Once upon a time, on a rocky island with enchantment under the ocean ... Cadence Bell left the windswept Northern Isles and his parents’ inn for the theaters and royal masques and glitter of Londre, swearing he’d make his fortune as a playwright and poet, trading fish stew and rain for fame and adoration and a place at the Queen’s Court. Now his parents are gone and Cade’s inheritance brings him back home, where he’d never wanted to return. But magic lurks beneath the waves, a stray pearl might be a key to another world, and even the quiet local schoolteacher has secrets of his own. Jeremiah Carver never meant to hide secrets. But he promised to tell no one about the other world he’s seen, and he keeps his word. Even if that means concealing magic from Cadence Bell. Which is difficult, since Cade’s not only a dazzling literary success, but also the person Jeremiah’s loved from afar since their years-ago childhood. And he’s afraid he’s falling for Cade all over again now. When Cadence falls under the siren spell of the ocean’s magic, Jeremiah has to make a choice and return to a world he’s left behind once before to rescue his heart from the sea.

Cadence and the Pearl

He remembered he’d not locked up. The locks didn’t matter—everyone on Gull Skerrie knew everyone, and half of them murmured rumors about the strange silent tall man out on the edge of the wild—but he went back and did it anyway. Felt better. More balanced.


He adventured toward the village again. Over rocks. Along the thin grey finger of sea-scoured path. Overlooking the harbor and voiceless judgmental boats: a local or two that hadn’t gone with the fishing fleet, a swift sleek packet-boat from the south, the bobbing low familiarity of the mainland ferry.


More people would be coming on that ferry. So many more. He could hide from them all.


He did not think he could hide from his son. He’d done that already. For too many years.


Once upon a time he had wanted to be a father. Once upon a time he’d looked forward to the idea. Once, when Mirabel had been alive, when the world had still held color and promise and hope—


Chapter 62