Promises (Book One of The Syrenka Series) by Amber Garr

fire ball. Shadows from the flames cut
throughout the collection of mermaids sitting next to each other in
a semicircle facing the ocean. We found an empty spot in the sand
at the edge of the group, and I sat down while Kain walked to the
other side to greet Vance and Daniel. My sister’s annoying voice
squawked out a laugh and I almost told her to go home. But then I
thought about it some more. She should be here to represent our
family, because in just a few hours, I would be leaving. I didn’t
know what would happen to me in regards to clan politics, but at
least they would still have one Dumahl left that everyone could
count on.
    “ What’s going on with you?”
a smooth, silky voice asked. I hadn’t even noticed that anyone had
sat down next to me.
    “ Huh?”
    Carissa threw back her head and
laughed. “Very eloquent, Eviana.” Her longs legs were folded
underneath her and she held some sort of drink in her hand. “You
are going to be wife of a clan leader tomorrow. Better get all of
the one syllable words out tonight.” I think that she was toying
with me, but it was still kind of rude. Choosing to ignore my
glare, she continued to press. “I saw your exchange back there.”
She jerked her head behind us towards the place where Kain and I
had stopped.
    “ And?”
    “ And I wanted to see if
everything was okay with you two. Is someone getting cold feet?”
Her shoulder pushed against mine and I tried to pull out a
smile.
    “ No. Everything is
fine.”
    Carissa sat and stared at me for at
least half a minute before shaking her head. “You’re
lying.”
    “ No I’m not.”
    “ You are. I know.” I looked
at her with curiosity. She said that like it was a fact. Like she
really could declare when someone was lying and when someone was
telling the truth. “There is something going on with
you.”
    I didn’t like the way this
conversation was going, so I decided for a distraction. Maybe a
partial truth would keep her busy. “I’m nervous. I’m going to be a
child bride.”
    She laughed again and the serious look
she was giving me disappeared. “That’s not all that’s bugging you,
but it’s a start. You’ll be eighteen in no time.” She waved her
hand around. “Besides seventeen was practically middle-aged back in
the day.”
    “ Yeah, like a hundred years
ago,” I said with a groan, getting another chuckle out of
her.
    “ What’s so funny?” Lily cut
in with authentic curiosity.
    “ Oh, just talking girl
stuff,” Carissa replied coolly. When Lily looked at her
questioningly, she continued in a friendlier tone. “We’re
discussing her upcoming nuptials.”
    “ Oh! I’m so excited for
you!” Lily exclaimed and plunked down in front of us. “Tell me
about your dress. Who’s doing your hair? Are you going on a
honeymoon?”
    And so went the rest of my evening.
Brendan would be proud of me. I spoke of the wedding with ease,
swallowing the ball of guilt each time it tried to escape. For
several hours, all of our friends talked, laughed, and shared
stories about Cotillion and how Kain would never have to go again.
He played along, although I could sense his unease when the topic
broached his father’s death. No one spoke of it outright, but
whenever his new leadership was mentioned, it was an unspoken link
to his father’s legacy.
    By midnight, we had doused the fire
and returned to my house. Everyone said their goodbyes, but mine
were pierced with the reality that I would not see any of them
again. Brendan and I would be safest if we cut all ties from our
current lives. Besides, once they realized what I had done to Kain
and our families, I doubted that any of my friends would ever want
to speak to me again.
    Surprisingly, saying goodbye to
Carissa was hard. She had spent the entire evening by my side,
refereeing Lily and Brinsley and changing the subject when she
sensed that I was uncomfortable.
    “ Whatever it is, I hope
that you are sure,” she said to me as we hugged goodbye. I