Page 16 of Entangled

“Yes. Even though I need to stay behind.”

Her mother picked up a brush and ran it over Merrow’s long, loose hair. “Merrow, where is your personal shell charm? It’s not in your hair where sea nymphs are required to wear it. Did you lose it?”

“It fell out of my hair after I got here.”

“Well, where is it?” Her mother looked around the floor. “We need to put it back in your hair at once. It is very important.”

“We can’t do that,” she said, afraid to tell her mother the truth, but knowing she didn’t have a choice. “Sebastian has it and will not give it back to me.”

“Nay!” Her mother’s knees buckled and Merrow had to catch her or she would have fallen to the ground. “Then, all my hope is dashed. My plan to help any of my daughters who ended up here has already failed. Because now, my sweet Merrow, you are doomed to repeat the horrors that I have lived through. You will never go back to the Aegean Sea, because that man will make you his wife and turn you human. And when he does, you will forever be under his control and will never be able to leave him.”

“Merrow, are you ready to go?” Sebastian knocked quickly upon the door an hour later, but didn’t wait for her to answer. A guard stood watch, so he knew she was in there. Plus, he could have sworn he heard talking and if he wasn’t mistaken, even crying.

He pushed open the door to his solar to find Merrow with her arms wrapped around the damned handmaid. They both had tears running down their cheeks.

“What’s going on here?” he asked, walking further into the room.

“Sebastian.” Merrow sniffled, quickly wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and flashed him a fake smile. “I am dressed and ready to accompany you. Where are we headed? Off to find my sisters?”

“I had planned to go to the practice yard.” He noticed the handmaid didn’t look at him. That wasn’t odd since servants were not supposed to meet with a superior’s eyes. But he got the distinct feeling that the woman didn’t like him. It made no sense since he didn’t even know her. He recognized her as one of his uncle’s servants, but Sebastian had never even spoken to the woman until today.

“Nay. We need to go and look for my sisters. It is vitally important.” Merrow was a stubborn woman. He didn’t like her telling him what to do, but supposed he could see why she’d be concerned.

“I’m sure your sisters are fine. They are probably in the sea. If so, we’ll never find them, so searching is only a waste of time.”

“That’s not true.” Merrow took his arm and led him to the door. The handmaid stayed at the bed fixing the blankets, her back to Sebastian, which he didn’t like at all. It was disrespectful. He’d have to have a word with the handmaid later and reprimand her. “I can go in the water and look for them. I can call for them,” she told him.

He could see what she was doing. She was planning her escape and he wouldn’t fall for it.

“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”

“Why not?” The handmaid spoke up from the bedside. She looked directly at him, but quickly lowered her eyes when he looked her way. “Pardon me, my king. I beg your forgiveness for speaking out.” She bowed deeply.

“Hmmm,” said Sebastian, realizing something odd was going on here. Perhaps the sea nymph convinced the handmaid to help her escape. He’d have to keep a close eye on the two of them. “We will not be going back on the water any time soon.”

“My lord,” came a voice from the door. It was his advisor.

“What is it, Drell?”

“The Blackseed brothers and that irritating little elf are at the gates demanding to speak to you.”

“Tell them I’m busy. Come, Merrow. We’re going to the practice yard.”

Drell cleared his throat.

“Was there something else?” Sebastian stopped in his tracks.

“It’s just that they’re asking if you caught a sea nymph while out fishing.”

“Why are they asking me that?”

“I can’t be certain, but Farrimond overheard them talking. It seems they have caught not one, but two sea nymphs as well.”

“Oh!” gasped Dee from the bedside, hurriedly clasping her hand over her mouth and turning away.

“My sisters!” cried Merrow. “They found them. We need to hurry down to the courtyard to talk to these people.”

“Nay. Send them away,” ordered Sebastian, not wanting anything to do with the Blackseed brothers. They were a thorn in his uncle’s side for as long as Sebastian could remember. Plus, two of the three brothers took over the kingdoms of Kasculbough and Evandorm, and didn’t deserve to be kings at all.

“But they have my sisters,” cried Merrow. “Galene and Melite are worried about me. I need to see them and tell them I’m all right.”

“Nay, I can’t allow that. I’m sorry,” said Sebastian. But before he could say more, Merrow pulled away from him and ran down the hall, disobeying him once again. His hand went to his pouch and he almost pulled out the shell, meaning to rub it and control her. Then he remembered how sexual she’d been when he did so last time, so he refrained from rubbing the shell with so many others around. “Let’s go, Drell. If I’m going to talk to these Blackseed brothers, I’ll need you to advise me on what to say. We’ll grab Farrimond and a few dozen soldiers along the way. I am not prepared to fight off men who have magical powers.”

Magical power wasn’t what really had Sebastian worried right now. His biggest fear was that Merrow was going to want to go back home with her sisters. The last thing he wanted right now was for this beautiful, enticing sea nymph to leave him.

Then again, he reminded himself that he held all the power. So it was really up to him if she would stay or if she’d go.