by Godiva Glenn
Four
Cam
The bright white moon of Prism lit the violet waters, and deep beneath the calm surface, the nocturnal sea life awakened. Cam waded in until he was chest-deep in the current and stayed there. The occasional wave slapped his chin but he didn’t care. His thoughts were far away.
A blunt form knocked at his legs, slamming into the backs of his knees until they buckled. He swore and lashed out, clawing at the water and catching the smooth flesh of a massive silver seal.
“Leave me alone!” he snarled.
The silver form wavered beneath the translucent waters and swam away but sent a thought out to him that rang through his brain. “It’s your fault.”
Cam didn’t need the reminder. If he’d have been responsible instead of curious, he would have told Iona, their undine guardian and keeper of their waters, of it. The portal to Earth would have been closed. Annika would never have left. Things wouldn’t be bleak and fruitless. Life would still have light.
He couldn’t have guessed that she would have ventured through without him. Sure, he was tempted to pass through the glowing swirl of magic. He recognized it for what it was, as he was older than Annika and remembered the times when selkies frequently visited the distant human planet. But he also knew that they were forbidden to go. When they went to Earth, pain always followed.
Maybe he deserved his current fate. To be tormented day in and out by Annika’s scorned lover, Teall. Though once, they had all been friends, that had fallen apart the moment they discovered that Annika had fled Prism. And she had yet to return.
Only the hastily scrawled note from her had alerted Cam to what she’d been thinking. It had been brief.
“I can’t, with him, anymore.”
Which in a way meant this was really Teall’s fault, but Cam didn’t need to split hairs. In the end, it was all still his fault. He could have told Annika how he felt about her at any time in the past few centuries, yet he hadn’t. And now, he had no idea what kept him afraid.
He’d gone to the portal, but it had vanished. He couldn’t ask about it, but he’d searched every day to see if it would reappear. But what then? He wanted her to return on her own. There was a possibility that he would travel to Earth only to be rejected. Either she was trapped because the portal had vanished, or she had already moved on.
Lately, he couldn’t spend time searching for a way to her, anyhow. With Teall following him around, mourning in his way, it was too risky. Cam knew better than to allow Teall to find a way to Earth.
The silver seal returned, and this time bit his ankle hard enough to break the skin. Teall yanked Cam under the water and dragged him, and Cam let him. He was as strong as his angry friend, but he wanted to be punished. This was what he deserved. He’d ruined everything they had.
* * * *
Annika’s absence was a heavy weight to bear, especially when he was at their shared home. Most selkies lived in communal huts. Arrangements changed as relationships formed, and theirs was no different. Teall stayed with them when things were going well, but other than that it was only Cam and Annika. With her gone, the silent home was a constant reminder. She’d been missing for months.
Desperation clawed at him, and he gave in.
The moment he’d woken he’d set out, traveling from the coast inland in search of a way to communicate with the human planet. The technology existed, mostly in the form of computers, but they weren’t common. He’d asked around and followed a chain of recommendations. His cousin knew a kelpie who knew a brownie who knew a sprite who knew someone with access… It wasn’t the most reliable way to track down what he needed, but it was a start.
It was late in the day when he finally met the distant friend of a friend who allowed him time with a computer. Only, he didn’t know how it worked or what he was doing. After a long, confusing conversation, he’d discovered that the computer alone couldn’t connect him to Annika since he didn’t have a phone number for her, and it was impossible to search for.
But he didn’t give up. He didn’t have contacts on Earth, but he’d heard of someone. A woman who traveled and had even visited Prism before. A woman who dealt in love. Gerri Wilder.
Mrs. Wilder was a bit of a legend, and Cam wasn’t sure what was the truth and what was an exaggeration. She’d supposedly revealed the prince of the Pure court and found him a wife. Another tale said she uprooted a dryad and made him Earth royalty. Perhaps it was all talk, but she was his only lead, and she had a listed phone number.
He dialed the long string of digits and waited.
“Hello? This is Gerri Wilder, Paranormal Dating Agency,” a mature, feminine voice answered.
“Lady Wilder!” He shouted at the screen. “I am Cam of the pebbled shores. I seek—”
“Young man,” Gerri interrupted. “Stop yelling at me.”
“Sorry,” he said lowering his voice sheepishly. “This communication form is new to me.”
A sigh combined with a groan echoed from her end. “Yes. I could guess, and I should have known. Prism calls are always the most entertaining,” she murmured. “How can I help you?”
“I’m trying to track down a friend and bring her home.” He stared intently at the screen. “But she may be anywhere on your planet, and I don’t know how to reach her.”
“And you believe I could find her?”
“Do you not have resources?”
“I’m a matchmaker, not the head of the CIA or FBI.”
“I… don’t know what those are,” he confessed. “But surely, it’s not every day that a woman would emerge naked from your waters, with limited knowledge of the planet?”
“Oh dear.” More words followed, but they were muttered, and he couldn’t make them out. “It’s not, but it’s still not my jurisdiction.”
“She is likely scared and lost. We need her home.”
“Who is ‘we’ and who are you?”
“We are her fellow selkies. I am Cam. I seek a woman by the name of Annika, also of the pebbled shores. Perhaps you could contact the protective agencies of your planet and—”
“Hang on a moment.” The line went silent, but he could hear measured breaths. “Why do you assume she isn’t happy to be here?”
He stifled a laugh. “She’s a daughter of the waters. She can’t be happy outside of Prism. She belongs here where it’s safe.”
“With you?”
“Well, yes.”
“Do you love her?”
The question seemed strange and irrelevant. “Yes.”
“And does she know?”
He bristled. “I don’t see how any of that matters. Will you help me find her?”
“You two are friends, then?” Gerri asked, her voice sterner than seconds before.
“The best of friends. I can’t stand to imagine her alone on your world, and I’ll do whatever I need to do to bring her home.”
“Fae, I swear,” Gerri said, though her voice was muffled as if she weren’t speaking to him. “Cam, I must say your luck is incredible, as I have met Annika. But she’s not returning to Prism.”
“What?”
“I’m taking a guess here, but next time you fall in love with a woman, let her know. Don’t pine away and only find the courage to desire her once she’s gone,” Gerri lectured. “Annika is finding happiness in her own way. There’s plenty of water here.”
“But…” His thoughts scrambled. “She’s safe?”
“Indeed.”
He sat back. He knew from reliable sources that the call of the waters was no myth. Annika had to be seeking her way back or suffering for it. “How did you meet Annika?”
“We simply met. Then I matched her.”
“You. Matched. Her.” That couldn’t be right. “To a human? You matched a selkie with a human?”
“Trust me, it wasn’t my first instinct, not exactly. But love works in mysterious ways.”
“She’ll be a prisoner,” Cam said holding back his urge to scream. “She can’t st
ay there.”
“I’m keeping an eye on the situation. You don’t know me, but believe me when I say the last thing I want is for anyone to wind up harmed.”
Cam hung up and left the house in a daze. Everything had gone wrong. He needed help. He turned a corner and walked straight into a man’s solid chest.
Teall pushed him back, eyeing him with suspicion. “What are you doing here?”
Five
Annika
Annika scrutinized each and every single man walking along the crowded pier, wondering which would turn out to be her date, Pavel. They’d only spoken briefly on the phone, though he was sweet and had a kind voice that made her want to continue on for hours. But Gerri had told him to keep the call short. She wanted them to communicate in person, which made perfect sense.
Throughout her life, Annika had only a handful of romantic relationships. Mostly, she went back and forth with Teall. Because of that and the way selkie courtship worked, dating was a foreign concept to her. This wasn’t Prism. Pavel wouldn’t show up with pretty shells and the biggest fish he could catch, expecting her to fall naked into his arms as was the selkie way.
There was a chance he couldn’t catch fish. He certainly wasn’t equipped to search the ocean floor for trinkets to gift her. Whatever he offered, however, she was ready to welcome him with an open mind. Human men were supposed to be romantic, and she expected nothing but the best with Gerri involved.
Strangers continued to walk by, most offering smiles as they passed her. The beach was long, and this wasn’t her usual spot to spend time. This end was busier, and the crowd made her anxious. She tried to stand in an obvious area so Pavel would see her quickly. Since they were meeting for the first time, she wore a bright blue dress and had told him to look for it.
Anxious to meet, she’d arrived early, and had hoped he would too. But as she paced in a small circle, the minutes ticked by and she was still alone. Her nerves left her hands shaking.
“Annika?”
She spun around and met a tall man with medium brown hair. He removed the dark sunglasses hiding his eyes, revealing them to be an almost golden shade of brown. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. He was incredibly handsome, and the way he smiled at her made her own lips curl in response.
“Yes.” She held out her hand.
He took it and kissed her knuckles as she stared, then he pressed a long-stemmed flower into her hand. “I brought this for you. To compliment your lovely dress.”
She broke away from his hypnotizing stare long enough to admire the coral petals. Though only one flower, it had a noticeable sweet scent that delighted her. “I love it.”
“I’d hoped you would. Though I’m told the flowers of Earth are nothing compared to the gardens of Prism.”
She lifted the flower and spun it, examining it in the soft amber light of the setting sun. “I think it’s gorgeous. And I wouldn’t know much of the flowers of Prism,” she confessed. “I lived on a rocky shore.”
“I’d love to hear more about it.” He motioned down the beach. “Over dinner, then? I made reservations at the restaurant down there.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She wrapped her arm around his in the way she’d seen other couples walking, and his smile grew.
* * * *
Annika stirred a tiny umbrella through the bright blue drink she’d ordered with her meal. Pavel was talking about his family, and though she heard every word, her mind was wandering. Not because he bored her, but quite the opposite. She found herself daydreaming about being a part of his life.
“What’s your family like?” he asked.
She blinked, taking a moment to return to the present. “Certainly not as animated as yours. Since my parents and younger sister live on a different coast, I didn’t see them often. But I have many cousins, and they would stay with me for weeks at a time.”
“I wouldn’t mind that.”
“I love my family. Of course, they never expected me to marry a princess, so I suppose I had it easy.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. That’s not a fun disappointment to live down.” He spun his water glass idly. “Am I allowed to ask what sort of fae you are? I don’t know the etiquette. You aren’t like the others I’ve met.”
Her brows shot up. “You’ve met other fae? Here?”
“Yes. Alethea, the princess, she ended up with a dryad. And his best friend is a sprite or something like that. Gerri isn’t how I know about Prism,” he clarified.
“Wow.” With that being the case, it was tempting to spill the truth. He would surely understand. But she’d told Gerri she’d wait. “Actually, maybe it would be better to not think about that just yet.”
“We can do that. But may I ask why?”
She met his eyes, which had lost some of their playful cheer. “I think if you get to know me first, what I am will make more sense. But I will tell you, I promise. How about the next time we meet? Only, you’ll probably want to make sure you have the time. It’ll be a lengthy conversation, I suspect.”
“Mysterious,” he murmured. “I like it.”
“Really? You aren’t bothered?”
He leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “I couldn’t expect to learn everything about you in one date, regardless. Besides, I can respect not wanting to lay all your cards out on the table. You aren’t like me.”
“How so?”
“My every habit has been documented in one way or another. I hate the spotlight, but it loves me. I’m used to everyone I meet assuming what to expect and knowing as much about my life as I do.”
“I’ve enjoyed hearing about you, so far,” she promised.
“I can’t begin to tell you how refreshing that is. It’s been forever since I arrived at a date and didn’t suspect that every minute that passed, I was being compared to the tabloid bachelor version of myself.”
She sipped her drink and considered his words. He was correct, she couldn’t imagine what that would be like. “I’m glad I get to meet the real you, in that case. I’m not comparing you to anyone.”
“Not even my brother?” he teased. “Because I’m constantly reminded that he’s twice the charmer as I am.”
“I think your charm is at perfect capacity.” She admired the way the setting sun created a golden halo in his brown hair. “And I doubt his smile is as handsome as yours.”
“You’re quite the charmer, too.”
She shrugged and looked away to clear her head. She didn’t know how deeply her magic was affecting him, but his was overwhelming her, and he was only human.
* * * *
After their meal, which Annika barely paid attention to, Pavel suggested a walk on the beach. The sun had gone down and most of the crowd had dispersed, giving them welcomed privacy.
Holding her heeled sandals in one hand, she walked beside him. “Are the beaches this nice where you’re from?”
He glanced around them then his focus landed on her. “No. Not even close.”
“Really?”
“The water is crystal clear and vibrant jewel tones of blue. The sand is fine and white.” He shrugged. “But you aren’t there. Being beside you makes this the best beach I’ve seen.”
She leaned against him, aiming to take his arm, but the sand beneath her feet caved away and made her ankle collapse beneath her. He caught and embraced her, and their eyes met.
Reaching up, she brushed her fingertips across his lips. He kissed them, and while one hand molded against the small of her back, the other brushed wind-swept hair from her face. She closed her eyes as he dipped down and pressed his lips against hers.
He held her tight, and though his kiss was gentle, it was guided by confidence. She melted against him and twined his tongue with hers. He tasted like rum and citrus but smelled like warm foreign spices. The experience left her heated and dizzy, and for a brief handful of seconds, the aching thrum of Prism’s call to her ceased. For those few seconds, she was free, and she knew it was all thanks to Pavel. But she also k
new that a few seconds at a time were likely all she’d ever get. The realization crushed her, and she pulled from the kiss with tears clinging to the corners of her eyes.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked. He still held her close, and he caressed her neck as he searched her face.
“No.” Her voice was soft, weakened by the emotions running rampant through her. “Actually, that was magical.”
“Is that the reason for these?” His thumb swept a hot tear from high on her cheek.
She blinked and felt more fall from being caught on her lashes. “I’m sorry.” She freed herself from him, taking a few steps away and frantically wiping at her face. “I don’t know what’s come over me.”
He pulled a white square from his pocket and handed it to her. She used the soft cloth to clean the rest of the tears and stared up at the sky as if she could hold whatever was left bottled inside her.
“Are they for you, for me, or for something else?” he asked.
“I can’t say,” she admitted. “I think I feel lost right now.”
“How can I help?”
She shook her head. Her toes curled in the sand, and it felt wrong. The sand felt wrong. The water looked wrong. Even the air smelled wrong. The sadness of being trapped far from home had come back with a vengeance, and she couldn’t force herself to smile and push it aside.
“Did I tell you that I play the violin?”
She gazed at him. “What?”
He pulled out his phone, speaking as he swiped his finger across the screen. “I suppose it may or may not exist on Prism, but it’s a stringed instrument. Very posh. Some would say pretentious.”
“I see.” She frowned, unsure why he’d brought it up.
“I’ve been taking lessons since I was barely larger than the instrument itself, and long after my parents stopped forcing it on me, I continued. Though I am far from gifted, I suppose.”
“And why—”
Her words stopped as a beautiful sound came through his phone. A clear and airy tone that somehow carried with it a sense of melancholy. It was unlike music she’d heard before, but it ebbed and flowed like the waves troubling her mind and reflected the longing in her heart. He held the phone to her, and she stared at the bright screen in a trance. It was him. His fingers graced the neck of a wooden instrument and with the other hand, he directed a thin wand over taut strings. But the song was not all that captivated her.