Chapter 4

Here is the rewritten content without any special characters or formatting instructions: The Syrenka Series Box Set The moment I spoke, Eviana wrapped her arms around me. “I’m going to go too. We have a big day tomorrow.” I smiled, imagining how radiant she’d look. The scent of the bonfire still lingered in her hair and I rubbed her back, wishing we could prolong this moment. Despite our kiss earlier in the day, I sensed she wasn’t completely comfortable with the plans for tomorrow. Our wedding. Deciding to give her some space, I stepped back and gently moved her hands away. “I will see you in the morning, Eviana. Sleep well.” Without a second thought, I bent forward and kissed her. Just a slight brush against the lips, it wasn’t as intense as the first one, but enough to let her know I cared. I walked out the door and toward my car, knowing I should listen to that nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. She’s just nervous, I thought as I rehashed our earlier conversation on the beach. “You’re a good man, Kain,” she’d said. “Please know that. And if something were to happen to me, I want you to find someone else and be happy with them. Don’t mourn me. Don’t hate me. Just live your life.” I couldn’t understand what she meant. “Why would I hate you?” She squeezed my hands as tears leaked down her cheeks. “Just promise me that you will live and move on. Please!” Her behavior had worried me, so I kissed her forehead. “Okay, I promise. Now stop crying,” I teased, trying to lighten the situation. How could I ever hate her? Backing out of the driveway now, my thoughts spiralled out of control. There could only be one reason why she would worry about me hating her, but I didn’t think Eviana would skip out on our wedding. Not after today. Not after she stood by my side at my father’s memorial and my appointment ceremony as my fiancée, and especially not after our first kiss. She cared about me, I knew it. It might not be in the same way she loved the selkie, but she would come around. She had to. By the time I pulled into the hotel parking lot, I realized sleep wasn’t going to happen. The clan shield on my shirt vibrated with power and a ball of dread rumbled in my stomach. If Eviana was having second thoughts, I needed to be there for her. Why did I leave? I turned the car around and headed back toward her beach house. The dark night swallowed my headlights, creating an ominous void. Call it intuition or just a hunch, something felt wrong the moment before I rounded the curve that hid her driveway. Brendan’s car sat at the end of the lane, engine idling for a quick escape. My heart dropped as angry blood filled the void. She wouldn’t do this. I pulled off the side of the road, far enough away to avoid detection, but close enough to watch the events unfold. Deciding to torture myself even more, I felt my body leave the car behind and walk closer to hear the exchange. In a haze of resentment and disappointment, I crept along the side of the road, hidden amongst the shrubbery. I stopped when Brendan opened the door and walked around the front of the car. His smile confirmed my worst fear, and it took all of my self-control not to jump up and knock it off his face. For the life of me, I didn’t understand why she always chose that selkie. I also didn’t know why I tortured myself thinking that things would turn out any differently. I heard the grinding of her suitcase being dragged across the ground before I saw her. Panic, rage, and sadness washed over me with such intensity I almost lost my balance. Should I stop her? Should I give her one last chance to do what was right? We needed this marriage to unite our clans at a time when politics were unstable and volatile. And I needed this marriage because I loved her. However, that realization crawled back into the depths of my consciousness when I saw them kiss. You made it,” Brendan said. Of course I did. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” Eviana reached up to kiss him again, and something inside of me changed. She never looked at me that way, in fact I never saw her as happy as she was right now, in the midst of running away from everything she knew. I watched as the taillights disappeared, unable to move. Was it disbelief? Was it anger? Eviana chose Brendan instead of her family, her clan, and me. It was selfish and childish, but for some reason, I couldn’t fault her. If I could have run away from my life, I probably would have done the same. Thinking about it some more, I wondered what my father would have thought if I’d refused to accept clan leadership. It would have crushed him and my mother. We can’t choose the families we are born into, and Eviana should understand that better than anyone. But can we choose whom to love? I’ve been in love with Eviana since we were kids, knowing that I would do anything for her. As we got older, those feelings intensified when I watched her coach the young merfolk through their first transitions. Or when I’d see the feistiness I knew would benefit her as a leader someday. I loved her just as much as she loved Brendan. Suddenly I got it. If Eviana asked me to run away with her, I would have done it in a second. Knowing that would’ve never happened, I still understood what they must have felt when she and Brendan decided this was their only choice. I’d given her another option; marry me and continue her relationship with Brendan. We would have ruled together as expected, and I would still have some part of her by my side. But even as I said those words to her weeks ago, I’d secretly hoped she wouldn’t take me up on my offer. I wouldn’t have been able to bear it. A noise in the distance startled me. Dragging my feet back to the car I fell inside and started the engine. The sun would be up in four hours, and I’d have to face the world knowing I was second choice. Deciding to stay here until the morning, I parked in her family’s driveway and walked past the house down to the beach. I needed the comfort of the water, although in too much of a daze to think about transitioning. Passing the smoldering bonfire from earlier tonight, anger seized control. I picked up an empty bottle and threw it against the logs, waiting for the sound of smashing glass to consume the night. How could she do this to me? The sand muffled my screams as I threw another and another, trying to cope. I hated her so much. Moving closer to the water, I dropped to the ground. The ocean covered my legs like a blanket and I ignored the tingling that signaled the need to transform. Instead, I sat on the sand, listening to the surf, and compartmentalizing all of my emotions into their own little box. Disappointment, love, hate, and devastation each took their turn churning through my sea of denial. For hours I sat there reminiscing about the past and figuring out the future. Would I ever see her again? Did I even want to? Her mother would be furious, as this was not only an embarrassment to the family but would reflect poorly on her leadership skills in the eyes of those who desired change. A lone gull laughed at me in the same way the other clan leaders would when they discovered tonight’s events. As soon as I saw the first glimmer of sunrise, I trudged back up to the house and tried to prepare myself for the humiliation to come. Though early morning, a flurry of movement reminded me that wedding preparations were in full swing. I sighed as I took that last, heavy step up to the expansive wood deck. No amount of preparation would make this any easier. The sliding glass door slid open with a thud, and three protectors emerged carrying large vases of flowers. Troy saw me standing in the shadows and nodded in my direction. Master Matthew. I didn’t know you were here already.” He set the heavy arrangement down and wiped a bead of sweat from his face. “Getting cold feet yet?” he teased. My stomach flipped and I swallowed the anger in my throat. Instead of replying I forced out a laugh. This wouldn’t be easy. I was here and no one knew Eviana had left, and I didn’t know who to tell first. Is Mistress Dumahl inside?” I asked, deciding on her mother, the leader of their clan. Yes, in the banquet room I believe,” Troy said. I nodded to him and walked inside the house. Moving around the center island, I couldn’t help but notice the flowers and baskets and wedding decorations scattered all over the place. A lot had gone into the planning of this wedding, and a lot of people were going to be very disappointed. As I rounded the corner, I ran into a petite woman carrying a clipboard and yelling into her cell phone. No, I said fuchsia, not pink. You better not show up here with pink bows.” She looked up with a glare before recognizing me. “I’m not arguing about this anymore. Just be here soon.” She hung up and shook her head. “I tell you, give someone a little leeway and they think they can redesign the whole wedding.” Mistress Dumahl,” I said. “I need to…” Please, call me Marguerite, Kain. You’re a part of this family now.” She beamed at me with a smile that perfectly matched Eviana’s. I sucked in a breath. “I wasn’t expecting you so early, but I’m glad you’re here. Perhaps you can get her out of bed?” “Eviana? But I need to talk to…” ...