The Dark Sea Calls

THE DARK SEA CALLSOriginally published in the United States/United Kingdom in 2023 byDIRTY JEANS PUBLISHINGwww.michaelahaze.comCopyright © Michaela Haze 2023All rights reservedThis book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination. All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.Cover design: Michaela HazeMap design: Michaela HazeCover photo: Ironika PhotographyCover fonts: Lemonade by Rachel Lauren and Lemon Milk by MarsnevMap Assets: Pimpay @Istock SynopsisWith the death of the dowager Mer-queen on her hands, Maeve knows that if she returns to the Twilight Lake, she will be killed.An enemy to both sides of a war.Running from the only home she has ever known, Maeve Cruinn finds herself washed on the shore of the Siren Cove, a place other Fae fear to tread.When the Siren Queen and her son take her under their wings, Maeve finds that the truth of the Twilight Lake and her mother’s death are darker than she could have ever known.It seems the Gods are not on her side when Maeve finds herself face-to-face with the males that abducted her all those months ago.They insist that she must return,But is it to pay for her crimes?Or is there something they’re not telling her?**The Dark Sea Calls is the second book in the Twilight Lake series. It is a reverse harem/why choose Fae/Mermaid romance. Contains MM and MFM scenes (and scenes with multiple partners). Enemies to lovers – CLIFFHANGER ENDING** PreviouslyMaeve Cruinn, daughter of the Mad Queen, was ready to reach her magical majority. To make her journey across the lake to the frosted sands and complete the Migration. Prepared to receive her magical gifts from Belisama, the God of the Waves.Her life changed forever when several Undine guards drugged and accosted her.Maeve washed ashore the Skala Beach, the home of the Selkies.The lake calls for help, only to bring four males to her aid.Cormac Illfin, the king of the Merfolk and City of Tarsainn.Rainn Shallows, the seventh and youngest child of the Queen of the Selkies and the Skala Isles.Shay Mac Eoin: the last in his bloodline of water-faring nymphsTormalugh Shadowhock, the crown Prince of the Kelpie, a male set to take the Kelpie throne any day.After Maeve is returned to health, the four males let her leave and go to the frosted sands to complete her migration—only to betray her and attack the sacred beach.Maeve and the princelings head to Tarsainn, where she is unsure of their plans. The only certainty is that she wants no part in it.When her uncle's magic is responsible for almost killing Cormac, the Mer-King, Maeve successfully saves his life, only to make an enemy of the dowager queen of Tarsainn—Cormac’s mother, Lady Bloodtide.When Lady Bloodtide attempts to silence Maeve, Maeve kills her in self-defense.Maeve must run from the princelings and the only home she has ever known.An enemy of both sides of the war. Table of ContentsContentsSynopsisPreviouslyTable of ContentsThe Twilight LakeThe Dark SeaPronunciation GuideCharacter GuidePreludePrologueChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16EpilogueThe story continues in…About the authorMore from Michaela HazeMore from Michaela HazeMore from Michaela HazeMore from Michaela HazeMore from Michaela Haze The Twilight Lake The Dark Sea Pronunciation GuideMany of the Fae species and Gaelic words are challenging to pronounce for English speakers, so I have included a glossary of terms to make reading this novel easier.Many Fae species and terms come directly from Celtic, Gaelic, and Fairy mythology.NamesMaeve – May-VaTormalugh – Tor-ma-looShay – Sh–aeRainn – RainCormac – Core–macEoin – Oh-WhenColm – Coll-UmArden – Are-DenCaoimhe – Kee -VaGaelic wordsSídhe – SheeÒran – O-RawnTroid – TroyCruinn – Crew-innTarsainn – Tar-say-inSkala Isles – Scar-lah IslesShíorghrá - Heer-GrawhAos Sí – Ees – SheeTuatha Dé Danann – Tooah – Day – DanaanIníon – In - Yeen Character GuideMaeve Cruinn – Lady Maeve-Aurora Cruinn of the Esteemed Undine Court- Mother: Queen Caoimhe - The Mad Queen (Deceased)Rainn Shallows – Seventh in line for the Selkie ThroneMother: The Selkie QueenCormac Illfin – The Mer-King of TarsainnFather: Ullurick Illfin – The Mer-King (Deceased)- Mother: Lady Bloodtide – The Dowager Queen (Deceased)Tormalugh ‘Tor’ Shadowhock – Crown Prince of the Reeds, the Kelpie Territory- Elsbeth Shadowhock (Sister)Shay Mac Eoin – Successor to the Mac Eoin Nymph line*Urma Illfin – The Mer-King’s grandmotherKing Irvine Glactha Cruinn of the Esteemed Undine CourtElaine Cruinn – Lady Elaine-Opal Abyssal of the Esteemed Undine CourtLiam Cruinn - Master Liam Abyssal of the Esteemed Undine CourtMoira Fen – Lady Moira-Cora Fen of the Esteemed Undine Court Prelude The little girl stood on the edge of the throne room, watching her mother as she sat on the High Throne—a monolith of stone and lichen that couldn’t be comfortable.Though her mother was alone, for all intents and purposes, Undine guards surrounded the room, dotted along the walls every ten feet, poised for action.The little girl didn’t like to watch her mother on the throne. Every evening when her mother stood up from her chair, she was missing something—maybe a memory, perhaps a feeling—but the High Throne took something from her every time.Queen Caoimhe blinked, the whites of her eyes rolling as the color emerged like a fish from the deep. It took a moment for her to see her child on the other side of the room, watching from behind the leg of one of the many nannies in the court’s rotation.Her mother stood up, her arms outstretched and welcoming, her smile bright but dazed. “My Maeve!” She clapped. “You came to see me!” It took a moment for the queen to peel herself from the High Throne, and she rubbed her scarred arms.The little girl stepped forward and held out her hands, whisked up in a hug the moment her mother grew close enough. Their cheeks pressed together.“My darling.” Her mother kissed her cheek. “I want to hear all about your adventures this morning.”The little girl remained quiet, seldom speaking, even in her