Page 45 of Entangled

“Medea, transport me back home, immediately,” said Rhys.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because, I have a bad feeling about all this. I think we’re going to need the help of my brothers.”

Merrow watched Rhys and Medea disappear, feeling like a battle was about to begin. She didn’t want trouble. The best thing she could do to protect the people of Mura was to get herself and her sisters through the portal and leave this place forever.

“Elric, drive faster,” she told the little man. “It is important that I get my sisters back through the portal before my father comes looking for us.”

“I’m going as fast as I can with you three along.” The elf drove recklessly and before long they stopped at the edge of the sea. “All right. You’re here. So go,” said the elf, not being one for manners.

“Come, sisters. We need to get into the water. Quickly.” Merrow held out her hands to help them exit the wagon.

“All right, but how will we find the portal?” asked Galene.

“And how will we open it again?” asked Melite.

“Nerites will have told Father everything by now, and also returned to open the portal with the Calling Conch,” said Merrow. “Now, hurry. If we call to them with our minds, mayhap there doesn’t have to be a battle at all. Let’s get home.”

The girls slipped into the water and shifted back into their sea nymph forms.

“This feels wonderful!” Melite dove down, slapping the water with her tail.

“Merrow, I’m glad you decided to come home with us,” Galene said with a look of relief. “For a minute there, I thought you were going to want to stay in Mura with Sebastian.”

From the water, Merrow looked back at the shore. The elf was still there. Medea was bringing the Blackseed brothers one at a time, and each of them was armed with weapons.

“These people are nice,” Merrow told her sister. “When I saw you and Melite sewing, I honestly thought you both wanted to stay.”

“We do like it here,” Galene told her. “But it isn’t our home, Merrow. We are sea nymphs and belong with our father and our siblings in the Aegean Sea.”

“Yes,” she agreed, letting out a sigh and looking back to the shore once more, expecting to see Sebastian. Part of her had hoped that he followed and would try to convince her to stay. But he didn’t. Perhaps she’d misread his feelings for her after all. Mayhap it was good that he wasn’t here. It couldn’t work out between them since they were so different. She supposed it was better in the end if Sebastian forgot about her. “What about Mother?” she asked Galene. “Don’t you want her home too?”

“I do. Of course, I do,” said Galene, treading water with her arms. “But you said Mother didn’t want anyone to know her secret.”

“I did. I promised her I wouldn’t tell anyone. But how long do you really think we can keep this secret from Father?”

“He’ll read Melite’s mind if nothing else,” said Galene. “Our little sister isn’t strong enough yet to disguise her thoughts.”

“I agree. I never should have left Mother. Galene, I’m going back to find her. I want to take her through the portal with us.”

“You won’t have to do that you silly sea witch.” Elric came riding up on the back of a dolphin, having overheard them yet again. “Your mother as well as King Ravenwolf and his entire army are approaching right now. Find the portal, fast. Get out of here before the battle begins.”

“Nay, Elric, I can’t do that,” said Merrow, seeing Sebastian leading his army to the shore. Her mother rode on the back of the horse with him. “I cannot believe Sebastian has listened to his men, and is going to start a war over this. And even worse, he has brought Mother along with him. I am going to give him a piece of my mind right now.”

Just then, Melite and their brother Nerites popped their heads out of the water.

“Merrow, Galene, come quickly,” said Melite. “Father has opened the portal using his Calling Conch.”

“It won’t stay open long,” explained Nerites. “Father sent me to get you.”

“Brother, take Galene and Melite and go through the portal,” said Merrow. “There is something I have to do.”