The siren ship Serenity pulled as close as they could, and Reef and Genni brought the ship’s tender into the shore to pick them up and ferry them out. Nix, Ever, and Mina quickly sat down as the sirens swam them out to the ship. As soon as they were aboard, Ternan and Winona set sail.
Taz rose out of the water, her eyes black as night as she called forth a deep rolling fog to hide them. The sea witch raised her long green arm in a parting farewell. The sirens sailed out into the deep ocean, needing time to tend to their injured and find another way back to the Fae plane. The farther away they sailed, the less the damage seemed, until Mina could barely see San Francisco.
It all just felt like a horrible dream.
Charlie had been unwilling to leave Kino’s side since the battle. Kino had already dubbed him the Sea Prince. Winona and Ternan struggled to hold their emotions in check as they stood before their grandson. Winona’s face was washed with tears, and Mina swore she saw Ternan’s beard tremble with pride.
Charlie stared wide-eyed at the scars along his grandfather’s arms. His mouth opened but then firmly shut.
Ternan kneeled down, his eyes shining bright. “There’s no need to fear, my boy. You won’t hurt me with your gift. As the siren king, I—” His words were cut off as Charlie tossed himself into his grandfather’s arms.
Ternan held his hand out to the side, and her grandmother stepped into his arms and joined in the family reunion happening on deck. Mina met Winona’s eyes and simply nodded.
>One minute he was there—Mina felt a warmth encompass her body, and her heart burst with love in a final goodbye—and then he was gone.
Mina stared at the empty beach and the spot where Jared had stood. She wanted to scream her fury into the sky. She sat on the sand and looked back at the water. She waited. For what, she didn’t know.
It was almost sunset when Nan and Brody found her. Ever and Nix came up behind her too. Both of them had been bandaged, and Nix complained about whoever had made the poultice for his wound. Mina felt relief at seeing her friends still alive, safe and sound. The omen hadn’t taken them. But she could tell by the way Nix walked and Ever limped that they hadn’t completely escape its fury.
Others gathered on the beach. It seemed that the worst of the war was over.
What was left of Teague’s and Annalora’s armies had run and were hiding in the hills. Apparently, with the destruction of the gate and without their leaders, they didn’t know where to go. They would have to hunt them down another day.
Mina watched as Charlie met his grandparents, and he immediately hugged them, not letting them go. Ternan leaned down and lifted the boy up, holding him high in the air.
It seemed that everything would probably be alright for everyone. Except her.
Chapter 33
“We did it! We won,” Ever cheered as she came and stood by Mina. She didn’t even attempt to hide her wings.
“If you call this winning,” Mina answered. She looked across the Bay at the flashing lights and mob of rescue vehicles.
And Annalora was still out there, plotting.
“Well, we didn’t die, so yeah,” Ever glanced at Mina and her face turned solemn. “What’s up?”
Taz Clara rose out of the Bay. Water trailed over her skin, dripping off in rivulets. She moved closer to the shore but didn’t step onto the land. “I’m sorry. I held onto Jared for as long as I could, but he just slipped away from me.”
“Ohhh,” Ever whispered.
Every part of Mina wanted to scream and yell at her for not trying harder, but the sea witch did not deserve her temper. Taz hadn’t plunged the knife into Teague’s chest. Mina had. All Taz did was give her more time with him. She should have tried to bind him to the Grimoire despite his argument. But he would’ve ended up hating her in the end, because he’d once again be a prisoner. She couldn’t bear to do that to him.
She felt adrift without him. It ached to admit it.
How could she ever smile again?
Until she heard it.
Thump… Thump… Thump.
And she remembered. Mina pressed her hand to her heart, and a tear slid down her cheek. He would never truly be gone, because she loved him.
Their small group on the beach started to grow in size as a meeting of the guilds and sirens coalesced on the shore.
“We have done all we can, for now.” Strong Arm’s voice rumbled deeply. “We must leave. It is no longer safe for us. Constance, your guild is welcome to join mine until yours is rebuilt.”
Constance nodded her head in agreement. “Thank you for the offer, Strong Arm. I think we will take you up on it until this boils over.”