Page 55 of Entangled

Seventeen

“So the alliance between our kingdoms is secure, Ravenwolf?” Zann asked as he and his brothers and their wives gathered in the courtyard of Evandorm. King Sebastian Ravenwolf, his captain of the guard, and Merrow had joined them as requested.

“Zann, this alliance needs to be with the Queendom of Glint, and with the Fae folk as well,” his wife, Lira, reminded him. “We need to wait for your mother and my aunt to arrive.”

“They’re here,” announced Talia, Darium’s fae wife. She pointed upward.

Merrow looked up in surprise, to see three women, a man and a dog descending from the sky. They all gently set down right in front of them.

“Are they gods and goddesses too?” Merrow whispered to Sebastian.

“Nay,” he told her. “Not at all.”

“Then how can they fly?”

“Merrow,” said Medea, Rhys’ wife, stepping forward. “We’d like you to meet some very special people of Mura. This is the fae queen, Alaina,” she said, motioning to the eldest woman of the party.

“Hello, Merrow. I am the mother of Zann, Rhys and Darium,” Alaina told her.

“Hello,” she answered. “I saw you at the sea, helping to battle my father. Thank you for your assistance.”

Alaina nodded.

“This is my aunt, Sasha,” said Lira, taking over with the introductions, presenting the second oldest of the females. “She is Queen of Glint.”

“Glint?” asked Merrow in confusion.

“It’s on the other side of the mountain. The magical side,” Sebastian told her.

“Glint is the elven queendom,” Lira explained.

“Queendom,” repeated Merrow, smiling widely. “I like that. So would all my sisters, I’m sure.”

“Do you have a lot of sisters?” asked Sasha.

“Don’t ask,” Sebastian mumbled under his breath.

“I am Persimmon and this is my husband, Stone,” said the last woman.

“Are you an elf or a fae?” asked Merrow curiously.

“Half-elf, half-witch,” Persimmon explained. “Elric, the sage, is my father.”

“Oh, yes. I know who he is,” she said with a nod.

The dog barked, making Merrow jump back. She wasn’t used to land-dwelling animals.

“That’s just Fang. He won’t hurt you,” said Stone with a chuckle, hunkering down to hold the dog. “We’ve already met two of your sisters on the ship. When you first arrived.”

“You mean, when we were captured,” Merrow corrected him.

Everyone became silent. Finally, Sebastian was the one to speak.

“Honey, no one captured you or your sisters on purpose. It was a surprise to us as well as you to find anything but fish in our nets.”

Merrow could have pointed out that she had indeed been a prisoner of Sebastian, but it no longer mattered. He had changed and he cared for her now. The rest was all in the past. They knew each other better now and were about to get married. “Of course. I’m sorry. I am just a little nervous being here alone.”

“You’re not alone, sweetheart.” Sebastian took her hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “You’ve got me. And now, a lot of new friends, as well.”