Free The Selkie Sorceress (Seal Island Trilogy, Book 3) by Sophie Moss

they want to play boys against girls, we should give them a head start.”
    Kelsey giggled, her blond hair flying out behind her. Owen’s sneakers slapped against the pavement, and she glanced over her shoulder, hesitating for a split-second as the ball sailed back toward her.
    “Kelsey!” Ashling shouted, but Owen knocked it away and it flew over the edge of the cliff.
    “Oh, no,” Kelsey groaned. They hurried over to the stone wall and spotted the ball in the water, the waves already pulling it out to sea. “Come on,” she said, slipping through a gap in the wall and starting down the path. “My dad will kill me if we lose another ball.”
    Ashling trotted after her and Owen hung his head.
    “Nice one, Fishboy,” Ronan muttered, pushing past him and following the girls down the trail. “Maybe you could kick the ball in the right direction if your toes weren’t webbed.”
    “Shut up, Ronan,” Kelsey shouted over her shoulder. “I heard that.”
    Ronan glared at her. “It’s not my fault I’m stuck with a teammate who’d rather read fairy tale books for girls than learn to play football.”
    “Hey,” Kelsey snapped, turning. “Knock it off.”
    Ashling screamed, pointing at the beach. “What is that ?”
    Owen’s gaze fell to the shoreline and his eyes went wide. Dozens of fish—tails twitching, silver scales glinting in the sunlight—flopped in the sand, gasping for air. Owen rushed down the path, pushing past the others. His feet slipped in the sand and he kicked off his shoes, racing toward the fish.
    “Don’t touch them!” Ashling yelled.
    Owen scooped as many as he could into his arms and raced to the water. “We have to save them!”
    “Ewww,” Ashling whined, backing away and scampering back up the path. “I’m getting my mum.”
    Kelsey ran to help Owen while Ronan waded into the water and grabbed the ball. Hooking it under his arm, he sneered at Owen as he sauntered back to the cliff path. “Have fun, Fishboy.”
    Owen ignored him, sprinting back to the fish. Kelsey grabbed two and three at a time, tossing them into the water as fast as she could. When they’d cleared the beach, Owen sank to the wet sand at the edge of the surf. He held his breath as the last few fish darted away.
    Kelsey sat down beside him. They both reeked of fish and her palms were nicked from the fins. She dipped them in the water, frowning as she washed off the slime. “The ocean’s hot.”
    “Do you think it’s too hot for the fish?”
    “I don’t know. I don’t remember it ever being this hot before, even in the summer.”
    Owen picked up a black rock with little holes in it. Through the eerie yellow haze, he could see the passenger ferry motoring slowly toward the harbor. He wondered if Sam was on it again, bringing back another clue. “Did you know they found our grandmother’s pelt?”
    Kelsey nodded. “I heard my mum and dad talking about it last night, after they thought I’d gone to bed.”
    “Me too.” Owen lowered the rock, scratching grooves into the wet sand.
    Kelsey sat back, drying her hands on her shirt. “Do you think she’s still alive?”
    “I don’t know.” The ocean lapped up, leaving a spray of foam at their feet. Sandpipers chased the receding wave, pecking at air bubbles for insects. “Kelsey?”
    Kelsey scooped up a handful of sea foam, holding it up to her mouth and blowing it back out into the waves. “Yes?”
    Owen looked down at his bare feet, at the thin translucent webbing between his toes. “Do you think fairy tales are only for girls?”
    “Of course, not,” Kelsey snapped. “Ronan’s a jerk.” She stood, glaring up at the village where Ronan was kicking the ball against the wall. “And a coward!”
     

     
    SLICES OF SUNLIGHT pierced the surface of the ocean, illuminating the kingdom of green. Nuala swam south, leaving the glittering spires and gates far behind. Her fins propelled her deeper, into the darkness. Sharp jagged rocks rose up from the sea