Page 54 of Entangled

“Goodbye, Melite. Goodbye, Galene,” Merrow cried out, waving her hand above her head. “Tell Father when you want to come and visit me.”

“Merrow, you’re not coming home?” Melite looked so sad.

“This is my home now,” she replied. “I belong on Mura. With Sebastian.” She looked at her husband-to-be and smiled.

“You will make a lovely wife,” called out Galene. “Good luck to you both.”

“You will be fine, Merrow,” called out her mother. “As long as you are with the one you love.”

Nereus entered the portal, putting his arm around his wife and looking back. Then, he nodded, and the portal snapped closed. Merrow’s family disappeared from sight. When she looked up to the sky, the gods of Mura had left as well.

“We did it, Merrow. I’m still alive and now we can be married.” Sebastian let out a happy whooping noise. “Let’s get back to shore. I need to thank the Blackseeds for helping us. And I want to invite everyone in Mura to our wedding.”

Merrow took her last swim as a sea nymph, heading back to shore. She flopped onto land, running her hand over her tail, her heart breaking to know she would never be able to swim to the coral reef or look for shells with her sisters anymore. Still, she was excited to be able to marry Sebastian and be his wife. She’d be able to visit with her family any time she wanted. Her legs appeared and she stood up. Sebastian took off his tunic and pulled it over her head to hide her naked body.

“Merrow? Are you all right?” he asked. “You seem so sad.”

“I’m not sad. Not really. I just guess that I wish there was a way to marry you and stay a sea nymph at the same time.”

The Blackseeds were waiting for them on the beach. Sebastian wrapped his arm around Merrow and they headed over to greet their new friends. Once more, Merrow glanced over her shoulder, thinking she was going to see Melite or Galene popping up out of the water, but they weren’t there. She was with Sebastian now and would create a new life, living as his wife. As a human. She’d made a good decision, she told herself. It was the right thing to do.

Her eyes scanned the calm sea and she let out a deep sigh. So, if she did the right thing, then why didn’t she feel as happy as she thought she would right now? And where was she going to find fifty new friends to replace her siblings?