After five long, antagonizing hours, Leah and I make it back to Florida. The only problem is that it’s still too early to meet with Damarian. Fiske won’t be there until late at night, or else he’d scare all the people at the beach.

We spend the time watching movies, ordering food, and talking, though I’m not sure how into them I am. Leah is very understanding and forgiving. She leaves for an hour to talk to her boss and see if she still has a job. Thankfully, her boss is so desperate for employees this time of the year that she looks past this.

The clock moves slower than the slowest snail on the planet. Somehow, the hour finally arrives. I pack a bag of essentials, hoping I’ll actually need the towel and Damarian’s clothes. Part of me beats with anticipation. We might actually be able to restore our bond. I can’t wait to hold Damarian in my arms, to shower kisses over every inch of his skin, touch every part of him, feel his heartbeat against mine. But the other part of me holds nothing but dread. If the plants don’t work and Damarian and I can’t fix our bond, we’ll be lost to each other forever.

Stay positive, I tell myself. Stay positive.

Leah walks with me to the beach, even though it’s out of her way. She holds my hand, pumping me up with encouraging words. I hold onto each word, allowing them to fill every cell in my body, clinging to the hope each one promises.

When we’re at the entrance to the beach, Leah hugs me “Good luck with everything.”

I squeeze her. “Thanks so much for being there for me. Traveling with me all the way to California, putting up with my whining, never letting my hope die. You’re such an awesome friend.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

I lean back to look into her eyes. “You deserve to have nothing but the best.”

She twists her mouth. “Tell that to the universe.”

I raise my head to the sky and hold out my hands. “Universe? Bestow upon my best friend, Leah Arnold, only good things. Happiness, health, love. Specifically, an awesome guy who will appreciate the wonderful person she is and someone who will bring her joy and love and will never hurt or betray her.”

When I focus back on Leah, she gives me a wry smile. “If only the universe gave a damn.”

I hug her again. “I won’t let you give up, just like you’re not letting me give up.”

“Thanks. I’ll try. Now go get your man.”

We wave before parting. My legs practically sprint toward the large rocks on the beach. I fall to my knees and touch the water. “Fiske, are you out there?” I hope he hasn’t given up after waiting for me these past two days.

“Fiske?” I call, a little louder.

It’s hard to see due to the night, but I’m pretty sure there’s a shark fin heading my way. I jump to my feet and wave my hands. “Fiske!”

A few seconds later, he breaks the surface and swims over to me.

“Fiske, I found the plant! Did Damarian find the Orja?”

He nods.

A huge smile captures my lips. “Can you tell Damarian to meet with me? I’ll wait here.”

He nods.

“Thanks so much, Fiske.”

He nods again before going under. I climb onto the rocks and stare at the beautiful dark waves, that huge smile never leaving my face. The only things I feel right now are happiness and hope. Every negative emotion has been snuffed out. In just a little bit, I might be in Damarian’s arms again. In just a little bit, I might have my merman back in my life.

The minutes once again move slower than a snail. My eyes don’t leave the waves, looking for even the slightest hint of movement.

Finally, finally, I see Fiske’s fin again, swimming toward the shore at an incredibly fast pace. There’s something on his fin, though. It looks like…a hand? When they’re only a few feet away from the shore, Damarian’s head pops out of the water. “Cassie!” He lets go of Fiske’s fin and waves both hands. “My love!”

My heart, body, and soul want nothing more to do then fling myself into his arms and show him how much I’ve missed him and how much I love him. To let him show me how much he’s missed me and how much he loves me. But I remember clearly what happened the last time we tried to get close—invisible force field. Hours have passed and I’m scared to think how much more separated we are from each other.

Damarian opens his palm and I see the pink Orja plant. The exact same one I used to heal Damarian’s wounds after he was tortured by the rebels. I open my bag of essentials and produce the Orjalion White Heart plant. Damarian’s face lights up. “Now we can restore our bond, my beautiful Cassie. I cannot wait until you are in my arms.”

“Me, too.”

“Per Flora and Palaemon’s instructions, we will both need to eat the plants. But first we must combine them. I will move away so you can place your plant by the water. Then I will combine them and we will each need to consume half.”

I nod, not able to talk because I’m one big mess of nervous. Damarian submerges under water. I wait for the splashing to stop before walking to the tide and lowering the jar onto the wet sand, though not too far so the water can’t sweep it away. I’m not sure if the plant can survive in the water.

Then I move back. Damarian returns and sticks his hand into the jar. He holds the Orjalion White Heart in one hand and the Orja in the other. He raises his arms high above his head then slams his hands together. Lightning crackles in the sky, then shoots down at Damarian’s hands. His whole body lights up.

“Damarian!” I call. He’s not crying out in pain, but his eyes are open as wide as they can go, his lips pressed together, and his hair stands on edge. It looks like his hands are glued together. I hope he’s not in pain. I couldn’t bear it.

The light vanishes and Damarian blinks. When he pulls his hands apart, I see two small, identical purple plants. Damarian places one in the jar and pushes it toward me. “This is your half, my love.”

“Are you okay?” I ask.

He nods. “Yes, I am very well.” He swims back so I can get to my plant. I carefully slide my hand in the jar, hoping not to break the plant. It looks extremely fragile.

“We are to consume them simultaneously,” Damarian tells me. “It is the only manner in which it will work. And you must eat the entire thing.”

“Okay. On the count on three.”

He nods.

“One…two…three!”

We both stuff them into our mouths. I assumed the plant would either have no taste, taste like salty fish, or like the most foulest thing I’ve ever had in my life. But it tastes sweet. Like honey. But it burns as it goes down my throat, my stomach, and as it travels to the rest of my body. I fall to the ground the same time Damarian drops into the ocean. My body is engulfed in a burning sensation, but it’s not like the one I get when I shift from one form to the other. This one seems to go beyond the physical body. It’s like my soul is being burned.

It only lasts for a few seconds, but I’ve never felt such exhaustion. I manage to lift my head and see Damarian’s peeking out of the ocean, he too looking beyond wiped. As the seconds tick by, so does my exhaustion. It’s not long before I no longer feel weak.

“Cassie?” he asks.

“Damarian?”

“I shall attempt to go on land and shift,” he says.

“I can’t wait for that.” I get to my feet and race over to him, throwing myself at him. I brace myself to get knocked back by the invisible force field, but that doesn’t happen. I hit the hard muscles of Damarian’s chest instead. His arms wrapping around me, he squeezes me tightly to his chest. His lips press kisses into every part of my face.

I feel him. I actually feel him again. And it’s more intense than ever before.

“My love. My Cassie. My sweet, beautiful, wonderful Cassie.” He gives me the most loving and passionate kiss I have ever received from him. I clutch onto his arms, my lips moving over his desperately.

“This has been long in waiting,” I say between kisses.

“Very much.” He doesn’t stop kissing me. He doesn’t stop touching me. He doesn’t stop telling me how much he loves me every time we pause to breathe.

“Cassie.” His hand closes over the back of my head as he leans his forehead against mine. “My Cassie.”

His cheeks are wet. Mine are drenched. He doesn’t remove his arms from around me. I don’t move mine from him.

“I knew you would be successful,” he says. “I knew we would be able to restore our bond. I told you, my love—you and I will be bonded for all eternity. I will not allow any evil tear us apart. You are mine, Cassie. And I am yours.”

“Sorry I didn’t have the same faith as you.” I pick off a strand of hair that has gotten stuck to his tear-soaked cheek. “Sorry for all the doubt I had.”

He puts his finger on my lips. “Do not fret. It’s understandable that you felt that way. We have been through a lot since we met and our love and bond has been challenged many times.” He takes my hand and lifts it to his lips. “I only hope we no longer have to endure any more challenges.”

“Me, too.”

He pulls me even closer to his body, until we are practically fused. I don’t want to ever let go of him and it seems like he doesn’t want to either. His lips keep skimming over my skin and I keep touching every part of his body. I don’t know how much time passes, but I’m pretty sure it’s been an hour.

I gently pull back so I can look into his face. “Now the moment of truth. Can we shift at will?”

He nods. “Shall I attempt first?”

“Yeah. I’m too nervous.”

“All right, my love. But first.” He bends forward to capture my mouth with his again. Our lips move over each other’s in such desperation and longing, I don’t know if we’ll ever lose this feeling. It’s like we’re making up for all the time we’ve lost and like we’re promising what we want the future to hold. More of this, for sure, but a lot more. A life together. A family. Happiness.

“I can’t feel my lips,” I laugh when I need to gulp in some air.

Damarian reluctantly lets go and lays his forehead against the top of my head. “I cannot feel mine either. I do not think I have gotten my fix of kissing you. I do not know if I ever will.”

I cup his cheek. “Me, either. But now our bond is fixed and we have the rest of our lives to make up for the time we lost.”

“You are correct, my love.” He lowers his arms from around me and moves a few inches back. “I will go on land and attempt to shift into my human form. You try to shift into a child of the sea.”

He rolls onto land and closes his eyes. I close mine and focus on transforming into a mermaid. As soon as the pain hits me, I cry out. But it’s not in pain. It’s in joy. Pure, blissful, joy. When it’s over, I don’t let my body rest for a bit like I normally do. I dive deep into the water and do a few more somersaults. I’ve missed being a mermaid so much. Cassie of the Sapphire clan is back!

When I break the surface, I find Damarian doing a victory dance on the sand. Totally and completely naked. My jeans are floating in the waves in strips. I forgot to take them off.

“Damarian,” I call, laughing so hard my stomach hurts. “You’re naked!”

He continues doing his dance. “My sweet, beautiful Cassie and I are once again mated. Everything is once again fine in this blessed world. I am the happiest being in the world.”

I continue laughing. “You’re lucky it’s four AM and no one sees you.”

“I do not care. All that matters is that I am once again bonded to you.”

“And all that matters to me is that I am once again bonded to you,” I say.

He runs into the water and swims over to me. He gathers me to his chest and lifts me, so high half my tail sticks out of the water. “You are a child of the sea, Cassie! And what a beautiful sapphire tail you have. And look at me! I am a human. Look at my leg.” He kicks it out of the water.

His excitement and exuberance makes my insides melt. I love this man, so so much. My heart is filled with so much love I’m scared it will burst.

“I love you as well,” he says, pressing a cheek to the side of my neck.

“I didn’t say that out loud.”

He taps my nose. “You did not need to tell me. I see it in your eyes and your face.” He moves his hand to my heart. “I feel it beating inside here.”

I place my hand on his chest. It’s pumping fast, but I feel something else, too. The love he has for me.

He takes my hand off his chest and presses a kiss to my palm. “A moment, please. I must speak to Fiske.”

We both turn around, to where Fiske’s fin sticks out of the water. Damarian shifts into a merman and swims over to him. I follow.

Thank you so much for all you have done, Fiske, he tells him. It means so much to us.

We can’t describe how much it means, I add.

Fiske inclines his head. You do not need to explain. I understand perfectly and I am glad to help. You and Cassie are the most important beings in my life. I would do anything for you.

I know. Damarian kisses the top of his head. You are a fine shark and one of my greatest companions. I have an abundance of love for you.

And I love you to death, too, I hug the shark so close his rough skin rubs against my cheek.

He inclines his head again. Thank you.

Damarian’s hand reaches for mine. I believe it is time I return to land and continue showing my Cassie how much I have missed her and how much I cherish her. Please inform my family that all is well.

And remind them about the wedding. It’s in four days.

Ah, yes. In just a few days, we will be bonded as humans. Damarian runs his lips along my jaw. I cannot wait until that wonderful day.

Me either. I turn to Fiske. And can you please give a message to Shoney? Tell her I’ve missed her so much and can’t wait to hug her. And remind her, too, about the wedding. And don’t you forget either.

Fiske nods. I will deliver the messages and I will certainly remember to attend your human bonding ceremony. Damarian and Cassie, I am so glad that all is well between you two. I have not rested easy these past few days and neither has Shoney.

I rub the top of his head. That means a lot to us, Fiske. I kiss his nose.

He nods once more before going under.

Damarian gathers me to his chest to shower some more kisses on my face. “Let us go home. Together.”

I smile. “I thought I’d never hear you say those words.”