Page 48 of Entangled
“So he’s a sea monster. I’m not going to let that fact stop me.”
“He is more than just that,” she told him. “Sebastian, my father is a god of the sea.”
Sebastian felt the heat lodge in his throat and almost choke him when Merrow told him her father was a god. Leading an army of men was one thing. Fighting those with magic was a little more challenging. But to go up against a god was nothing more than a suicide mission. How was he going to remedy this extremely messed-up situation?
“Sea god? Merrow, why didn’t you tell me this about your father sooner?”
“I didn’t see the need,” she answered, looking up at him from the water with those big, round eyes.
“What do you expect me to do?”
“Pull back. I expect you to return to your castle with your men and not even try to fight him. I will try my best to reason with my father.”
“Nay. I won’t run from a fight, even if he is a god.”
“Why not?” asked Merrow. “Because you are afraid your advisor and your men will think of you as weak? You shouldn’t care what they believe, especially since it isn’t true.”
“I’m a king, Merrow. I lead my men into battle all the time. I will fight to the end, and you will never change my mind.”
“Then you’ll die by the hand of my father.”
“Then so be it. At least I’ll die doing what I was meant to do.”
There was a loud noise and the waters parted even more as the sea god moved closer to the shore.
“Where is the man who stole and defiled my wife?” boomed Nereus’ voice, so loud and powerful that it shook the land. “I also want to see the man who kept my daughter, Merrow captive. I will kill him.”
“Nay, Father, stop it,” cried Merrow, but the sea god was too angry to heed her words.
“My king. Shall I command the army to attack this monster?” Farrimond was behind him, ready for a war.
“Yes, attack him, my king,” ordered Drell. “Do not hesitate. We need to fight him right now.”
“Nay. No one uses a weapon unless it is on my order.” Sebastian took a deep breath and stepped forward. “Nereus, God of the Sea, I am King Sebastian Ravenwolf of Macada Castle. I am the man who held your daughter. We need to talk.”
“You will die for what you did!” Nereus shot a bolt of lightning from his hand. Sebastian raised his sword and prepared himself for the pain he was sure would follow.
“Nay!” Darium Blackseed ran to him, holding out his hands and using his fae power to control the weather. A strong wind blew the fiery bolt to the side, hitting a tree instead of Sebastian.
“Thanks,” said Sebastian, looking over to see not only Darium, but also his brothers, their wives, and the Blackseed boys’ mother with them as well. “I didn’t expect that from my enemy.”
“We’re not enemies,” said Zann. “We’ve been trying to help the sea nymphs and have no desire for a battle.”
“What’s this?” bellowed Nereus. “Some of you have magic?”
“Yes, Father, they do. So leave them alone,” said Merrow.
“I will just have to call upon more of my powers then.” Nereus threw another firebolt directly at Sebastian. This time, Sebastian deflected the flame with his sword, diving to the ground and rolling, putting out a stray flame that caught his clothes on fire. He was near the shore now and Merrow pulled herself over to him. She was in her sea nymph form and couldn’t walk on land, still being a creature of the water.
“Sebastian, are you hurt?” she asked, reaching out to touch his arm.
“Nay,” he answered. “Merrow, take your mother and sisters and go through the portal. That is the only thing that might keep your father from killing everyone. No one deserves to die over this.”
“I won’t leave you,” she told him.
“You must,” he explained, getting to his feet. “It is the only way.”
As Nereus fought against the Blackseed brothers, their mother who was an Elemental of the Air used her powers as well. So did the witch, Medea. Sparks shot everywhere. The sky darkened and black clouds loomed overhead. Wind whipped around them and Nereus started sending high waves to the shore, causing Sebastian’s army to retreat. Some of his soldiers were pulled into the water and fought for their lives.
