by Anne Bourne
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Blue Moon
Anne Bourne
Avon, Massachusetts
This edition published by
Crimson Romance
an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street
Avon, MA 02322
www.crimsonromance.com
Copyright © 2012 by Emily Field
ISBN 10: 1-4405-5576-1
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-5576-3
eISBN 10: 1-4405-5577-X
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-5577-0
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.
Cover art © 123rf.com
Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
About the Author
A Sneak Peek from Crimson Romance
Also Available
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my family for supporting me and for feeding the “starving artist”! To friends: Brittany, who reads all my sketchy first drafts no matter how terrible and Katy, who keeps me inspired.
To Greg, who storyboards with me anywhere and makes true romance a reality. You believe in me and appreciate my artistic nature more than anyone!
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my editor, Jennifer Lawler, for taking a chance on me and making a dream come true.
Finally, to the readers, thank you for reading the story and I hope it takes you away for just a little while to a wonderfully romantic, exotic place. I hope you can escape for at least a moment!
Xoxo, Anne
Chapter One
Dive, her brain was telling her, but Ephyra stayed above the waves. The Caribbean Sea’s currents propelled her upward and the waves cocooned her. Ephyra used her powerful tail to stay above the water’s smooth edges and let the rain sweep over her face.
Rain. It was such an amazing phenomenon that she’d never experienced until now. Ephyra was a young mermaid by merfolk and human standards. Her twenty-seven years had given her sufficient time to only crave more learning.
Suddenly, Ephyra felt the rain slash harder at her face, stinging her eyes. Clouds swirled like funnels above her and lightning illuminated the water’s fury. The waves started to spin and Ephyra finally gave in to dive under the water. It was oddly silent under the waves and dim under the storm’s darkness. She swam easily toward the funnel under the water where a strange purple beam lit it up like a candle.
Other fish and sea life were hiding in their rocky shelters. Ephyra was further out than the coral beds, and she saw only a few shadows of larger fish or whales daring to brave the currents.
The sound of a whale’s high-pitched cry of distress propelled Ephyra faster toward the funnel. She felt the animal’s pain as it was devoured into the purple light.
A black figure emerged, rising like Triton, from the purple funnel. Although he was a merman, his fins were black, split in two and his hair trailed him like stingers of a stingray. He was much larger than normal merfolk and scars ran over usually smooth scales. Ephyra gasped as he reached a hand toward the surface of the water and it parted to reveal the slate gray sky. The creature rose on his massive fins to splay his fingers at the thunder. Lightning shot down and thunder echoed. Except, it wasn’t thunder.
Ephyra splashed above the water for a moment to see an airplane — one of those huge pieces of metal she’d read about humans inventing — catapulting from the sky. The winged hull crashed into the water with a reverberating thud. Sirens screamed and lights flashed. Ephyra dove out of the way to watch the plane fall apart like a ghost disappearing under the water.
Two figures, male humans, swam out and sought the surface. The pair made it to the surface, but the waves pummeled them under over and over. Ephyra didn’t want to get too close, but she didn’t intend to let them drown, either. She was about to help them when the dark merman snatched them up in his fist of power.
They struggled briefly but Ephyra saw the merman, his battle scars running the length of his muscled torso, crush their necks like a handful of sand. A school of spiny backed eels rushed at him like bullets until they surrounded him, and then she heard him laugh.
“Your master has returned.”
Erebos … Erebosss …
The shock of realizing whom she watched chilled Ephyra. She retreated hastily for fear he’d see her. Her fins slicked to her sides and she swam for all she was worth away from the Dark merman.
• • •
“I know what I saw,” Ephyra tried to explain half an hour later.
“You’re sure it wasn’t a Shoal?” her father asked skeptically.
Her mother nodded, but her brow was furrowed. The Shoal were merfolk who abandoned their traditions and were considered rebels.
“It was Erebos. What could have let him rise?” Ephyra swam in small, agitated circles. Couldn’t they see that the realm was in danger?
“I don’t know. The runes are well protected and no one knows enough magic to have loosed him. Thirty clicks to the south?”
“Yes.” Ephyra saw her father motion to several guards and they swam behind him.
Ephyra felt her mother’s comforting arm on hers.
“Let’s get you something to eat.”
�
��He’s too close,” Ephyra said worriedly.
“Your father isn’t the King of our realm because he’s a fool. He will know how to deal with it,” she responded kindly.
Ephyra bit her lip. The pleasant memory of the rain was long gone. A slight shock reverberated through the water and made her scales shiver. After nearly a century of imprisonment in the runes, the Dark warlord was on his way. She let her mother take her to her quarters but she kept looking past the rim of their palace.
He was coming.
Chapter Two
Gabriel Rayner looked at the diving Invicta watch on his wrist. The sapphire chronographs were perfect circles and the metal glinted richly. It was the last thing Charles Rayner had given him, but he hadn’t been able to wear it at his father’s funeral. Now, it seemed appropriate to wear, when he was the bearer of his father’s things to his brother.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We’re about thirty minutes from Miami International. In preparation for landing, please turn off all electronic devices, stow your tray tables and return your seats to their upright position. The flight attendants will come through the aisle to pick up any trash you may have collected during this flight. Thank you!” the tinny voice said over the intercom.
Gabriel packed up his laptop with a sigh. He hadn’t gotten much work done anyway. He was a professor of English at liberal arts college in a small suburb near Chicago and had the summer off. One of the only perks except if you’re trying to write a memoir, he thought to himself. Ever since his father’s death, he’d wanted to document his father’s life if only to keep some part of Charles here on Earth.
The airplane circled for what seemed hours before landing smoothly on the runway. A light rain greeted their arrival. Gabriel shuffled off the plane, avoiding the platinum blond who’d chatted him up for an hour on the flight. She was fit and tanned but not his type. He gave a weak smile as she sidled up next to him.
“Want to share a cab?” she asked with a smile that showed perfect teeth.
“Sorry, I’m meeting my brother,” he lied with a polite smile back. She couldn’t hide the disappointment and it made him feel guilty. Gabriel sighed.
“Well, if you feel like crashing here’s where I’m staying,” the blond said with a wistful look. She handed him a card with her phone number and address on it.
“Thanks.” Gabriel couldn’t think of anything more courteous than that. He claimed his baggage and hastily found a cab.
He was dropped off at the car rental place and pried open the piece of paper that had his brother’s number on it. No answer. Gabriel grabbed a map and sat in the Mazda, the new car smell pleasant.
His cell rang and he flipped it open.
“Marcus?”
“Hey! I’m on … boat in the … got your … ”
Gabriel ground his teeth. Only his brother would call him on his boat in the middle of a storm.
“ … was a crash. I’ll call you … ”
“Crash? Are you okay?”
The line went dead and Gabriel wondered if he should be worried. He checked the time and turned the keys. It would be an interesting drive down to the resort one of his mom’s friends had recommended. Rain slashed the window and he turned the lights and wipers on.
Chapter Three
Jake raced in the darkness, his tail silently propelling him faster, deliberately not taking a light with him. He’d glimpsed the dark Shoal army right before a bellow had cut through the water like a mad walrus. Ephyra had been right, the Dark merlord was truly risen.
“Ephyra!” he whispered urgently and peered around the rock wall. The princess was swimming in circles in her coral chambers, and she spun to meet him, her eyes wide pools of gold.
“Jake, he’s here. Have you seen my father?”
“He left to find Erebos, but I think he’s found us first. We have to get you out of here.” Jake grabbed her hand and they swam quickly.
“Your majesty,” Jake said and came to a sudden halt at the sight of the Queen rushing down the coral arch corridor. Her sapphire eyes were steely but anxious.
“You two must flee,” she said hurriedly.
“You’re not coming with us?” Ephyra grabbed her mother’s arm and the Queen shook her head.
“If our realm falls to the Shoals, the entire merworld will be overtaken. Go. I will stand with your father.”
Jake nodded severely, his duty to protect the princess. In a daze, Ephyra followed Jake through the palace tiers. Ephyra heard mermen guards preparing for war and their grim faces gave her no hope.
Suddenly, the rock walls surrounding them shattered and the castle shook. Ephyra screamed as shafts of rock tumbled toward her. Jake instantly covered her body with his and swam them faster toward the underground levels to a hidden passage that led into Coral territory.
“Jake!” Ephyra cried as a spiny shelled creature with huge green eyes and four arms that carried a pointed spear sprang at them from the windows. It knew how to wield that spear with deadly accuracy, but undaunted, Jake drew his knife to dodge and parry his enemy in flashes of bubbles. The green creature had him cornered when Ephyra grabbed the closest rock, whacked it hard, and the creature floated, dazed. But those huge eyes still watched her, trailing her face. It was one of Erebos’ spies, Ephyra thought as she flicked past it.
Down, faster and faster Jake took the princess. He didn’t need a light; he knew these tunnels from years of exploring. The Coral people would protect Ephyra, they had only to reach their border.
They wiggled through the tunnels and finally out into open water. It wasn’t a comforting feeling. Like most fish, merfolk didn’t find it safe to be out in the open, vulnerable to attacks from the sea life. Jake whipped around quickly to see if anyone had followed. For good measure he pushed a large boulder against the opening they’d come through.
They glided over the hill and discovered the glow was from the orange lichens of war. Jake saw the Coral army swimming to meet the enemy with shields, swords, magic flames, and spears of coral. Their small caves were crushed to rubble and green fire sparked across the reef.
“I didn’t believe you. I’m sorry,” Jake said abruptly, riveting his intense brown eyes on her. She shook her head.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me.”
“Then, you’re forgiven.” Ephyra tried to smile.
“I will protect you to whatever ends, you know that,” he said slowly, frowning.
“You don’t sound sure,” Ephyra said and glanced around. The Corals were forming ranks and swimming as a unit.
“I have a place I could take you but you’d have to trust me,” he said somberly.
“You know I do.”
Minutes later, Ephyra was swimming swiftly after Jake. She paused when she saw a familiar figure cutting through the water toward her.
“Ephyra!” Muriel’s voice cut through their conversation. Her eyes were wild with fright and the usually smooth crimson hair was a tangle of knots. Even her fins were paler than normal.
“Muriel,” Ephyra sighed in relief as she briefly hugged her friend. Muriel had always been her guide in Coral territory and had become like a sister.
“Has the palace fallen?” Muriel asked in horror. She eyed Jake but they didn’t need to take the time for small talk.
“Yes. Jake says he might know a place where we could be safe — you’ll come?” Ephyra held out her hand for a friend to take with a firm grip.
“Of course. But if Coral territory isn’t safe then I don’t know where would be.” Muriel turned emerald eyes on Jake, who both fidgeted and looked determined at the same time. “We must go down, deeper than you’ve been before. You know the legend of Erebos’ wife he cast out?”
The two mermaids nodded.
“The sea witc
h could help us. That’s the last place Erebos would look for you — in league with his ex-mate, right?” Jake said in a hurry. Ephyra had never dared go that far down because the pressure threatened to crush her.
“You could be right, but how do you know where she is?”
“I stumbled upon her lair once when I was wandering. It wasn’t something I ever intended to do twice,” he said with a shake of his head. “But we must hurry.”
“Is it better to trust the enemy of my enemy?” Ephyra wondered aloud and then took a deep breath. “Lead the way, Jake.”
Muriel’s face had gone pale but she followed them as Jake began swimming away from Coral territory. The mermaids flicked their powerful tails and disappeared, while in the distance war torches flared to life and cries sounded the beginning of a new battle.
Chapter Four
Bikini clad women strutted along the Times Square boardwalk like models and shirtless men made no effort to hide their looks of admiration. There was a lull in the storm and everyone took advantage of it. Gabriel noticed the women but didn’t bother to assess any of them. He looked down at his gray suit and white shirt. He wasn’t sure why he wore it. Maybe it was because the only time people complimented him on his looks was when he was in it. Or maybe because his father had always insisted that a sharply dressed man was a successful man.
A man in a suit was not an undesirable commodity he noticed, as the women glanced at him. He made his way toward the hotel’s open breakfast café. Gabriel chuckled at the thought of taking one of these tanned models home to his mother.
He ate eggs and toast in silence, watching people as they made their way to any number of destinations. The Marquesa Hotel was a quaint resort with a sparkling pool and stucco white siding. His room was comfortable but Gabriel wanted fresh air.
Palm trees swayed heavily in the rushing breeze and even the sea gulls took shelter as the storm began to kick up. Gabriel looked out at the frothing ocean and remembered a time long ago when Marcus had asked their father where the fish went when it stormed. Charles had laughed and said he’d teach them to dive so they could find out.