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 also would have liked to say to Cadence Bell: my son is a good man, not because of anything I gave him but because he’s made himself good; he’s kind at heart; please don’t hurt him, if you can.


He would not at any point have known how to even begin.


And Cade and Jeremiah went on without him. For some time, at least. Several weeks. Days. Richard lost count and did not know how to regain it.


And then Cadence Bell walked into the ocean and disappeared, and Jeremiah—according to the story—ran into the tiny schoolhouse with its new blue door and said to all his students, “Sorry, I’ve got a bit of an emergency, school’s dismissed today,” and then—


Richard shivered, recalling it. He stopped in place even now. He found that his chest hurt; he had forgotten to breathe.


He crossed arms over himself, seeking warmth.


He’d thought—for a moment, for too many moments, for those frantic hours, he’d thought Jeremiah had—


Chapter 65