A - Immortal Sea

“If you‟re both feeling better now,” she said, “we should think about going home.”

Epilogue

MORGAN OF THE FINFOLK STOOD BEFORE A PILLAR at the front of the small church, chafing against impatience

and his suddenly tight collar. Zachary, beside him, wore the formal clothing with awkward dignity, the dark suit setting off the

pale glitter of his newly shorn hair. Stephanie, sitting several rows back, kept glancing at Zachary as if she barely recognized

him.

“The whole island must be here,” Conn murmured on Morgan‟s other side.

Morgan stirred restively. As long as Elizabeth showed up soon, he hardly cared who was in attendance. But he was pleased

for her sake that her parents had come, that the community she longed for had embraced her.

And he was glad, after all, to have their son standing with him. To feel the press of angels as even the children of air

blessed this celebration. To see Dylan waiting with Nick in the front pew, daughter Grace gripping his thumbs as she practiced

standing on his lap. Margred, Caleb, and their newborn son occupied the row behind with Lucy.

“We are honored by your presence, lord,” he said to Conn.

“Lucy was glad for an excuse to see her family and meet her new nephew.” Conn‟s gaze rested briefly on his consort, his

silver eyes inscrutable. “She talks much of weddings these days.”

To Morgan‟s knowledge, the selkie prince and the targair inghean had never wed. The children of the sea did not require

the sacraments of men. But in this moment, waiting at the front of the church for Elizabeth, Morgan understood the importance

of the promise made before God and witnesses.

He shifted his weight, his eyes still focused on the church doors. “I thought you might have come to remind me of my

duty.”

“Your duty is here,” Conn said.

Morgan‟s attention was diverted from the back of the church. “Not on Sanctuary?”

“Griff has the work of rebuilding in hand. Lucy was able to use her power to relieve many of your people, and I have

released others from my service.”

Morgan felt as if a fist had been released in the center of his chest. “Then you have no objection if I stay.”

“Hardly.” Conn smiled thinly. “Why do you think I left you behind when Lucy and I returned to Sanctuary?”

Morgan frowned. “To recover from the crossing.”

“I am not so tenderhearted,” Conn said. “Dylan needs you here. I want you here. One warden is not enough to guard the

next generation.”

The next generation. “ Hope for the future ,” Conn had called them. Dylan‟s child. Margred‟s child.

Zack.

Whatever future Zachary chose for himself, he needed to be trained in survival and in magic. In the past few months, he

had proven himself a focused and determined pupil.

“I want options,” the boy had explained seriously when his father had complimented his progress.

Morgan looked at Conn and raised his eyebrows. “I could hardly have been your first choice. Given my prejudice against

humankind.”

Conn smiled coolly. “It was my hope that World‟s End would provide an opportunity for you to change your mind.”

“Or an opportunity to rid yourself of a troublesome rival?”

Conn met his eyes in acknowledgment. “Either way, my strategy worked.”

Morgan flashed his teeth. “Indeed.”

But it wasn‟t his mind that had changed.

It was his heart.

Still, he forced himself to ask, “What of the northern deeps?”

Conn‟s expression was bleak. “The deeps are wounded almost beyond repair. On our return, Lucy and I go north to seal the

seas around Yn Eslynn. After that . . . Any thoughts on who might replace you there?”

Morgan considered the wardens who sat on the council. “Enya.”

“She is not finfolk.”

“But she is fierce.”

“Yes.” The sea lord‟s gaze strayed to his consort in the second row. “Enya, too, might benefit from time away from

Sanctuary.”

Music rolled from the organ. Conn took his place beside Lucy as the congregation stirred and the air quivered in

anticipation.

Morgan‟s heart raced. Yet his face remained calm, his gaze fixed on the door. He had not let himself feel anything, even

hope, for such a long time. And now . . .

Light spilled from the back of the church. Emily appeared in the widening crack, dressed in seashell pink, a crown of

flowers pinned securely to her halo of dark curls. Bodies shifted. Necks craned. A murmur rose. For a second, the child froze,

rehearsal forgotten.

Morgan caught her anxious gaze and slowly winked.

Her stiff little face relaxed. Clutching her posy, she tripped forward.

Morgan‟s gaze moved beyond her to a grinning Regina, vivid in a deep rose sheath that hugged her post-baby curves.

The music changed, flowed, sure and triumphant. Morgan was aware of Zachary beside him, compulsively patting his

pocket for the rings. The doors flung wide.

And framed against the light was his heart, his hope, his love.

Elizabeth.

She walked alone, a vision in silk the color of sea foam, its shades shifting from gray to pink to pearl. But it was the glow

in her eyes that stilled his breath, that warmed his blood.

So beautiful she was, strong and beautiful.

He would love her as long as he lived, until the seas ran dry.

Liz was glad now she had let Regina and Margred talk her out of the sensible suit she‟d first selected for her wedding.

Walking toward Morgan, she felt beautiful. Like a bride. She felt loved.

She held her bouquet—lavender and wild beach roses—a little more tightly. Her misty gaze flickered over her friends and

family in the pews to find Zack beside Morgan, tall and assured, a younger version of his father. Emily had forgotten where

she was supposed to stand and was clinging to Morgan‟s pant leg.

Liz‟s eyes met Morgan‟s. Her heart leaped. He smiled at her crookedly, his face transformed by trust and tenderness,

companionship and commitment.

By love.

Elizabeth smiled back and stepped forward into her future.

TURN THE PAGE FOR A SPECIAL PREVIEW OF THE NEXT CHILDREN OF THE SEA NOVEL

Forgotten Sea

BY VIRGINIA KANTRA

COMING SOON FROM BERKLEY SENSATION!

1

THE MAN ON THE BOAT STRIPPED HALF-NAKED, exposing a lean golden chest and muscled arms.

In the parking lot across the street from the dock, Lara Rho sucked in her breath. Held it as he dropped his shirt to the deck

and began to climb.

The top of the mast swayed, stark against the bold blue sky. Her stomach fluttered. Nerves? she wondered. Recognition?

Or simple female appreciation?

The sun beat down, forging the water of the bay to a sheet of hammered gold. The air inside the car heated like an oven.

Beside her in the driver‟s seat, Gideon stirred, chafing in the heat. His corn silk hair was pulled into a ponytail, his blue

eyes narrowed against the glare. “Is he the one?”

Lara leaned forward to peer through the windshield of their nondescript gray car, testing the pull of the internal compass