uncle Alaster and his son Colin had other plans. After moving into Fin’s house and interacting with me, they quickly discovered my birthmark and assumed I was the lost princess Galadriel. With aspirations of becoming royalty, Alaster had Colin kidnap and force promise me. Since I was already promised to Fin, the plan failed. But Alaster still fed me the essence anyway, converting me into a mermaid.

In the meantime, Fin and Galadriel (the real lost princess) crossed the country to Fin’s house, in a mad rush to rescue me. Then, in a last ditch effort to hide his treachery, Alaster burned down the house, trapping me, along with Colin, Galadriel, Jax, Ferd, and Fin inside the basement. We narrowly escaped with our lives.

At the same time, Azor used the disruption of his promising ceremony to cleanse Natatoria of Jack’s rebel alliance. Tatiana, after discovering he’d committed promising polygamy with his servant, Xirene, who was pregnant with his child, did something very few mer were capable of doing: break the promise connection between them. After the babe was born, Azor murdered his father, King Phaleon, because his desire to be king outweighed everything else. In the meantime, Tatiana had fallen in love with her bodyguard, Jacob, who secretly was one of Jack’s rebels. Azor blackmailed Tatiana with Jacob’s life, so she’d pretend the babe was hers so he’d fulfill the requirements to take the throne. She succumbed to his bidding, and Azor was crowned King, as he’d wanted. When he was about to execute the rebels, starting with Badger, the Lost Ones — those condemned to die on Bone Island, led by former King Merric, returned and demanded justice. When the babe was discovered to be a girl and not the required boy, Azor’s control unraveled, and the people demanded his life as punishment. When he tried to escape through the Pacific gate, the sharks devoured him along with his Dradux guard.

And the mystery was explained about my pesky birthmark that looked like a fleur-de-lis that wasn’t a birthmark at all, but a tattoo given at birth to show that I was of royal blood. I’d been switched at birth with Azor, a human child turned mer, so Phaleon could be king. Of course, none of that mattered now with the royal family dethroned and the Council leading the colony.

So much. Too much.

“What are you looking at?” Desirée asked, standing over my shoulder.