Page 49 of Entangled

“I don’t agree with that plan, Sebastian,” Merrow continued to fight him with her stubborn actions.

“Merrow, he might be right.” Dee ran to her and hunkered down next to Merrow. “Nereus has a mean temper. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants. Mayhap if his family is returned to him, he’ll back off and leave Mura forever. We need to try. It is our only chance.”

“I’m not sure,” said Merrow.“Besides, you are human now, Mother. You will drown trying to go through an underwater portal.”

“Not if you and your sisters give her the breath of life while she swims,” said Sebastian. “The way you did to me, Merrow. You remember.”

“Yes. He’s right. It will work. I’m sure of it.” Dee stood up and put her hands over her head, waving at them, trying to attract the attention of her husband. “Nereus, it is me. Your wife. Please, stop torturing these poor people. They had nothing to do with what happened to me. That man is already dead.”

“What?” Nereus stopped throwing fire bolts long enough to listen. “Doris, I want you to come home.”

“I want that too, husband. But how can you still desire me when I have been forced to marry and couple with a human, therefore turning human myself?”

“I don’t care if you are no longer a sea nymph. We can be together on land. You know that. Now get home! You have fifty children to tend to.”

“Come, Mother. Melite, Galene and Nerites will help you through the portal and give you breath underwater so you won’t drown.” Merrow held out her hand to assist her mother into the water.

Merrow’s siblings popped their heads up from under the water.

“It will be odd to leave here after so long.” Dee looked back at Sebastian.

“You need to go. To be with your family,” he told her. “Dee, I can never apologize enough for what my uncle did to you. I am so sorry. If I could change the past, you know I would.”

“King Sethor is dead now, so it no longer matters,” said Dee.

“I say it does. You will pay for the dead man’s mistake, King Ravenwolf.” Nereus shapeshifted into a huge bird with sharp talons, a curved beak and scales on his wings instead of feathers. His eyes flashed red with anger.

“Nay, Father. Leave Sebastian alone!” shouted Merrow.

“Go, Merrow! Now. And don’t look back.” Sebastian lifted his sword, ready to fight, knowing this wouldn’t end until he died. That is what the sea god wanted and all Sebastian could do now was to give him his fight while Merrow and her family got through the portal that would take them home.

“Merrow, hurry,” called out her brother. “The portal is already starting to close. We need to get through it before it’s too late.”

“Come, Mother. We will help you.” Galene swam to the shore, reaching out to take her mother’s hand. Dee took a step into the water, but stopped and looked back at Sebastian.

“I know you and Merrow are meant to be together,” she told him. “You are a good man and will make a wise, fair and just king. I have no doubt you would have protected her as well as made her very happy should she have stayed. I am so sorry things have to end this way.”

“I want more than anything to make your daughter my wife,” he admitted. “Mayhap if I tell Nereus that, he will change his attitude toward me.”

“Nay, don’t do that. It might make him even angrier. It’s too late.” Dee shook her head as she sank down into the water. “My husband will not pull back. Once he starts shapeshifting, it means his anger is out of control. He won’t stop until he feels his wrath has been carried out. I am so, so sorry.” With that, Dee took a deep breath and dove under the water. Merrow’s sisters and brother went with her. Still, Merrow stayed, staring at him from the water with tears in her eyes.

“Did you really mean that? That you want to marry me?” she asked him.

“Yes, I do,” said Sebastian, swiping at Nereus as the big bird shrieked and dived down, trying to catch him in his sharp talons. Sebastian hit the ground, rolling, stopping at the edge of the water.

“Sebastian!” Merrow swam over, worried for his safety. The bird swept back up into the sky while Sebastian’s army drew their weapons. The Blackseeds continued to use their powers against Nereus but they were no match for a god of the sea. Nereus made a huge wave hit against them, landing them all in the water, pulling them out to sea as they tried their best to swim back to shore.

“Goodbye, Merrow.” Sebastian reached out and cradled her chin, kissing her sweet lips for the last time. “Never forget me.”

“I won’t leave you.”

“You have to. I don’t want you to see me die.”

“I need to stop my father.”

“You’ll only make him more furious. Now quickly, go. Swim back through the portal. It is the only thing that might make your father stop attacking us.” He took her hand and kissed it, getting to his feet. Slowly, he let her hand slip from his.

“My king! Behind you,” shouted Drell.