Always Remembered (2 page)

“How did you speak to him?” Dad asked me
before glaring at Kieran. “I thought you have Meara’s
necklace?”

During the summer, Evan and I used my
grandparents’ enchanted necklaces to communicate. When Evan started
treating me cruelly, his moods swinging widely out of control,
Kieran took the necklace from me for safekeeping. He worried that
Evan would be able to hurt me through it.

“He does,” I answered before Kieran could
defend himself. “I didn’t need it. Evan and I were able to talk
without it.”

I could practically see Dad processing what I
told him. I wasn’t sure how Evan did it, but the last time we
spoke, my necklace was safely stored in Kieran’s dresser. Evan
reached me without it.

“Okay. What if he lied to you?” Dad asked.
“What if he went with Ken willingly?”

“Never. He was being held against his will.”
He might have broken up with me, but I knew Evan would never betray
me like that.

“Can you talk to him now?” Dad asked.

“No. I tried.” I managed to keep the
disappointment out of my voice. If I knew Evan was okay, maybe the
ball of fear in my belly would disappear. Was it the same for him?
Was he trying to reach me? How long had he tried the last time
before I actually heard him? The questions flew through my mind. I
felt guilty that while he was locked in a cell, I was dancing with
Kieran at the farewell banquet for my uncle and his family. One of
the happiest nights of my life might have been one of Evan’s
scariest—trapped and alone.

“What reason does Ken have for taking Evan?”
Dad asked. “He was Evan’s employer, right?”

Kieran spoke before I could. “Ken is the
leader of the Blue Men, David.”

“He’s
what
?”

“Dad, Ted showed us his true form. He was one
of the Blue Men, too.”

Dad scrubbed his face with his hands, and
then lowered them with a sigh. “I think I better sit down.” Lost in
thought, Dad collapsed into his chair. We stood watching him until
he said, “Please join me. It makes me uncomfortable when you hover
over me.”

I sat on the couch. Kieran sat next to me and
rested his arm along the top of the cushion, almost touching my
head. His thigh brushed against mine. My dad raised an eyebrow, but
he didn’t say anything. Mentally, I willed Kieran to move over. I
wasn’t ready for a relationship with him. Not while I was a mess of
nerves and guilt. If Kieran heard my thoughts, he didn’t say
anything. He didn’t move either.

“What else did you learn?” Dad asked.

“Ted gave Meara a package from Evan.”

With a question in his eyes, Dad focused on
me. I shrugged. “Evan gave me back the necklace, and he wrote
something on the napkin it was wrapped in.” I pulled the napkin out
of my pocket and handed it to him. “Does that mean anything to
you?”

“Azuria.” Dad read it aloud and frowned. “It
sounds familiar, but I can’t place it. I’ll check the library
tonight. See if I can’t find a reference.”

“Would you like me to join you?” Kieran
asked, his tone respectful.

“That’s not necessary.” The edge was back in
Dad’s voice. “I’d like you to retire to your rooms and stay there.”
When I made a noise to protest, he added, “For the remainder of the
evening. I’ll call a meeting for the morning to determine our next
steps.”

“The Elders or can I participate too?” I
couldn’t keep the hopefulness out of my voice. I wanted more than
anything for my dad to count me in. In the past, the Elders
discussed things, and I got left out.

“You, too.” He leaned over and ruffled my
hair like I was a little kid, giving me a small smile. “I don’t
think I could keep you away if I wanted to, could I?”

“No.”

“No, sir.”

Kieran and I answered at the same time. Dad
laughed and waved us out of his room. As soon as the door shut, I
collapsed in Kieran’s arms. He pulled me close and rested his chin
on my head. The adrenaline fled my system, replaced by sheer
exhaustion. I could barely stand.

“C’mon,” he murmured, his warm breath
rustling my hair. “Let’s get you back to your room.”

I wanted to protest and tell him I could get
there on my own, but the truth was, I couldn’t. Leaning into his
side, I let him guide me with one firm arm around my waist. We
moved at a snail’s pace. If the dark shadows under his eyes were
any indication, he was just as tired as I was.

When we finally reached my door, I invited
Kieran in. I didn’t want to be alone. What if Evan contacted me
again? Last time, his voice dripped with revulsion. I didn’t
understand why. Did he hate me now? And if so, why did he leave me
the necklace and message? His moods were hot and cold with no
pattern or reasoning to them. Something was changing him. He told
me as much himself when we shared that dream by the pool. His
emotions were falling out of his control. Which left one
question—who was controlling them?

Kieran pulled off his shirt and tossed it
over a chair. He sat on the edge of the bed, taking off his socks
and shoes.

“Don’t try anything,” I warned, forcing
myself to look into his eyes. If I didn’t, my gaze would be glued
to his muscular, half-naked body. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea
to invite him in.

“Meara, I’m just as tired as you.” He pulled
back the covers and climbed into my bed, patting the open space on
the other side. “I promise that all I want right now is to
sleep.”

To prove his point, he lay on his side and
closed his eyes. I took that moment to visualize my favorite pajama
pants and matching tank top. The soft fabric settled against my
skin, providing the right amount of coverage. I ran my fingers
through my hair, detangling it, and then crawled into bed.

“Nice jammies.” Kieran’s hand snaked out and
grabbed my waist. He pulled me back against his warm chest, fitting
my body next to his. “There is one more thing I want to do,” he
whispered, his breath tickling my ear. My body tensed slightly
while I waited. Tired as I was, if he tried something, I might not
be able to resist him. He kissed my forehead. “Relax, Meara. I was
only going to say ‘hold you.’ I just want to hold you. Is that
okay?”

I relaxed. The heat from his body melted into
my muscles, and his strong arm made me feel safe. “It’s okay,” I
said. “‘Night, Kieran.”

He kissed my cheek, took a deep breath, and
let it out in a contented sigh. “Good night, Meara.”

****

I woke in the early light of morning,
Kieran’s arm still wrapped around my waist. His steady breathing
told me he was asleep. The fortress was quiet, and I hadn’t been
dreaming. What woke me?

A throat cleared by the door, and I jumped.
Kieran reacted to my movement, jerking back and smacking his head
on the headboard. “Ow!”

“Good morning.” My dad’s cheerful tone
sounded forced, his expression guarded. “I didn’t realize you two
were so close.”

My face burned. Kieran and I had done nothing
wrong, but I could see my dad’s mind working. “It’s not what you
think,” I managed to stammer.

“I certainly hope not,” Dad said calmly.
“Kieran, would you please go to your own room now? I’d like to talk
to my daughter alone.”

Kieran sat up immediately. I thought he would
just leave, but he leaned over and kissed my cheek, whispering.
“I’ll see you later.”

I nodded, not saying anything. The
accusations I saw in Dad’s eyes were mortifying. How dare he
criticize me when he got my mom pregnant at eighteen! Kieran and I
slept together. That was it.
Sleeping
. Not that it was my
dad’s business anyway. I was eighteen—almost nineteen—which was
considered past adulthood in both the human and Selkie worlds. My
anger helped dissolve my embarrassment. I pushed myself back and
sat upright, leaning against the headboard and awaiting the
lecture.

Stepping into the room, my dad sat on the
edge of my bed. Kieran gave me an apologetic look before he left,
closing the door behind him.

Dad cleared his throat. “So, you and Kieran,
huh?”

I dropped my face into my palms, wishing I
could drop through the floor instead. “Really, Dad? We’re having
this conversation?”

He shrugged. “I just want to make sure you’re
using precautions.”

“Nothing’s happened between us,” I gritted
out between my teeth. “Not that it’s any of your business, but
trust me, if anything does happen, we’ll be careful.”

Dad was suddenly very interested in the wall
on the opposite side of my room. He cleared his throat again, and
then nodded. “Good enough.”

I waited for him to say more. He obviously
had a reason for coming to my room first thing in the morning. My
fingers smoothed the blanket that pooled at my waist. Was he going
to lecture me more about disobeying his orders? Would he try to
punish me? I’d like to see him try. It would give me a chance to
put him in his place. We were growing closer, but being in my life
for one year did not make him the boss of me.

A gull cried somewhere outside my window. The
noise jarred Dad from his reverie. “I came here for a reason.”

“I hope so,” I joked. He gave me a crooked
smile, which I took as a positive sign. If he were going to lecture
or punish me, he probably wouldn’t look so relaxed.

“I searched the library last night. I didn’t
find anything on Azuria.”

Disappointed, I could only nod. It had to
mean something or Evan wouldn’t have given the clue to me.
Azuria
. What did it mean?

“Your aunt and I are leaving tonight to
search the Minch strait,” Dad continued. “Angus will be in charge
while we’re gone.”

I was glad that Dad was taking Aunt Brigid
with him. I may not be as close to her as I was with Ula, my other
aunt, but I knew Brigid was a fierce fighter. She was the one I
would pick to guard my back. Still, they were heading into the
heart of the Blue Men’s territory. “Have you been there
before?”

“No,” he said. I caught the worried
expression on his face before he turned and looked out the window.
“I have no idea what we’ll encounter there. We’re taking a small
team with us.”

“Who?” The Selkie scouts who found us at
Ken’s house seemed competent enough. They were armed with knives
and spears. Until I saw their weapons, I hadn’t realized that my
dad had an army on this island.

“A few of my men, so there will be fewer
guards here. You and Kieran will need to help Angus.”

“Of course,” I said, wondering how many
guards my dad had on the island. “Are many of the Selkies trained
for battle?”

“About a dozen,” Dad said. “I’ve trained the
men who show aptitude. We are a peaceful civilization, Meara. I
don’t like to focus on war and weaponry.”

“I get it, Dad.” I moved to stand by him at
the window. Outside, people ran and played on the mossy, green
grounds. The islanders were getting restless. Per my father’s
decree, Selkies were not allowed in the water. My entire body ached
to change into my seal form and swim, but his ruling had not been
lifted. The dangers were too real. While we had a face for our
enemy now, we still didn’t know where Ken was or what the Blue Men
were plotting.

“You can’t shelter our people forever,” I
said. “Not when the Blue Men and others want to harm us. Wouldn’t
it be best if all of our clan were trained?”

“You’d have women and children fight?” Dad
gestured to the families below, roaming the grounds and playing
near the shore.

I narrowed my eyes, touching his arm until he
looked at me. “I know how to fight. Aunt Brigid fights. How is this
different?” I gestured at the families below. “They should know how
to defend themselves. Without that ability, they’re helpless. A
handful of trained Selkies cannot protect an island full of
ignorant ones.”

“It has worked in the past,” he gritted out
through clenched teeth.

“Has it?” I asked. “My understanding is that
last time you had to retreat.”

“Meara!” His voice was sharp with
admonishment.

“What? It’s true.” I refused to apologize.
“If you let us, Kieran and I will train them while you’re
gone.”

Dad crossed his arms and stared at me.
Finally, he said, “We don’t have enough weapons.”

“Then I’ll conjure them, or make them, or
both.” When his stubborn expression didn’t change, I poked him
lightly in the chest. “Lack of weapons is a poor excuse, and you
know it. Our bodies are weapons. Knowledge is a weapon.”

While I waited for his decision, I rested my
forearms on the windowsill. The stone felt cool against my skin.
The triplets played a game below. It looked like tag. Their mom
stood nearby, talking with another woman. There were so many
innocent lives at stake here. My father had to see things my
way.

It didn’t take him long to decide. “Very
well,” he said. “I will give you and Kieran the time we are gone to
begin your training. You may recruit as many Selkies as you can,
but no one will be forced to train who doesn’t want to.
Understood?”

“Of course,” I murmured. My hope was that
every Selkie would want to train. Time would tell if that was true
or not.

“When we return, I expect a full report and a
demonstration of what you have accomplished.”

I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed,
excited that he was willing to give me a chance. This was my
opportunity to prove that I wasn’t a little girl, I wasn’t
helpless, and I was capable of helping others.

He hugged me back before holding me at arm’s
length. His eyes blazed with pride. “I have faith in you.”

“I won’t disappoint you,” I said.

“I expect you won’t.” He raised an eyebrow.
“I do need one promise from you in exchange.”

My stomach sank.
Please don’t bring up
Kieran,
I thought. I really didn’t want to have another awkward
talk about my love life.

“I want you to promise that you won’t leave
the island.” He lifted my chin with his hand and stared into my
eyes. I wanted to squirm, but I held still. “I mean it. I don’t
want to worry about you while I’m away on a dangerous mission.”