Page 39 of Entangled

Twelve

Merrow awoke during the night, hearing her sisters calling to her in her mind. Still wrapped in Sebastian’s arms after their lovemaking, she hated to go.

Merrow? Merrow, we’re here. Where are you? She heard her sister, Galene calling to her.

I will be right there, she told her sisters in the language of the sea nymphs. She gently removed herself from Sebastian’s protective hold, donning her gown and shoes. Then with one last look at her lover, she turned and headed out to the lake from their secluded spot behind the waterfall.

Merrow heard giggling and splashing as soon as she walked out into the open area. Her attention was drawn to the pool of water at the foot of the falls. She saw one tail and then two break the surface. Splashing continued as her sisters played in nymph form diving under the water and breaking the surface again.

“Melite, Galene, what are you doing?” This, she said aloud. The sun was just rising on the horizon and it was the beginning of a new day.

The girls’ heads poked up one after the other and they called out to her in true undine fashion.

“Come, sister,” begged Melite. “Join us. This water is fine. Let’s all play and go for a swim together.”

“I’ve already done that,” she told them, memories of yesterday with Sebastian flitting through her mind. “Come out of the water at once. You are wasting precious time. We need to get back to the sea and wait for Nerites.”

“Let us play for a while longer,” said Melite, sounding sad. “We haven’t swum in days now and need to do this. I missed it.”

“Did you really?” she asked. “By the look of the two of you sewing gowns in the ladies solar at Evandorm, I’d guess that you didn’t miss anything at all about being a sea nymph. Matter of fact, it seemed to me that you liked living like humans.”

“The Blackseeds and their family and friends are so nice,” Galene told her. “I wish you would have had the chance to get to know them the way we have.”

“Don’t let every kind human sway your decisions,” she warned them, half-wondering if she was really saying this to herself as well.

“How did you get away from the king?” Galene asked her. “I thought he took you back to the castle to imprison you.”

“Nay. Sebastian is kind. He didn’t do that.”

“So he is nice like the Blackseeds?” asked Melite, squirting water from her mouth and holding up a frog as she giggled.

“Yes. I suppose so,” she said, not sure how to answer. Merrow realized that the Blackseeds and King Ravenwolf were mortal enemies.

“Then what happened? How did you escape him?” asked Melite.

Merrow couldn’t stop herself from thinking about making love with Sebastian. As soon as she thought about it, both her sisters read her mind and knew exactly what had happened between them.

“You made love with a man!” gasped Galene.

“A human man,” said Melite looking and sounding so disappointed.

“So what if I did?” she asked. “I am old enough to make that decision for myself.”

“Sister, is he controlling you?” asked Melite. “Is he using your charm to make you like him?”

“Nay. Or, not anymore, I should say. He did use it against me at first. However, he gave it back to me. Sebastian didn’t control me to convince me to make love with him, I swear. That was all my own decision. See, I have my shell charm back.” She picked up the lock of hair that had her personal charm attached to it, showing them that what she said was true.

“Then he won’t stop you from leaving with us either,” said Galene. “Right?”

“I–I don’t think so.” She suddenly realized she wasn’t sure. He had given her freedom back, but she was still confused as to if he wanted her to leave or stay with him. “I’m actually not sure how he will feel if I leave.” Merrow glanced back at the waterfall and her heart ached. Part of her wanted Sebastian to try to stop her from going. To stay with him because he enjoyed her presence in his life. Then again, if he dared try keeping her here and wouldn’t let her leave with her sisters, that would make her angry too. Confusion muddled her mind.

“Perhaps we shouldn’t wait to find out.” Galene hoisted herself up and out of the water. “Come, Melite. We need to dry off so we can gain our legs. There will be no way for us to travel in our sea nymph forms.”

“Speaking of that,” said Merrow curiously. “How did you two get here by yourselves? Did you manage to escape and find your way to the falls by luck alone?”

“They’re not by themselves. They had a little help.”

Merrow turned to see Medea standing there with her husband, Rhys. “You two helped them?” asked Merrow.