Ever came and stood nervously next to Mina. “I’ve only ever passed through one of the smaller gates between our worlds or used the seam ripper. I’ve heard of the Sister Rocks and the rumor it was a gate, but I’ve never imagined actually seeing it or passing through.”
“Why are we not using the seam ripper to open a gate between the planes? It’s too small?”
“Do you see how many sirens are on this ship? The seam ripper would only let two or three max through before it closed, and it’s too dangerous to open in the same spot over and over. You’re bringing an army through, so you need one of the natural gates. Just like Teague would have used.”
Nix looked at the setting sun and the gate and voiced his concern, “We’re not going to make it!”
“Yes, we are!” Ternan bellowed. He ran toward the stern of the ship. He held his hands up in the air, and Winona did the same. Soon every siren on the boat raised their hands in unison, facing the sea behind them.
The ship stilled on the water, and they dropped down suddenly. Mina looked over her shoulder, and a giant wave surged up behind them. A wave that would surely break their boat apart.
“Hold on!” Ternan shouted. He controlled the wave, causing it to break and rush under the ship. It lifted the boat and propelled them toward the Sister Rocks.
Ever and Mina screamed. Nix pushed them against the middle mast and wrapped a rope around their waists, securing them to the large wooden post. Water rushed over the side, and the wave dropped again. People screamed—most in excitement—as they were airborne for a few seconds before slamming back into the water. The sun just touched the horizon.
The gate opened, a spiral of bright colors.
But they were off course, charging straight toward the right monolith.
“Turn! Port, port!” Winona hollered to the first mate on the helm. He spun the wheel, trying to keep the ship from crashing.
Everyone held their breath.
The boat cleared the monolith and sailed toward the open gate.
Another wave came up from behind and spilled over the railings, making the ship rock and reel. Nix lost his grip on the rope. Mina and Ever grabbed his hands as the ship tilted to the side, buffeted by another wave across the deck.
The wave partially swallowed them for a heartbeat, and when it passed, they looked around.
Nix was gone.
Ever fought against the ropes that tied her to the mast and screamed in despair. “Nix!” she howled as they left the Fae plane behind them.
Chapter 27
When they passed through the gate, a relative silence followed.
Ever’s loud wail of sorrow cut through the wind like a sword. “No, no, no!”
Mina’s fingers worked tirelessly at the knot, but she couldn’t get the rope undone. One of the sirens rushed over to untie them. The rope fell to the deck with a thud, and Ever ran to the railing and looked over.
“You stupid nixie!” Her fist pounded the railing. “You always think of others first. For once, why couldn’t you be selfish and save yourself?” She collapsed to her knees, bawling.
Mina gently wrapped her hands around Ever’s shoulders, surprised when she turned, and buried her head in Mina’s shoulder.
“Oh Nix, I’m so sorry for all the names I called you,” Ever confessed. “For putting salt in the Pixy Stix when you kept stealing them. For telling you cartoons were real.”
“What do you mean—they’re not real?” Nix shouted from the other side of the ship.
They turned to see Nix’s head as he peeked over the side rail. He hauled himself up, swung his legs over, and hopped onto the deck. Then he used his hands to flick the water out of his hair.
Ever ran across the deck and threw herself into his arms. “Don’t you ever do anything that stupid and dangerous again, do you hear me?”
Nix blushed at Ever’s show of affection. “O-oh. O-okay. I don’t think I’ll b-be dragged through a gate off the side of a siren ship again.”
“Good, you big lug.” Ever reached up to circle her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips.
Nix was only momentarily taken aback before he returned the kiss with fervor.
“Well, I’ve got to hand it to them. They are a cute couple.” Winona smiled sweetly.
“They deserve each other, and I mean that in the best way possible.” Mina grinned. The joy she felt was slowly replaced by shock as she realized where they’d come out of the portal. Of all the places for them to appear in the human plane. “You’ve got to be kidding me! We just passed under the Golden Gate Bridge?”
“I’ve always thought that was such a horrid name. It’s not even gold,” Winona said dryly.
Behind them, the iron and steel bridge looked almost black against the rising sun. She was still nowhere near home, but what could she expect from a natural Fae gate?
“We’ll attract too much attention in this ship. And, um, you’ll all probably attract attention too.” Mina blurted out as she looked at her kin. Their crazy hair styles, unique tattoos, and the pearlescent scales that lay just beneath the skin, reflecting the light, would definitely make them stand out.
Winona whistled loudly and made a series of high pitched notes. Four male sirens scrambled up the masts. Mina watched as their hands glowed, and they began to weave a glamour over their ship. It instantly changed in appearance to mimic a smaller-masted vessel they’d just passed. The siren figurehead disappeared. The rough Fae wood morphed into a painted blue with white stripes. Even the colorful sails became stark white. Honestly, the ship lost much of its beauty.
The young siren with the dreadlocks came up to her wearing boat shoes, a polo, and white shorts. The crew suddenly looked like they were competing in a regatta. Mina tried to stifle her laugh.
“What?” Dreadlocks asked. “Is this not right?”
“No, it’s fine. It’s just not what I was expecting,” she answered.
He held out his hand. “I’m Kino.”
Mina shook Kino’s hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Mina.”
“Oh, you don’t have to introduce yourself. We all know who you are. Your grandparents weren’t the only ones waiting a long time for you.”
“What?”
“Ternan and Winona are not just any sirens. They pretty much rule the sea, which means one day? All of this will be yours. On both planes.”
“Uh, no thank you. The last few encounters I’ve had with the ocean or water have not ended well.”
Kino grinned. “That’s because you thought you were human. Now that you know you’re part-siren, it will call to you like a lover. One day, you’ll answer.”
“Nope, I’ll let it go to voicemail.” She held up her hand to her ear. “Please leave a message after the beep.”
Kino laughed. “Well, I guess that’s one way to avoid responsibility.”
“This isn’t my responsibility. It never was. I already have too much on my plate with a cursed prince hunting me down. I’m not ready for more.”
Kino bent over, gripping his stomach in laughter. “Oh, if you weren’t already taken, I’d try to win your hand.”
“What do you mean?” She freaked. How could he come to the conclusion that she was taken?