Read Online Promises (Book One of The Syrenka Series) by Amber Garr - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Amber Garr
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patted the bed
beside him. “You are too much, Eviana. Please have a seat so I can
talk to you.” He looked around again. “Where is my son?”
I sat on the edge of the bed next to
him, relieved about the change of subject. “In the bathroom taking
forever to get ready.” He’d been in there at least thirty minutes
by now, and even though I was sure that he could hear us talking,
he hadn’t come out yet.
“ Ah yes. He does take a lot
of pride in his appearance,” Harlan smiled.
“ Sure, but come on. It’s a
bit girlish.”
This time he laughed and wrapped an
arm around my shoulders. He gave me a brief hug before pulling
away. “I agree. Perhaps you will be able to work on his time
management skills once you are married.”
My muscles tensed at that last word. I
was doing my best to play the perfect fiancée but I hadn’t really
thought about the actual marriage part so much. That’s probably
because I had no intentions of going through with this wedding.
Looking at Harlan Matthew, I could see that he was genuinely
pleased with this arrangement. Our families had always been close
and now they would officially be joined. My stomach twisted with
guilt when I thought about how much I was going to disappoint
everyone.
When I didn’t say anything, Harlan
gave me an odd look but promptly changed the subject. “Do you know
what’s going to happen tonight?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Kain
explained what he could. You prepared him much better than my
parents did for me.”
Tonight was the “coming-out” ball. We
would all be officially introduced by family and arranged marriage
if applicable. Apparently, a lot of the politically important
merfolk would be there to evaluate and socialize with the up and
coming clan leaders. From what Kain had said, it’s usually a chance
for them to begin gathering those who will support their causes and
issues. It was just a big schmooze fest mixed with a debutante ball
for the single syrenkas. I was looking forward to the food and
dancing, but I certainly didn’t plan on networking
tonight.
“ Well, I will introduce you
and Kain and then I will join the other sponsors.” Each individual
or couple had a family sponsor who took responsibility for the
actions, behavior, and training of their syrenkas. Since Kain and I
were to be married, the Matthew family sponsored both of us
together. “It’s not so bad the first year. Most of the guests will
be meandering with the second year syrenkas, trying to gain
political support. You two just enjoy yourselves.” He smiled at me
and my heart broke. He was really and truly so happy for
us.
Before I could reply, the bathroom
door opened and Kain emerged from the steam. “Dad, what are you
doing here?”
“ Nice to see you too, son.”
Harlan tried to stand and Kain and I instantly jumped to his
aid.
“ You know what I mean,”
Kain continued. “I didn’t think you were going to make it.” He was
standing now, so I placed the cane in his hand. “I’m glad you’re
here.”
Harlan gave Kain’s shoulder a squeeze
and nodded in my direction. “She told me about your primping
sessions…and the bed.” I must have looked horrified because Kain
and his dad just laughed together. Harlan’s was a bit strangled,
but he was still enjoying himself. “You’ve got a good one here,
Kain. Take care of her.”
I was marveling at how much they
looked alike when I realized what he’d just said. Kain stared at me
with so much emotion that I couldn’t hold his gaze. “I will,
Dad.”
In order to avoid having them see the
tears in my eyes, I dropped my head and opened the door. Kain loved
me so much and I was going to run away with Brendan when we got
home. It would break his heart.
Harlan Matthew shuffled out the door
and promised to catch up with us when he could. Kain sat on the bed
after he left and just stared at the floor. “Are you okay?” I
asked.
He took a deep breath and then blew
out all of his air. “Yeah. He
beside him. “You are too much, Eviana. Please have a seat so I can
talk to you.” He looked around again. “Where is my son?”
I sat on the edge of the bed next to
him, relieved about the change of subject. “In the bathroom taking
forever to get ready.” He’d been in there at least thirty minutes
by now, and even though I was sure that he could hear us talking,
he hadn’t come out yet.
“ Ah yes. He does take a lot
of pride in his appearance,” Harlan smiled.
“ Sure, but come on. It’s a
bit girlish.”
This time he laughed and wrapped an
arm around my shoulders. He gave me a brief hug before pulling
away. “I agree. Perhaps you will be able to work on his time
management skills once you are married.”
My muscles tensed at that last word. I
was doing my best to play the perfect fiancée but I hadn’t really
thought about the actual marriage part so much. That’s probably
because I had no intentions of going through with this wedding.
Looking at Harlan Matthew, I could see that he was genuinely
pleased with this arrangement. Our families had always been close
and now they would officially be joined. My stomach twisted with
guilt when I thought about how much I was going to disappoint
everyone.
When I didn’t say anything, Harlan
gave me an odd look but promptly changed the subject. “Do you know
what’s going to happen tonight?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Kain
explained what he could. You prepared him much better than my
parents did for me.”
Tonight was the “coming-out” ball. We
would all be officially introduced by family and arranged marriage
if applicable. Apparently, a lot of the politically important
merfolk would be there to evaluate and socialize with the up and
coming clan leaders. From what Kain had said, it’s usually a chance
for them to begin gathering those who will support their causes and
issues. It was just a big schmooze fest mixed with a debutante ball
for the single syrenkas. I was looking forward to the food and
dancing, but I certainly didn’t plan on networking
tonight.
“ Well, I will introduce you
and Kain and then I will join the other sponsors.” Each individual
or couple had a family sponsor who took responsibility for the
actions, behavior, and training of their syrenkas. Since Kain and I
were to be married, the Matthew family sponsored both of us
together. “It’s not so bad the first year. Most of the guests will
be meandering with the second year syrenkas, trying to gain
political support. You two just enjoy yourselves.” He smiled at me
and my heart broke. He was really and truly so happy for
us.
Before I could reply, the bathroom
door opened and Kain emerged from the steam. “Dad, what are you
doing here?”
“ Nice to see you too, son.”
Harlan tried to stand and Kain and I instantly jumped to his
aid.
“ You know what I mean,”
Kain continued. “I didn’t think you were going to make it.” He was
standing now, so I placed the cane in his hand. “I’m glad you’re
here.”
Harlan gave Kain’s shoulder a squeeze
and nodded in my direction. “She told me about your primping
sessions…and the bed.” I must have looked horrified because Kain
and his dad just laughed together. Harlan’s was a bit strangled,
but he was still enjoying himself. “You’ve got a good one here,
Kain. Take care of her.”
I was marveling at how much they
looked alike when I realized what he’d just said. Kain stared at me
with so much emotion that I couldn’t hold his gaze. “I will,
Dad.”
In order to avoid having them see the
tears in my eyes, I dropped my head and opened the door. Kain loved
me so much and I was going to run away with Brendan when we got
home. It would break his heart.
Harlan Matthew shuffled out the door
and promised to catch up with us when he could. Kain sat on the bed
after he left and just stared at the floor. “Are you okay?” I
asked.
He took a deep breath and then blew
out all of his air. “Yeah. He
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