What do I want?
My hand shoots into the air before I can stop myself.
Chapter 27
Gil
Angel’s never been good at keeping track of things or staying with a group, but she does have the talent for optimism—which I’m uncharacteristically low in now.
“Did you have to steal a boat andmy girlfriendalong with it?” I scold her, scanning the crowd for Marina’s familiar shade of pink hair. But it’s bustling, and unlike the mortal realm, neon-colored hair isn’t uncommon.
It’s not going to be easy to spot her.
“You talk about this girl all the time. Why shouldn’t I get to know her?” Angel asks, her confidence seeming to wane. “Besides, you and Finn were going to take forever, and we were holding hands. It’s just… you think she’s okay, right? The festival is pretty safe.”
It’s a good thing Angel isn’t leading this search party anymore. Shaking my head, I stalk onward, casting a look at every hint of bubblegum hair. “She could have been kidnapped or glamoured or—”
“—commandeered an instrument and playing a concert,” Angel fills in.
I nod my head in agreement. Marina could be anywhere! “Exactly. The thing you need to know is—wait, say that last part again?” I say, whirling in the direction of my sister.
Angel points toward a stage, and it’s not the flash of pink hair that catches my attention; it’s her voice.
There she is.
There’smy girl.
I blink a few times in disbelief. I suppose I didn’t warn her to keep a low profile. Still, I didn’t expect her to get so comfortable.
I’m glad she has. That stage? It’s exactly where she belongs.
I dive into the springs, inching toward the stage just like I had when she was humming to herself at the abandoned campground only a few days ago.
I make it up to where my family is watching the show. They sway in time with the music. It’s not a song they know, but I remember it from when we were children.
“Flowers of May, flowers in bloom, honey and violet; oh, I’ll see you soon. Dancing in rain, drip down you and I, sun showers but my darling so bright in the sky—”
Her mother’s song, perfect on her lips, echoes in a realm beyond where it’s known. The melody sways in the reeds, sinking into the hearts of all listening. Grampy swims up next to me, an eyebrow quirked. I brace myself for whatever he’s planning to say. He wasn’t exactly encouraging during our last chat.
“Didn’t realize you brought a siren home to meet the family,” Grampy says quietly. “She’s captivated everyone, by the looks of it.”
I raise my eyebrow, looking at the elders who’ve gathered on the outskirts of the crowd, staring at her with expressions that aren’t exactly disapproval; still, I can’t quite unmask them. Marina being here means they won’t be able to convince me to settle down with their grandchildren, but that plan hadn’t been on the table regardless. Still, when Auntie Cat’s whiskers twist into a smile at the last note of Marina’s song, I don’t think we have much to worry about.
Though, Walleye’s—Grampy’s oldest friend and enemy—arms are crossed tight in front of his chest, leading me to believe he’s less than impressed. I straighten. When our eyes meet, and Irefuse to bend to the glare—it softens as Walleye blows out a sigh and shakes his head.
If I was a betting man, I’d put money on it being him who wants to close the portals to keep me away from Marina. I grin—it’s too late for that now.
“I didn’t expect it to be like this,” I admit to Grampy, making no attempts to hide my feelings. “But my heart’s been swept away with the tide. I love her Grampy. I love her, and I know it’s too soon.”
He gives me a firm pat on the back. “But knowing you, you blurted it out already.”
“Yes, sir,” I say with a guilty laugh. “I couldn’t help myself.”
“She seems like a good one—pretty, too,” Grampy says with a shake of his head.
“Ain’t she?”
“I like her,” Goldie whispers, which is high praise considering Goldie doesn’t like much of anything besides the guppies—and we siblingsmost of the time.
