Abide: An Awakened Fate Novella by Skye Malone Page A

looked back. Egan swam after me, struggling through the water with pain clear on his face. As he came closer, his hands grabbed mine, bringing me near to him again.
    He kissed me, hard and desperate and, for a moment, everything went away.
    And then he pulled back.
    “I love you,” he said.
    A shiver ran through my body at the words.
    But I wasn’t scared. Not anymore.
    “I love you too.”
    A smile spread across his face, relieved and amazed all at the same time.
    “Ina,” my grandfather called.
    “Come back to me,” Egan whispered.
    I nodded. “I will.”
    He let me go. I swam toward Granddad, glancing over my shoulder to Egan as I went.
    His smile remained, though sadness touched it now. Behind him, the villagers were approaching, one of them looking like a physician.
    And then the veil passed around me and he was lost from view.
    A breath left me.
    “You with me, poppet?” Granddad asked.
    “Yeah.” My voice was choked. I swallowed hard. “Yeah, I’m coming.”
    I pulled my gaze forward and followed him, leaving Egan behind.
    ###

Blurb
     
    Life in her underwater home of Nyciena has always been fun and games to Ina Ociras, until now. Her brothers are missing. Her father is gone. The adventurous party girl is fighting just to keep her family from falling apart, all while avoiding Egan, the guy who committed the one crime she can’t possibly forgive.
     
    But when she receives a message that changes everything, Ina suddenly finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy more horrifying than she could have imagined. One that strikes at the heart of her kingdom, and one that could destroy her family once and for all.