Find Me Begins: Immersed, #0

By Francesca Riley

Before Hunter ever whispered to Skye "Find Me", the dark beginnings of their epic romance stirred in this prequel, Find Me Begins. Tragedy isn't always the end.

 

The ocean-dwelling Nemaro are shrouded in mystery. When their world clashes with the human world, lives are shattered. But from it, the seeds of a life-changing connection between Skye, a human girl, and Hunter, a cursed boy, are planted.

In the aftermath of sorrow, when Skye leaves the seaside village Bannimor, she lives like a ghost in her own life, unseen by her brooding father, separated from her best friend, and far from the ocean she loves and fears. But something, or someone, is drawing her back.

Trying to avoid the pain that love can bring is her intention. But sometimes embracing the thing you fear most is where you find true happiness.

Join Skye as she begins to be drawn back to the place where she lost so much, and is about to find so much more.

Once you're in too deep, there's no going back. Come on in, the water's fine…

 

Then discover the epic love story in Find Me, book one of Immersed

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ocean Echo Books
• Release date: Feb 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393057697

Francesca Riley

Francesca Riley is a New Zealander, living and working in Auckland, on New Zealand’s North Island. The stunning beaches of this beautiful country inspired those of Bannimor. Immersed is her first young adult series. Francesca is a writer and artist, who loves mysteries, movies and love.  Her favourite books are old-fashioned murder mysteries, or children’s and YA novels where bravery and passion exist alongside magic in the world we think we know.

Book preview

Part One. Before.

1.  Ellie

Ellie woke, for a moment utterly disoriented. Above her, ceiling; softness beneath her. The sensation of weightlessness, of flying through light, dissolved, leaving her heavy as earth. Her chest felt hollow with loss. Something she couldn’t define had left her.

Hearing a soft rustling noise, she turned her head and smiled at the soundly sleeping man beside her. The white pillow cast his curly brown hair and tanned skin into sharp relief. She breathed in the dry air, stretching her limbs. The cotton sheets against her skin were smooth and light, and she snuggled closer to Daniel’s warmth.

His deep blue eyes flickered open a little, and even half asleep he smiled, seeing her watching him. He reached for her, draping his arm across her, its heavy warmth anchoring her to him. To this life. To happiness. At once his eyelids closed again, lost to sleep. But the love she’d seen in his eyes dispelled the last of her darkness.

She snuggled even closer, fitting herself to his shape, and this time when she dreamed, it was of him.

2.  Ellie and Skye

Ellie’s feet sank into the shingle as the sea threw a hungry sweep of foam over them. She laughed, feeling as if her skin sparked with electricity and her blood sang with salt. Breakers rolled relentlessly towards her, white and grey and teal under the low sky, the waves softening to a foaming wash before they reached her, leaving gleaming arcs on the sand. She drew briny air deep into her lungs, deeper. It was never enough. She stepped closer until the strong shallow surf rushed hissing around her ankles, her calves.

What is it about wild water and you? Daniel asked, halting short of the sweeping foam. What is it about this beach? He jiggled their baby daughter on his arm. What do you say, Skye? Is Mummy crazy about the waves or what?

‘What’, thank you very much, Ellie laughed, wading out to join them. I just love Ciarlan Cove. I feel like my life began when I met you here. But when she turned back to the waves that danced and beckoned, her smile faded. As always, she searched them for...what?

Man, the stories you told me when we met.

She heard something in his voice and saw him search the waves, too.

It’s been a while, she said. Skye is almost one now. So, two years ago? I can’t remember what I said then. I don’t remember much of...anything at all before we met. ‘Crazy’ covers it, I guess. It was only when his face relaxed she realised how tense he’d been. What can I say? I just...love the sea, she laughed.

You sure do. From his arms, Skye reached chubby hands towards the waves. Looks like it runs in the family, he grinned.

His wristwatch beeped, and Ellie lifted Skye from him so he could turn the alarm off. I better get going, he said. Gotta pick Mike up from school.

I’m glad he’s doing better. It was sad for you both, losing your parents like that, but for him... He’s so much younger. Just a child.

I know. Now I’m the parent, I guess, to my little brother as well as Skye. He stooped to blow a raspberry kiss on his baby’s round cheek and grinned with delight at her happy crow. Want to come, or shall we meet you back here? He’s going to want to try out his new surfboard.

We’ll wait here. She wasn’t imagining it. His eyes tightened. She smiled brightly and made Skye’s hand wave. Say ‘hurry back with Uncle Mike, Dadda’, so we can go swimming.

Daniel’s worry vanished with his answering smile. Don’t start without us.

He leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss to Ellie’s lips. She pulled him closer, losing herself in his love for a moment. His arms closed around her and Skye, then he laughed against her lips, and pulled back a fraction, Ow ow ow. Skye!

Laughing, Ellie helped extricate a handful of his curls from Skye’s tiny fist. You better get going. She watched him jog across the beach to the rock archway that led out of the hidden cove, then turned back to the sea. What do you say, Skye? Little bit closer? Ellie gently untangled her fine golden necklace from her infant daughter’s grip and prevented her from eating the two twisted shell rings that adorned it. Wading isn’t swimming. I agree, she smiled.

Managing with one hand, she hefted Skye from one arm to the other, and tucked the flowing length of her sun dress into the swimsuit she had on underneath, raising its hem. Adjusting Skye in her arms, with a backwards glance across the empty beach, she waded deeper, deeper, until the incoming waves tickled her thighs, wetting the tucked-up hem. So strange, the way she barely felt the water on her skin anymore. Like a presence. Not wet or cold. She hadn’t mentioned it to Daniel. He already looked at her as if she was a puzzle too often.

Look at the sea, Skye. Isn’t it beautiful? Isn’t it - She broke off, staring.

Shadows moved through the waves. No, she must have imagined it. But - there! Yes, shadows. Moving through the waves. What were they? Fish? It looked more like...people.

People. The sound of waves echoing off the encircling rock walls rushed through her head, like water filling her ears. As if the waves knew her name and called it. Her heart pounded with fear. With hope. Fear. She stumbled back and staggered out of the sea, not stopping until she reached higher ground.

Eyes shut tight, trembling, she pressed her cheek to Skye’s warm head. Breathing deeply, she tried to focus on the sensations of here and now, like Daniel had taught her. Her baby’s fine hair was silky under her skin. She breathed in the precious baby smell, trying to anchor herself in what was real. Two years ago, she’d been like a piece of wreckage, not knowing who she was or where she belonged. Daniel had changed that. She belonged with him.

Feeling stronger, she