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Marin led him through watery tunnels that glowed with bioluminescent algae and magical creatures that scurried through rippling seaweed.

“Where are we going?” Alistair finally asked.

“After your mother was poisoned, the king insisted your parents take a residential suite so he could extend his protection over them. With your future unknown, your father believed it was a wise decision. The king took in your family’s staff, appointing them to positions within the castle, but I’ve remained by your father’s side.”

They swam deeper into the castle until Marin stopped before a gold door and knocked.

Alistair’s breath hitched and his heart began a hard-beating rhythm in his chest.

The latch clicked and the door opened inward.

And for the first time in decades, he laid eyes on his father’s familiar face and close-cropped hair and multi-hued fantail.

Blue eyes widened and his father’s jaw slackened, leaving his mouth agape. The burn of human tears stung Alistair’s eyes, but were stolen by the ocean water.

“Father,” Alistair croaked.

“Son.”

The older merman swept Alistair into his arms, pulling him close, squeezing him with the strength of years of pain, anguish, longing, and the endless hope that he would return. Alistair embraced him with as much fervor, as much yearning, soaking in all he had lost and missed since suffering his curse.

“Who knocked on the—”

Alistair lifted his head from his father’s shoulder and caught his mother’s shimmery silver eyes as she stopped speaking. His father released his hold, turning to present Alistair with a shaky smile.

“Mom.” Alistair kicked forward, having to fight his human body’s buoyancy to stay level with his mother. The passing of years and the attempted poisoning had taken a toll. Despite the dull cape of hair, the sallow pull of skin over bony cheeks, her frail figure and limp tail, her eyes sparkled with strength. “I finally made it home.”

Her chin quivered, but she swam closer, her gentle fingers stroking over his face. “My dear son. Look at you. Handsome as ever.” Her gaze lowered to his legs, then met his eyes again. “You’ve finally returned, but you don’t plan to stay.”

Alistair tried to laugh off her concern, but she shook her head, capturing his face between her hands.

“I am your mother. I can see these things. You’ve been gone a long time and have adjusted to this alternate life.” Her silvery eyes narrowed, but a faint grin touched her pale lips. “Who is she?”

“Nonsense. Our son’s returned! We must celebrate, after that hexing witch breaks the curse she placed on him,” his father interrupted, slinging an arm around Alistair’s shoulders. “Come, come. It’s time to make this right. So much time has been lost. Once we get your fins back, we’ll celebrate your return.”

Time. One thing he didn’t have much of if he planned to help Niera.

As his father spun him toward the door, his mother’s gentle hand on his wrist pulled his attention. She smiled, a sad but understanding motion, and nodded.

His mother understood his dilemma.

Convincing his father might be a curse of a different level.

* * *

After sendingword to the king of his return, Alistair and his father were escorted to the punishment cells deep within the ocean’s floor. The four guards brought them to a cell set away from the others. The magically reinforced iron bars contained a meek little sea fae, gray skin wrinkled beneath translucent scales. Tangles of gray hair snaked around a sunken face and milky white eyes.

The creature cackled, a bone-shuddering sound.

One of the guards knocked his gold-tipped spear against the bars. “Enough, old witch. Your time has come. You’re bound by your sworn word to reverse a curse. One you placed many years ago.”

She turned those eerie eyes on Alistair. “I’m aware of the curse, and I’m aware of my promise.” His skin bristled as she looked him over, the colorless orbs burning a trail along his body. “Is this what you wish? To be released from one curse to suffer another?”

Alistair glowered at her. “What are you talking about?”

The sea fae flipped one hand palm up, followed languidly by the other. She mimicked a scale of balance, moving her hands together, one up, one down, and then reversed them.

“You well know that if you return to the sea, you will leave her forever. But should you wish to return to her, perhaps keeping the curse intact—”