Page 113 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

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The memories of her days at sea were fixed pleasantly on her mind, reminding Nola she would never go back to her human life. At least, not to how it was before. The teak-brown forest’s woodsy scent and the bristles of straggly moss covering the trees brought her the peace of a magic land. A place that long ago would have been a part of her—part of her Fae life. A life that was taken from her.

Nola placed her hand on the grass and closed her eyes. It was real. Not an illusion like it had been in Westin. Life there grew and thrived. And it was magic which bound her powers to it.

The siren looked up, watching the crew from a distance, walk about the ship still docked fifty feet from their coast. It was better that way, at least once they had insured the Fae’s trust.

Lincoln’s head was cradled in her lap as one of the fairies lifted a goblet and let the tepid water run down Lincoln’s wound. Nola stroked his hairline as his skin healed before her eyes. The tiny fairy left the two lovers alone in the field as they waited for the queen to meet them there.

The siren began telling Lincoln about the Kraken attack on Wentworth’s ship. She told him about the exhilarating feeling of using her tail for the first time, the dream where Elijah appeared, and the nightmare in the Marsh Wetlands.

Lincoln reached into his back pocket and pulled out the sack with her ruby inside. She extended her fingers as he placed it in her palm. Nola reached inside the little bag and ran her thumb over the jewel’s smooth surface to affirm it was there, safe. Then pulled her hand back and tied off the rope.

“Lincoln, your brother is after this.” She held up the sack. “We need to find a place to keep it safe.”

His eyes narrowed. “What would he want with the ruby?”

She shrugged. “Elijah says it’s a key,” she said, placing the sack in her pocket. “A key to something called the Kroneon. I have so many questions after the last few days.”

Nola tried to recall more of the conversation she had with the prince, but the memory had become lost in her mind.

Lincoln’s eyes looked dull. “Like why a wendigo would submit to a siren?” he asked.

He was still rattled with guilt for letting Wentworth take her. The thought of any kind of creature attacking her caused every muscle in his body to burn.

“Yes,” she said, “that too.”

Suddenly, the ground shook beneath their feet, the trees rattling around them. Lincoln and Nola turned their heads right as the queen climbed off her dragon.

“Nola’s mother was among the Shelei species of sirens. Maydean passed that power down to Nola.” Cassia held out her pale hand to help Nola back on her feet. Then, the Fae Queen stretched out her hand and brushed her fingers along the silver part of Nola’s hair. “You have dominion over all species. You can control them with your mind, and they are obliged to submit.”

The siren girl’s mouth fell open.

“Well,” Queen Cassia continued. “All aside from your own species, of course. You cannot control Fae or the sea folk.”

Nola swallowed; it all made sense, given the recent events.

“But even with those powers, Nola, you still have much to learn about who you are.”

The siren turned to the queen. “I know who I am, Your Majesty. I may not know everything, but I do know my purpose. And I refuse to leave this land without your help.”

The queen waved a hand in her face and turned on her heel, walking away. “The humans have destroyed all that I love,” she said, the look of scorn and bitter resentment flashed across her face. “Why should we risk our lives for your cause?”

Nola nibbled at her bottom lip. She is right, but...

The siren knew it would not be easy to convince the queen as she had hoped it would be. “Because magic is the only thing that can save us. You may not feel for them as I do, but my family is all I have.”

“Your family, and your rightful place, is here, Nola,” the white-haired woman said. “Nowhere else, but here.”

Nola shook her head. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, but this—” she removed the tiara from her head. “Is nowhere near to where I want to be. I am not a princess. I am a poor village girl. The only future for me is fighting for my people. But for that, I need your Elven warriors.”

They were interrupted by Mazie walking up the shore.

“Queen Cassia, what has happened to your land?” she asked, looking around. The colors still shone bright, the vegetation fruitful, and the water was so clear you could see every detail of the shells buried within the sand. However, the trees were split, and there was nature’s waste scattered along the sandy beach.

The queen’s bright eyes shone with annoyance. “You mean all this?” she said, gesturing around them.

Raven nodded. “Aye.”

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