Oceanborn

by Amalie Howard

But that doesn’t make sense—I still would have been able to sense her before relinquishing my crown. And Echlios would have known if a new regent was selected. None of this makes any sense.

  “Are you with me, Speio?” I ask softly, praying that I’ve somehow imagined the horror of the last five minutes. I can’t lose him, too. Not Speio...not my brother. “Spey?”

  “No, Riss. I’m with her now.”

  As if on cue, Rian walks down to where we’re standing. “Nerissa,” she says in her soft musical voice as Lo joins us to stand beside me. She does not acknowledge him, keeping her eyes fixed on me. Golden lights flicker along my skin in response to the vibrant violet lights along hers.

  “I don’t understand. You’re the new queen of Waterfell?”

  She smiles. “No, not Waterfell. I am a very old queen. Older than you, in fact. My home is on the other side of the world in the Atlantic Ocean.”

  “The Atlantic? But there’s nothing there.”

  “We did not choose to be seen.”

  Everything snaps together with swift succession—the images I felt on Aldon’s boat after tasting the smear of Aquarathi blood...the unrecognizable alien tug I felt on the hockey field. That was Rian, not the hybrids. My mother’s last words come back to haunt me. She knew about them—these other Aquarathi—and she tried to warn me that they were coming. So had Cano there at the end. And somehow, Lo had found out, too, which is why Cano had poisoned him in the first place—to conceal it from me. The world tilts slightly, making me grab Lo’s arm for support. Rian’s eyes flick to him, something shadowed flickering in their brilliant jade depths. She knows exactly what he is—who we all are.

  “I don’t get it,” I say, more coldly than I’d intended. “Why are you here? What do you want?”

  Her smile disappears. “You’ll figure it out. You’ve proven yourself more than capable of working things out. Did you think your Waterfell was the only colony of Aquarathi?”

  Despite my reeling senses, I keep my voice calm. “I guess I did. What does any of this have to do with me?”

  “Everything. My people were banished, sent into exile by your great-great-grandfather. My family ruled the High Court, and we were betrayed, forced to leave Waterfell. Living in exile, we made a home, built our own colony and bided our time. I was sent here to study you, learn your weaknesses, and now I’m here to challenge you,” she says. “For my throne.”

  “I hate to inform you of this, but I’m no longer a queen,” I say, bristling. “If you’d done your research, you’d know that. And neither are you, queen of the exiles. So you’ve wasted your time. Go find someone else to fight, because I’m done fighting.”

  “You see, Riss, that’s where you’re wrong.” Her tone is mocking as she steps forward to place a glossy coffee-colored scale in my hand. I close my fist around it without thinking. “Despite what your people may think of you for bonding with a...hybrid—” her contemptuous gaze flicks to Lo “—you are still their queen. Your throne can never be abdicated, your power never given away. You can lose it through death or bequeath it to an heir who is of age. Since you’ve done neither, you are still the true queen of Waterfell, Nerissa Marin. Therefore, I challenge you to a battle to the death. As the true heir, I challenge you for claim to the Waterfell throne.”

  “Claim, what claim?” I repeat, stunned, staring at the scale searing a hole in my palm. “Why?”

  “The oceans of this earth aren’t deep enough for the two of us. You are a disgrace to our ancestors. As is our custom, as a queen, I challenge your rule, and as your friend, I shall offer you six months.”

  “We were never friends, Rian, and you and I both know you are no queen.”

  She inclines her head. “Then why is my scale burning a hole in your hand? I am of royal blood, as are you. A lower-court challenge allows for three months of training before battle. I’ll give you six.”

  “Six months for what?”

  “To prepare your kingdom,” she says. “Because when you see me again, it won’t be for fun.” She glances at Speio as if he’s little more than a dog. “Come, Speio.”

  And I know then that she’s only bonded with him to get to me. She’s taken my brother. She’s broken my family. She’s threatened my people. A grim smile curls the edges of my lip into a half snarl, and I crush the proffered scale to dust in my fingers. “I accept your challenge,” I say. “I hope you know what you’ve signed up for.”

  The thing is, I’ve fought queens before and I’ve won. If it’s a fight she wants, it’s a fight she’ll get.

  * * * * *

  Acknowledgments

  And now for the people who deserve ALL the thanks!

  First, this book wouldn’t be a book without the fabulous guidance of my tremendous editor, Natashya Wilson, who pushed me to take this sequel to the next level. Seriously, Tashya, thank you. You are officially inducted into the honorary Aquarathi Hall of Fame!

  Huge thanks to the entire Harlequin TEEN team for all their support through this series.

  I wouldn’t be enjoying this crazy journey in publishing without my superfierce agents, Liza Fleissig and Ginger Harris-Dontzin. Thank you for rocking out with me.

  To my critique partner and friend, Kristi Cook, you know I couldn’t have written this book without you! Thanks for all the brainstorming sessions and your mad-awesome critiquing skills.

  Thanks to my mom, Nan, who reads everything I send her no matter what, and to my brothers, Kyle and Kris, who always get the word out about my books.

  To my ladies, Cindy Chok, Angie Frazier, Danielle Bunner, Kate Kaynak, Kim Purcell and Damaris Cardinali—you are the real deal. Thanks for keeping a girl sane in the midst of all the madness.

  To all the fans, readers, bloggers, librarians and booksellers (especially The Voracious Reader and Anderson’s Book Shop)—a heartfelt thank-you! An extra-special shout-out to Melissa Marie, Wanda, Trini, Brooke, Amy, Maura, Kayla and Meredith for all their awesome Tweets, Instagram and Facebook love—I have two words for you: TACKLE HUGS!

  Last but not least, to my amazing family—my husband, Cameron, my kids, Connor, Noah, Olivia, and one forever cat that will always be in my heart, Alley—thanks for putting up with my crazy schedule. I promise things will go back to normal someday, but in the meantime, I will bake you all the cookies to make up for it. I love you to the ends of Waterfell and back.

  Playlist

  Oblivion (feat. Susanne Sundfør)—M83, Oblivion (Original Motion Picture Sound Track)

  Meant—Elizaveta, Elizaveta

  Words—Skylar Grey, The Buried Sessions of Skylar Grey

  The Lion the Beast the Beat—Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, The Lion the Beast the Beat

  Sweet Nothing (feat. Florence Welch)—Calvin Harris, 18 Months

  Walls—Stars, The North

  Steve McQueen—M83, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.

  Rain—Blackmill, Reach for Glory

  As the Rush Comes (Gabriel & Dresden Chillout Mix)—Motorcycle, As the Rush Comes

  The Longest Road (Deadmau5 Remix Radio Edit)—Morgan Page, The Longest Road

  Between the Raindrops (feat. Natasha Bedingfield)—Lifehouse, Almeria

  Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It—Stars, The North

  My Tears Are Becoming a Sea—M83, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.

  Concrete Angel—Gareth Emery, Concrete Angel (Remixes) [feat. Christina Novelli]

  State of Grace—Taylor Swift, Red

  Midnight City—M83, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.

  In the Air (feat. Angela McCluskey)—Morgan Page, Sultan & Ned Shepard & BT, In the Air

  Tiptoe—Imagine Dragons, Night Visions

  The Last Time (feat. Gary Lightbody)—Taylor Swift, Red

  Turn to Stone—Ingrid Michaelson,
Turn to Stone

  Questions for Discussion

  Discuss the novel’s title—Oceanborn. Why do you think the author selected this title, and do you think it was relevant to the book?

  Discuss the warring themes of love and duty in this series—do you think Nerissa made good choices as a queen? Has she become more “queenly” from Waterfell to Oceanborn?

  What do you think is motivating Nerissa’s actions in the story? Do you think her motives are selfish or reasonable?

  In Oceanborn, Jenna tells Nerissa that “being a leader isn’t about being popular. It’s about leading, even if that makes you unpopular.” Do you agree or disagree with this? Why?

  Do you think that the play in the novel, The Importance of Being Earnest, provided a good parallel to the lives of the Aquarathi? Did you see similar themes? If so, which?

  In Oceanborn, how does the way Nerissa sees herself differ from the way others see her—for example, Jenna or Lo or Soren?

  Do you think the Aquarathi should continue living in secret or reveal themselves to the humans? Why or why not?

  Which secondary character do you think had the most pivotal role in the story and why?

  Do you think that Nerissa did the right thing by abdicating her throne and choosing a life of exile? If not, what would you have done differently if you were in her shoes?

  Discuss the setting in Oceanborn. How do you think it enhanced your experience of the story and your appreciation of the Aquarathi?

  Keep reading for an excerpt from WATERFELL by Amalie Howard.

  “Captivating, mysterious, fun and deep…for readers of John Green or any realistic YA authors, I would highly recommend this new wonderful novel.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  Five Strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost. Don’t miss one of the most anticipated debuts of 2014, Let’s Get Lost by Adi Alsaid.

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  Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named Leila. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

  Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila’s own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth—sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you’re looking for is to get lost along the way.

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  PROLOGUE

  Shivers race through my veins like gilded fireworks. The covers are twisted, matted like the hair on my head, and the room is filled with an eerie green glow. For a split second, it feels like I’m still asleep, half out of a leftover nightmare but not quite awake. My fingers are bent and curled like gnarled branches, and the sweat feels clammy against my skin.

  The green light flickers, and I blink.

  Get up.

  Complying with the fierce voice in my head, I shrug off the blankets with a rough kick, and for a minute everything glows in a haze of gold, green and pink, as if the northern lights have just taken up residence in my room. I am no longer sleeping but wide-awake—I can feel myself breathing, hear the night’s sounds outside my window. But the lights are still there, beaming off the walls and every piece of furniture, as if I’m captured in some kind of glittery prism.

  Panicked, I throw an arm toward my bedside lamp and freeze.

  My hand is glowing.

  I look down. My entire body is glowing, like the iridescent scales of some fantastic creature shimmering down my limbs in bands of colored light. All my cells tingle, hearing the call, responding to it just as my people had known I would. Too soon, I think. Too soon. I’d been promised four years. It had been only two.

  My confusion spirals as the electricity builds and the room is nearly blindingly gold. Tiny pricks pepper along my spine and the sides of my neck, and I’m thrashing around in bed like a fish out of water. A huge rush of energy slams into me and the light turns into a white-hot dazzling force. Struggling to breathe, I hear the voice. My father’s voice.

  Run, Nerissa, run. All is lost. Never return.

  Copyright © 2013 by Amalie Howard

  ISBN-13: 9781460326732

  OCEANBORN

  Copyright © 2014 by Amalie Howard

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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