Forever (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale 5)

Loud thoughts pushed past her fears, and she heard him speak as clear as fresh air into her head. If you relax, your body will do what comes natural and slow down your heart. You will be able to stay under much longer.

Yeah right, Mina thought back. You kidnapped me! And this was exactly how I was dragged underwater to my death by the sea witch. How is this not panic-worthy?

He flinched at her onslaught of thought. A sea witch. Nasty creatures, but you are much stronger than them. We’re almost through. His eyes squinted underwater, and she could see his teeth in a strangely reassuring smile, before he turned to swim further. We will have to catch the underwater current to make it out of here. Let it pull you. Don’t fight it.

She tried to let her thoughts soothe her again and swim in sync with the mysterious man. It was hard to see, but she felt the water pull at her as they turned into the current. Once in, the water rushed and pushed at them. She tried to clear her mind and just focus on counting as they moved through the water.

The light grew brighter, and the water began to feel warmer against her skin. They broke the surface, and she gulped in fresh air. They were in a large cove. Rivulets of salt water streamed down her face, burning her eyes, but once they slowed, she was able to focus on the large three-masted ship in front of them. The closer they came, the more detail she was able to make out on the vessel, from its brightly colored sails to the hand-carved mermaid on the ship’s bow.

He pulled her over to the boat, and a rope ladder dropped over the side for them to climb up. The man pushed her in front of him on the ladder, and his arms kept her from trying to jump back into the water. As if she could even think of going back in. Her limbs and body and the shock of what had just happened were too much for her system. She was positive that if she fell in, she would just sink to the ocean floor.

When she got to the top, strong hands grabbed her under the arms and helped her onto the deck. Exhausted, Mina slumped against the railing.

“Welcome to the fastest siren ship on the seas. Serenity.” The man swept his arms outward, gesturing to the beautiful Fae ship. Her eyes followed the arc of his arms and took in the vast array of wild and sea-loving Fae who all stood, staring at her.

“Oy, Ternan, that was fast. We weren’t expecting you back for another few hours at least.”

Ternan, the bearded man who saved her, grinned and shook his head, spraying the water over the others near him. “I expected that as well, but I came upon her in grim circumstances. The prince was on a vile rampage, intent on destroying the palace. It proved just the distraction I needed to sneak in and pull her out. Not to mention there was a serious lack of guards.”

“Well, it was a good thing you got to her when you did.” A woman with green highlights in her long brown hair stepped out of the crowd of onlookers. Her face was tanned with a hint of freckles across the bridge of her nose. She wore a vest showing off strong, tan arms with light, tattoo-like patterns, criss-crossing her skin. Her pants were a dark green with decorative netting wrapped around like a skirt. She looked mysterious and very much a siren of the sea. “Mina, darling, are you okay?”

“Who are you?” Mina asked, studying the faces of the gathered Fae. Many looked like they were one with the sea, hints of netting or shells embroidered into their shirts and clothing. Most of them—even the males—had long hair that was braided or left hanging down their backs, and intricate patterns lightly danced across their skin.

The woman who addressed her seemed slightly taken aback by her question. “Well, I know we’ve never met, but after your mother’s death, we felt it was our duty to take care of you… and your brother as soon as we find him.”

“That still doesn’t answer my question,” Mina said, her bottom lip shivering from cold.

“Why, I’m Winona, Ternan’s wife. And your grandmother.”

Chapter 25

The vividly colored sails of the ship rose as the siren crew prepared to depart. Mina found a barrel to sit on as she watched her grandparents for the first time, trying to take in this information. Her mother had said to find them, but—she’d never imagined this. A good part of her wanted to reject them for not being a part of her life before now. The other part could see the family resemblance, and it made her want to run and hug them.

But they were strangers, and they’d abandoned her family.

Ternan came and leaned against the railing, crossing his arms. He scratched his beard and tried to make small talk. “You look like her… your mother.”

“And my father,” she shot back.

He looked pained at her answer. “Aye, that you do. You need to realize that it was her choice to leave her mother and me and cut all ties. She felt it was safer that way—for you, for us.”

Mina got up off of the barrel and stared across the water as they sailed away from the small cove. “It would have been better if it stayed that way. You don’t know what you’ve done.”

“We saved you from that lunatic prince,” Ternan answered, his voice gruff. He pointed back the way they had come.

“I made a bargain. I’d stay with him, and Charlie would be safe. Since you interfered, you’ve doomed him and my friends.”

Ternan was about to say something when a wooden hatch slammed open and interrupted him.

“Mina?” Ever shot up from below deck. When she saw her, Ever threw her arms around her. “You’re okay?’

“What are you doing here?” Mina asked.

“I’m saving you, you Gimp. No wait, I can’t call you that anymore.” She cast a worried glance toward Mina’s grandfather. “At least not out loud.” Ever was dressed in siren garb, black pants, white netted tank top over a blue-purple tank.

Mina grabbed Ever by her arm and pulled her starboard and away from the prying eyes of the sirens, who never seemed to stop watching her. “No, what are you doing here, on the Fae plane?”

“Well, you’re the one who abandoned our plan and just surrendered herself to the enemy. We had a perfectly good trap all worked out.”