Page 43 of Entangled

Fourteen

Merrow’s heart ached as they headed for the sea in the back of the wagon. While Melite and Galene were excited to be going back home, she couldn’t honestly say she felt the same way.

“What’s the matter, sister?” asked Melite. “You look so sad.”

“Did something bad happen between you and the king?” asked Galene. “I hope he didn’t hurt you.”

“Nay, he didn’t. Just the opposite,” answered Merrow. “You both know what happened.”

“Opposite?” asked Medea. She smiled, knowing exactly what she meant. “You made love with King Ravenwolf, didn’t you?” asked the witch. “My guess is that you’ve also fallen in love with him.”

“What?” Rhys looked over his shoulder and scowled at having overheard this.

“Yes, you are right. I did make love with him,” Merrow admitted, not ashamed of what she did and not caring who knew. “I also have feelings for him, but since I don’t know exactly how it feels to be in love I cannot answer your question truthfully.”

“Do you think of him constantly?” asked Medea.

“I do,” Merrow answered, smiling at the memories she had of him.

“Does your body warm and act all tingly when he brushes back your hair or he places his hand on your arm?” Medea continued.

“Yes. Yes, it does.”

“And have you had the thought of mayhap staying here on Mura instead of going home through the portal?” Medea asked the last question.

Merrow hesitated before she answered this one. Looking over at her sisters, she realized she couldn’t lie to them because they would only read the truth in her thoughts. “I…I suppose I have fantasized of mayhap staying here in Mura. With Sebastian. Mayhap even as his wife,” she admitted.

“Nay! You don’t want to marry that oaf,” shouted Elric, having been listening to their conversation. “Go back home where you belong. Forget all about the fool. He is not one of the good kings of Mura. He is an evil one.”

“Nay. You’re wrong,” Merrow defended him. “Sebastian might care too much what others think of him, but he is not evil like his uncle.”

“How can you say that?” asked Rhys. “You didn’t even know King Sethor.”

“Nay, but I heard all about him. Sebastian doesn’t want to follow in his uncle’s footsteps. He doesn’t want to be an evil, unforgiving, vengeful king at all.”

“If she believes that, then yep, she’s in love,” scoffed the elf, ending with a big, sad sigh. “We need to get her back through that portal quickly, even if we have to push her through it. She doesn’t belong here, and she and her sisters have to go as well. If Merrow stays, she’ll only end up like the last one.”

“Like the last one?” asked Medea. “Elric, what or who are you talking about?”

“Was there another sea nymph here at one time?” asked Galene curiously.

“There was, and it didn’t end up pretty.” Elric continued to direct the horse. They were nearing the Masked Sea.

“Sister, what are they talking about?” Melite asked Merrow directly, making her realize she couldn’t keep her promise to her mother any longer. Merrow figured that her sisters deserved and needed to know the truth.

“They are talking about Mother,” said Merrow, watching her sisters’ eyes grow wide.

“Mother was here?” asked Galene.

“I thought she died,” said Melite.

“She didn’t die,” Merrow explained. “She was sucked through the portal, just like us. But the last King of Macada, the evil one, married her.”

“Why didn’t I know about this?” asked Rhys from the front, seeming as if he felt left out.

Merrow continued. “King Sethor was already married but married our mother as well. In doing so, she gained her soul, but lost her tail and turned human forever.”

“Did the king kill her?” asked Melite.