Always Remembered (36 page)

“And from there?” I asked.

“I’ll catch a flight home,” Evan said.
“Deanna is coming to Canada with me.”

“I can’t believe I’m going to fly!” she said,
bouncing on her toes.

I wasn’t sure how she planned to blend in
with skin and hair the color of spearmint gum, but they would
figure it out. I hugged Evan and kissed his cheek. “Take care of
yourself and keep in touch, okay? You’re always welcome here.”

“You can visit us, too,” he said.

“I’d like that,” I said. “What are you going
to do when you get back?”

It would be hard to go from the world of
underwater wonders to the mundane of everyday life. Last year, I
worried about coming home with my dad. Now I couldn’t imagine
living a normal human life. Unlike me, Evan had no choice, but he
seemed okay with it.

“I’ll go back to school and finish my
degree.” He gave me a crooked grin, and his dimples flashed.
“Someone needs to keep the waters safe for you.”

“True,” I said. “Keep an eye on those mantle
plumes.”

He shuddered. “I hope I never see one
again.”

“How about you, Deanna?” I asked.

It was obvious they were in love, but could
she stay on land? Did Sirens have the same constraints as
Selkies?

“I’m going to school with Evan,” she said. “I
think I’ll take some business courses. After all, we just inherited
a bar.”

“You did?”

“The queen… oh, um, Ula gave it to us. The
one that Ken owned and made us work at.” She laughed and shook her
head. “It’s a dump, but with some work, it could be a respectable
establishment.”

“Deanna’s got big plans,” Evan said
proudly.

“That’s great.” I gave Deanna a hug too.
“Now, I really need to come and visit. We could get some pizza,
maybe catch a movie.”
And see my grandparents
, I thought. I
was sure they worried about me. Too much time passed since I last
saw them, and they weren’t getting any younger. As a Selkie, I had
a long lifetime ahead of me, but human lives were short. My leaving
abruptly after graduation would have hurt them too. They probably
felt like they lost their daughter and their granddaughter at the
same time. “Look in on my grandparents, okay? Let them know that
I’m fine.”

“I will,” he said. “I’ll keep an eye on them.
Don’t worry.”

My eyes filled with tears, and I gave him a
watery smile. “Thank you, Evan. For everything.”

“You don’t have to thank me.” His voice
thickened with emotion. Deanna placed something in his hand, and
then stepped back to give us a moment of privacy. “I only want the
best for you. I think you can have that life now. Right?”

I nodded. “And, you? Are you happy?”

“I am. I really am.” His gray eyes, both
familiar and foreign, locked on mine. “Don’t grieve for what I
lost. I didn’t want it to begin with.”

With a laugh that was more of a wet snort, I
wiped my eyes and tugged on a section of his snowy, white hair.
“Even this?”

“Okay.” His face broke into a grin. “I could
do without the grandpa hair, but I can deal with it.”

Throwing myself in his arms, I hugged him
tightly. I would miss him so much.

“I love you, Evan.” It felt right to say it,
as right as it felt to be in his arms. This time, though, I knew it
was the deep love of friendship, nothing more.

“I love you, too, Selkie girl.” He took my
hand in his and placed my grandparents’ necklaces in my open palm,
curling my fingers over them. “These belong to you.”

“I gave them to—

“I couldn’t possibly keep them,” he
interrupted, his eyes searching mine. “They are one of your only
connections to your grandparents, a family heirloom. Keep them, use
them, or don’t… Heck, pass them on to your kids.”

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I gave him
a sad smile and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

He nodded, swallowing hard, but not speaking.
As I watched him return to Deanna, I clasped the pearl around my
neck. It felt smooth and warm against my skin. Somehow, I knew it
would always remind me of Evan. He was a good man, and I hoped this
wouldn’t be the last time I saw him.

A few more goodbyes were exchanged, and then
Evan and the Sirens were ready to leave. I followed them out and
stood on the shore, watching them depart. Some of the girls smiled
and waved, while others hurried off, seemingly relieved to leave
our island. When the shore was empty, I transported back to the
hall.

Ula was talking to Dad, her palm resting on
his cheek. “I must go to Azuria. The men await me to honor those we
lost.”

“Won’t you stay and grieve with us first?”
Dad asked. “These are your people too.”

“You’re right,” Ula said. “I’ll stay, but I
must leave immediately after.”

One of my father’s guards approached and
asked, “Shall we make preparations for the final blessings,
sir?”

“Yes, please see that it is done,” Dad told
him. He placed a hand on my back, guiding me toward the door. “As
the bodies are prepared, Meara, it is our job to comfort those who
grieve. Come with me.”

I motioned for Kieran to join us, taking his
hand in mine and finding comfort in his touch. Funny how at first
love felt like a fire, but now it was a warm blanket. He was quiet
as we walked, waiting while Dad and I stopped and met with our
people. We listened more than talked, providing hugs and a shoulder
to cry on. I was shocked when I found Arren and his friends
grieving together. He lost more than the friendship with my great
uncle—their pretty friend with the blonde curls died in the battle
too. They told stories about her kind heart, and I regretted that I
hadn’t spent more time getting to know her. Going forward, I would
find the time to spend with them. They were close to my age, and
they needed friends and guidance. With Ula leaving, I needed
friends, too. The teens wanted to know more about the human world,
and I could share that with them. I vowed to find the time to do
that, in honor of their lost friend.

We finished making the rounds. The bodies
were laid out on the beach, adorned with shells and wildflowers
that the women and children had gathered. My father stood in front
of everyone as they formed a semi-circle around him, facing out to
sea.

In an ancient language, he spoke words I
didn’t understand. Kieran translated for me, his words flowing in a
soothing tempo through my mind.

From the depths of the blue, you were
born.

From the depths of the blue, you return.

May your spirit ride the tides out to
sea.

May the ocean ever be your company.

May the fish and mammals sing your
praise.

May we honor your memory throughout our
days.

Peace to your spirit, old friend.

Peace until we meet again.

“That’s beautiful,” I murmured. Kieran
wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back against his chest.
Together, we watched as one by one, the bodies were slid into the
sea. Dad called on the wind to change the tide, and they floated
away, sinking below the waves and disappearing out of sight.

“What will happen to their bodies?” I asked.
The question seemed morbid, but important. I hated to think of my
uncle becoming fish or shark food.

“At the point you saw them sink, their body
disintegrated into the water. There is nothing left of them now.
Their spirits have rejoined the ocean.”

Odd as it was, that comforted me. I liked the
idea of my great uncle jumping with the dolphins or swimming with
the turtles. I knew he was at peace, and therefore, I was, too.

“We have blessed the dead.” Dad spoke
quietly, but his voice carried over us all. “Let us now return home
and feast in their honor.”

Ula stepped forward. “I must leave you now
and return to the Blue Men. From this point forward, our kingdoms
reside in peace.” Tipping up, she kissed Dad’s cheek. “Call when
you need me, brother.”

Then she turned to me. I focused on the
sweet, loving face of my aunt as she hurried over to me.

“You have done well, Meara. You will make a
fine leader one day.” Leaning in, she whispered in my ear. “I’m
still open for ice cream dates, so don’t be a stranger.”

I laughed and stepped away from Kieran to hug
her. “I’ll miss you, Ula.”

“I won’t be far away,” she promised, hugging
Kieran next.

After Ula exchanged a few more words, hugs,
and tears with members of our clan—including Paddy, which I
expected, and Brigid, which I did not, she slid into the water. We
watched her depart until all that remained was the churning
tides.

Dad led the clan back to the castle in a slow
and solemn march. No one transported. No one spoke. I watched them
go, content to stay in the sun. It warmed my back and arms, adding
to the dreamlike state I was in. The day had a surreal quality to
it. Ula was gone. Uncle Angus was dead. My head was reeling as I
struggled to come to terms with it all.

Kieran stood behind me, quietly watching. He
opened his arms, and I fit my body against his, finding peace in
his embrace and breathing in his comforting spring rain scent. “Are
you okay?” he asked.

I asked myself that question over and over
again. I’d come to the realization that I was. “Yeah,” I said,
wrapping my arms around his neck. “I am.”

He lowered his head and met my lips in a
long, delicious kiss. When the kiss ended, I lost myself in his
deep, dark eyes. “I love you, Kieran Peter Voda.”

His lips quirked in response. “I know you
do.” With that egotistical smile I had grown to adore, he picked me
up and swung me around. “I love you too.”

When he set me down, his face grew serious.
“You do realize the worst is not over yet?”

My heart skipped as I stared at him. “What do
you mean?”

“Now that I’ve gone and fallen in love with
you,” he said. “You have to meet my family” He tilted my chin up.
“After all, my father will not let me take a mate that he hasn’t
met.”

If he weren’t holding my jaw, my mouth would
fall open. He was ready to make a lifetime commitment to me.

“You don’t think I’d let you get away now
that I have you, do you?” he murmured before taking advantage of my
silence and capturing my lips again. Warmth slowly built from my
toes and spread through my chest. Kieran wanted to pledge himself
to me, and I wanted that. I wanted a lifetime with him. I loved
him. I loved him so much. He was my equal in every way, respecting
my strength and opinion. We were good together. No, we were better
together.

I felt my mouth widen in a foolish grin.
“Bring it, Kieran. I’m ready for anything.”

His laughter rumbled in his chest and through
mine as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and we started
walking to the castle. A feast was underway—one last gesture to
honor the dead—and Dad would be looking for us.

I twisted and looked back at the ocean. The
water continued its steady dance of advance and retreat, bathing
the rocks in its moisture. Life was like that, I realized, often a
slow and steady rhythm, but sometimes a storm. I didn’t know if
Kieran and I would stay at Ronac or go to live with his family, but
we would be together. I’d proven that I could face and conquer the
storms. Now, it was time to enjoy the dance, bask in the love that
surrounded me, and live. I was looking forward to that.

I tugged on his arm, and he raised his
eyebrows. “Would you say the swimming restrictions have been
lifted?”

“I believe so. Why?”

“Race you to the water?” I challenged.

With a flash of teeth, he took off, calling
back over his shoulder. “You’re on.”

Laughing, I chased Kieran across the ground,
changing into my seal form before the water touched my skin. He was
in the lead, but I was confident I would catch him.

THE END

1 month
later

“Do you see him yet?”

Dad leaned against my doorframe with his arms
crossed. His face was full of amusement. I didn’t even hear him
knock. He caught me staring out the window, once again, while
waiting for Kieran to return.

“What else should I be doing?” I asked. “It’s
not like I’m taking a suitcase.”

“I’m not criticizing you,” he said, although
his grin told me how silly he thought I was acting. “I’m sure
you’re excited to meet Kieran’s family.”

“I am,” I admitted. “But I’m more interested
in seeing Kieran again.”

Kieran left a few days after Uncle Angus’
funeral. We decided it was better if he went home alone to Alkana
and caught up with his family. He promised to return within the
month and then I was going back with him so he could introduce me
to his family. My stomach jumped with nerves and excitement. It
didn’t stop me from grinning back at my dad.

“I’m not sure I’m ready to let you go.” His
face grew serious as he crossed the room and pulled me into a hug.
“After all, you only returned from Azuria two days ago.”