Page 90 of Sea's Secret

“Do not threaten them!” Peter said with clenched teeth.

“Safe, safe, safe,” I heard their voices in the tinkling of the bells. “Safe, the young prince will be safe.”

“Did you hear that?” Peter asked, reaching out his hand again, ready for them to take him to Gwendolyn.

“Yes, I did,” I grunted.

“You know, I never stopped loving you, Dom. I knew I would find you someday. I still have a thousand questions to ask you about why you left us, but I will save that conversation until after you return for me, alright?”

“I did not leave–”

“Alright? I will be back,” he said, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“Okay, good. Yes. We can talk when I come back to pick you and Gwendolyn up.”

He smiled wide and nodded. “See you in a few days,” he said, turning, and then as if he were in control of the pixies, they swarmed him again. I stepped back, and in a few moments, Peter was in the air, being carried away. I could still make out his small body up high in the air when Sands came to stand beside me at the edge of the small meadow.

“Remarkable–” Sands said.

“It is utterly horrifying. What if he falls?” I asked, worry coursing through me. Meria placed her hand on mine, and I turned to look down at her on my other side.

“But Dominick, he is flying,” she said, pointing to the sky. He was, indeed, flying. I smiled for a moment, then turned away.

“He won't fall,” Sands said, patting me on the shoulder.

“Well, we must get back to the ship. The sooner we find the Mirror Sea, the sooner we can come back for Peter,” I said.

“I hope he finds Gwendolyn, and that she is well,” Meria said.

“I threatened the pixies; they will be fine,” I said, feigning confidence.

“Sounds like you. I wouldn't expect anything different, but the ‘Traitor King,’ really?” she laughed as we both turned around and started walking through the jungle after Sands.

“I like to be consistent, and all magical beings fear him,” I said, squeezing her hand, which was still within mine. Until she let go, I would keep holding on.

“There is magic in the air here. This island is dripping with it,” she said. “Can’t you feel it? The water is also filled with magic, and that must be because of all the pixies that occupy this isle.”

“Is that why the air is so different?” I asked.

“It is possible.” We walked back through the jungle, happily, with no other run-ins with pixies or other magical creatures. Once I was back aboard my ship, I took a deep breath.

“Sands, we must set sail. We have to be back here in no less than four days,” I ordered.

“Aye, captain!” Sands said with dramatics; then he moved about the deck to command the crew.

I needed a minute alone. I did not want any eyes on me, so I walked quickly to my cabin. I had no idea that Meria had followed after me until I went to close my door, and there she stood in the doorway.

“Are you alright?” she asked me with that sweet look of concern on her face, a small crease on her forehead, showing her worry.

“Yes–of course.”

“Peter will come back. There is more to both of your stories. They are intertwined, I am sure of it.”

“I am not worried about Peter. He is a grown man and can do as he wishes,” I said gruffly.

“Dominick, I know you. I can tell you care about him. That would not be wrong, you know. He is your brother.”

“Meria–”

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