Salt & the Sisters: A Mermaid Fantasy (The Siren's Curse Book 3) Read online

  “Okay,” I replied, patiently. Waiting for the punchline.

  But Mom looked at me expectantly, like I should have had something click by now. When I still looked clueless, she said, “It has symptoms that look a lot like MS.”

  “Multiple sclerosis?” I cocked my head and the question was still clear in my tone.

  She let out a long sigh. “I guess you’re too young to remember, or you forgot…”

  Then it did hit me, straight in the chest like a bag full of cement.

  “Grandpa—” I wheezed, and was unable to finish the sentence.

  Mom’s arm slid around my shoulders and she pulled me into her side. I was grateful for her support. Without it, I might have slid into the water and just stayed down there forever. In shock.

  Nathan’s father had had MS. It was fairly advanced by the time I’d been born and in every memory of him that I had, he was in a wheelchair. That wheelchair was as much of a part of him in my mind as his hands or his hair.

  I found my voice. “You don’t think that’s a coincidence?”

  Mom shrugged. “You tell me.”

  Nike had said that I would be able to break the curse because there was something that linked the curse-maker and me. It had never been made clear what that link was.

  “Born of a siren and an Atlantean,” I said, “just like Eumelia.”

  “And not only that, but born of a Mer mother and an Atlantean father who had genuine love,” Mom added. “They made an elemental. So did your father and I.”

  “Do you think he knew?”

  “Nathan?” Mom shook her head. “I don’t think so. By now lots of people probably have some Atlantean blood flowing in their veins, even if it’s a tiny amount. It doesn’t necessarily mean they can make gills, or even that they have a longer lifespan.”

  “Do you think Grandpa knew?”

  “I doubt that, too.” She planted a kiss on my forehead and drew one foot out of the water, placing it on the dock as she made to get up. “It’s a mystery I can live with without solving, what about you?”

  I laughed and knew exactly what she meant. “Yeah, I’ve had enough of solving mysteries to last me a lifetime. It’s enough.”

  And it really was. For once, my mind wasn’t pulling or tugging at a problem. I felt light, happy, and curiously refreshed.

  Mom got to her feet and pulled me up by my hand. We walked the dock heading back to the beach and back to our men arm in arm.

  It was enough, I thought as my eye panned from my brother, to my mother’s long-lost love, to my own Antoni.

  They were more than enough.

  THE END

  Also by A.L. Knorr

  Elemental Origins Series, Season 1

  Born of Water, Book 1

  Born of Fire, Book 2

  Born of Earth, Book 3

  Born of Æther, Book 4

  Born of Air, Book 5

  The Elementals, Book 6

  Elemental Origins Series, Season 2

  Salt & Stone (The Siren’s Curse 1)

  Salt & the Sovereign (The Siren’s Curse 2)

  Salt & the Sisters (The Siren’s Curse 3)

  Elemental Origins Series, Season 3

  Bones of the Witch (Earth Magic Rises 1)

  Ashes of the Wise (Earth Magic Rises 2)

  Heart of the Fae (Earth Magic Rises 3)

  Elemental Origins Series, Season 4

  Firecracker, (Arcturus Academy 1)

  Fire Trap, (Arcturus Academy 2)

  Fire Games (Arcturus Academy 3)

  Legends of Fire (Arcturus Academy 4)

  Source Fire (Arcturus Academy 5)

  Elemental Origins Spin Off Series:

  Rings of the Inconquo

  Born of Metal, (Rings of the Inconquo 1)

  Metal Guardian, (Rings of the Inconquo 2)

  Metal Angel, (Rings of the Inconquo 3)

  Elemental Origins Spin Off: The Returning Series (Mira’s Story, Completed Series)

  Returning, Book 1

  Falling, Book 2

  Surfacing, Book 3

  Elemental Novellas

  Pyro, A Fire Novella

  Heat, A Fire Novella

  The Kacy Chronicles (Completed Series)

  Descendant, Book 1

  Ascendant, Book 2

  Combatant, Book 3

  Transcendent, Book 4

  Visit www.alknorrbooks.com to sign up for AL Knorr’s newsletter. Get notifications for new releases and free stories.

  Come a little closer, my dear…

  Want to be kept updated on new releases, be the first to know about sneak peeks and ‘read by yours truly’ audio snippets? I’m no Judi Dench but I do try not to make too many swallowing sounds. I host the occasional sale and sometimes join themed multi-author promotions that are good fun. Join my newsletter at www.alknorrbooks.com or request access to my private VIP Reader Lounge on Facebook (don’t forget to answer the three questions to get in). I also have Instagram for those who are curious about the life of a traveling fantasy novelist. I tend to visit a lot of ancient places, there’s inspiration to be found there, doncha know. See you in them virtual hills!

  Love, Abby