Date Published: 4/27/18
Publisher: Ink Smith Publishing
As crown prince, Cormack is required to take a bride and his place as king. His father’s choice is Princess Nephara of their neighboring ally, the Kingdom of Caraway. But the appearance of Asrai, a fiery mermaid determined to get what she wants, and an heir to her own throne, has Cormack wondering where his heart’s loyalty lies.
Exiled from her underwater kingdom, Asrai is determined to do whatever is necessary to return to her throne, but Cormack, once a means to an end, has enchanted her. Can Asrai get the best of both worlds, or will she sacrifice her heart for her kingdom?
Excerpt
Prologue
The candle sputtered as Pamela opened the worn tome. The pages
were curling, and the painted illustrations were smudged from curious
fingers. She settled into the overstuffed chair next to the fire grate.
“Come on then,” Pamela patted her knee, “it’s time for a story.”
Cormack trotted over and lay on the woven rug. His chubby feet
tapped the floor as he swung his legs up and down. “Tell me about the
mermaids again, Pamela!”
She chuckled and held up the book. “Already ahead of you, dear.”
Long ago, the gods brought life to the world and all the creatures
in it. Poseidon wanted to show the gods that he was the best creator, and so
he made mer people in his own image. The other gods were so impressed
by Poseidon’s works that they crowned him king of the gods. One god was
jealous and felt that he could form something better, but no matter how
hard he tried his creatures all melted back to mud. This god was
Kataraménos, the Cursed One. Realizing that he could not beat Poseidon,
he chose to steal his creation instead.
Kataraménos dove deep into the realm of the mer people and
tricked one of the tribes into coming on land. He coaxed them with the
beauty of green trees and plentiful fauna to hunt. He helped mould their
bodies so they could stay on the land, producing the first humans. As a last
affront to Poseidon, he gave them little seeds from the stars so they would
one day pass on from their flesh and be immortal like the gods.
Poseidon was furious when he discovered what Kataraménos had
done. Unfortunately, the humans could not go back to the sea after living
on land for so long, nor were they willing to give up their new claim to
immortality. As punishment, Poseidon cut the humans off from the
wellspring, rendering them blind and dumb to magick.
The mer people wept for their lost kin, and soon, the humans
forgot about their former lives in the sea. For many years the humans and
the mers fought, as the humans were filled with the false superiority that
Kataraménos poisoned them with. They believed themselves to be equal to
the gods, and that all the world was theirs for the taking—the land, the sea,
the air, and all the things in it. The mers would tear down their ships and
eat the sailors, warning the humans to stay away from their watery
kingdoms. Even Poseidon raised his hand on occasion to beat back the
human ego, sending squalls that tore ships asunder and sent wailing
sailors to the deep abyss.
After a time, the mer people were defeated, as the humans kept
building larger and stronger ships. No longer could they pierce the hulls
with their claws and wrent the lumber to splinters. In fact, humans would
sometimes catch the mers, forcing them to grant wishes, or worse, curse
them to a half-life bound on land.
Eventually, the humans turned away from the Cursed One, as his
path only led to destruction and death. Those who find favour with
Poseidon are able to wheedle tiny drops of magick from the ancient
wellspring. Today, these are the practicers of the White Veil and other
shadowy clans who understand the ancient ties we rejected so long ago.
Though never will humans again know the true might of the wellspring, as
we are all stained with the sins of the Cursed One, and seek the forgiveness
of Poseidon and his pure waters of the sea.
It is believed today that there are no mers left in the world, and if
there are, that Poseidon has hidden them well. They say that if a human is
able to shed his ego, relinquish his immortal soul and enter the watery
kingdoms in peace that the curse will be broken, and humans and mers will
be one people, at peace once more.
Pamela closed the book, and set it aside. Cormack’s eyes were
wide as he came out of his childish imaginings. He curled himself into a
sitting position and grabbed one of his toy wooden boats.
“I shall find the mer people!” he declared, waving the boat in the
air. “I will be a great sailor someday and be the very first to find them!”
Pamela ruffled his hair. “I’m sure you’ll find all sorts of kingdoms
and peoples when you grow up, lad.”
Cormack scowled at her teasing words. She drew him up by the
elbow. His body was heavy, and showing the first signs of coltish
adolescence.
“To bed with you.” She sighed as she steered him to the great
four-poster. “You can have more adventures tomorrow.”
He clambered up onto the bed, and Pamela pulled up the heavy
quilts. Cormack rolled his eyes up to her. “Don’t worry, Pamela. I promise
I’ll visit you and write you letters.”
Pamela’s eyebrows rose. “What on earth are you talking about?”
“No, under the sea!” Cormack laughed. “When I find the mers,
I’ll still visit you and write you every day!”
She smiled and kissed his forehead. “Dream of your mers, lad.
But be careful they don’t gobble you up!”
Cormack nodded, a yawn escaping his lips. “Goodnight, Pamela.”
“Goodnight, lad.”
About the Author
Lauren A.R. Masterson graduated from Columbia College of Chicago with a degree in Fiction Writing. During her college days, she began working as a freelance model eventually making it her full-time profession after graduating. She toured nationally, met scores of creative people, and had many adventures. After retiring from modeling, and experiencing a divorce, Lauren felt the drain of her creativity. But after finding a loving and supporting community she began exploring her writing talent and art again. Lauren is now a regular in the local Chicago writing communities and is dedicated to enhancing her craft.
Contact Links
Purchase Links
