Page 89 of Seas the Reckoning

“I’m guessing you can relate to the mermaids and naiads a bit?” I ask him.

He nods.

“Oh yes. I do love a good social moment, but I spend large amounts of time swimming through the seas by myself. They’re both me. Both important parts of myself. Just because they’re opposite qualities doesn’t mean they can’t coexist.”

“Huh. I guess you’re right.”

I ponder his words as he goes off to talk with the guys. I watch the water as we near the docks. The sun is setting behind us, and it’s beautiful.

“Opposites coexisting,” I say.

I’m not about to fool myself that my anxious thoughts will go away. It’s healthier, I think, to accept and cope with them than to try to defeat my own mind.

But I believe that I can accept being a deadly supernatural as well as a compassionate person.

That’s something I could do.

And a powerful siren, but still someone who will use her song for good.

When we reach the docks, Thomas lets us off. He’s already untying the boat before we’re off the wooden planks, preparing to set sail once more.

“I’d love a warm shower and a sleep on a real bed,” Starla moans.

“I’m pretty certain the smell of fish has leaked into my stone,” Exos adds.

“We should be able to call for a plane now,” Jackal says.

“Put a charter on the coven’s tab. I want to return Leena’s voice as soon as possible—and fill Grammy in on how everything went with my father. Not to mention check on my bar.”

She has her cell phone pulled out before the rest of us.

“Eureka! A signal!” she cries as she holds the device up in the air.

A few individuals milling around the docks look at us, and Jackal laughs.

“Just another loud, obnoxious, American tourist,” he teases her with a good-natured elbow to the ribs.

She puts on her poshest accent, reminiscent of her father.

“I’ll have you know that my behavior is above reproach, good sir.” Her smile falls from her face when she brings her phone back down and gets a good look at the screen.

“Dear old Dad’s noticed our absence, I guess.” She laughs, but I’d recognize it for fake even if she weren’t clutching her phone like she’s both afraid to let go but wishing she could throw it into the sea.

I check my own cell.

“Great tides!” I’ve got missed calls and texts from Malcolm, Cannon, Shanell, Brody, and even Ginny. If my lawyer is getting involved, we must have missed something important.

“My father has called no less than seventy-two times,” Starla says with a gulp.

I guess running out on a wedding has consequences.

33

HOMECOMING HAVOC

Starla holds the phone out, clicking so that one of the voicemails her father left her is on speaker phone.

“—know you’ve slunk back to that sad excuse for a community you call home. Your grandmother cannot shield you forever. Whatever tricks or magics that old crone is using will not be enough to withstand all my magic. If you should continue to refuse, I have no problems taking it out on those she cannot hide. You have until this evening to respond.”