Promises (Book One of The Syrenka Series)

Chapter Thirteen

Thirteen

"What?" Carissa, Jeremiah, and I asked in unison.  

It was hard to comprehend exactly what Kain meant, especially considering that what he was saying sounded completely outrageous. There hadn't been a war amongst the merfolk in over a thousand years, and even then, that uprising had been squashed relatively quickly and quietly. I couldn't remember what it had been about exactly, but whatever it was, the Council had resolved the matter.  

Ignoring Carissa and I, Kain took a step closer to his distant relative and addressed him directly. "The Sutherland clan has declared war on those who will not side with their views to follow The Legacy." 

Jeremiah relaxed his shoulders slightly and shrugged. "Oh, they've been threatening to do that for years. I'm sure this is just another political ploy and scare tactic." The gorgeous merman touched each of the girls one at a time on the shoulder and they promptly returned to their positions along the wall. He really didn't seem too concerned with Kain's declaration. 

"They've already attacked us both here and at home."  

My head whipped over to look at Kain as I stepped up beside him. "They've been to our home? What happened? Why didn't you tell me?" I was frantic and paranoid that something terrible had happened to our families since I'd been gone. 

"It's not your home anymore, Eviana," Kain snapped at me.  

It felt like a slap in the face made worse because there was an audience watching our every move. I knew that I left my home behind but it didn't mean that I'd stopped caring for everyone there. If something bad had happened, I needed to know. 

"Ah," cooed Jeremiah. "So you're the runaway bride."  

He looked me up and down, assessing every part of my body which was easy to do since I jumped to attention when he recognized me. In the distant corner, I heard the selkie shift on his chair again as though this news was important to him too. Jeremiah slowly shook his head from side to side and made a sucking sound with his mouth.  

"You shouldn't have let her get away from you, Kain. She would have been perfect." 

I expected Kain to set him straight, and when he didn't, I nearly jumped in to explain that it wasn't Kain's fault. However, he spoke up before I had a chance.  

"Jeremiah, they've killed two leaders and are using selkies to do their dirty work. Eviana was attacked just up the coast the other night by three of them. Do you know anything about this?" His brutal tone made it clear this wasn't a question; this was an accusation. 

"Don't you dare!" Jeremiah's tail transformed back into legs and he pushed himself up so that he stood eye to eye with his clan leader. "Are you questioning my loyalty, Kain?" 

"Do I have a reason to?" 

Jeremiah threw his head back and laughed. "Of course you do! Our family shunned me from their world because I refused to stop using my gifts. In fact, following The Legacy wouldn't be such a bad idea." He ran his hands through his hair and smiled. "We are a superior race and we'd have continued to rule had the Council not decided to ban the practice of Legacy. Look around this room! Humans and shifters and water sprites are at our mercy. We can control them, so why should we not?" 

Kain quickly grabbed Jeremiah by the shoulders and pulled him close enough for a kiss. Through clenched teeth and a shaky voice, Kain ask him the most important question yet. "Are you involved with this, Jeremiah?" 

The room fell silent with not even a breath being shared amongst each other. We all knew that Jeremiah's answer could change the course of action for the rest of the meeting and right now, Kain seemed determined to do whatever he could to protect his people. Seemingly unaffected by Kain's outburst, Jeremiah looked at his cousin's hands on his arms and then arched an eyebrow in his direction. Kain interpreted the meaning and stepped away slightly.