More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
His dark hair tangled and fell into his eyes, and he brushed it away only for the wind to push it back.
Tal's desc.
“We won’t hurt you,” Tal blurted.
Lol. The second hand embarassment
“And can you make that promise?” Athlen asked. “Or”—he pointed to Garrett—“are those his decisions to make?”
Damn. Called out
“It’s all right, Tally. Mother warned me it might be unpredictable, but”—he lifted his gaze and looked around the deck—“keep it a secret. You know what could happen if you don’t.”
Oh??
all the training he’d endured over the last several years to keep it a secret.
What’s with the magic and having to hide it??
Not Tal, last mage of the royal line.
Huh
“Why were you on the ship? What was your purpose?”
You can’t be serious…
With a furrowed brow, he ran the calloused pads of his fingertips over the smooth skin between Tal’s fingers and along the underside of his wrist, his touch unusually cool. No one had touched Tal like this before, with impropriety and wonder, not even his family, and his heart pounded in his ears. Athlen lifted Tal’s hand closer, his breath warm and rhythmic on Tal’s skin, before he pressed a kiss to the palm.
Shipping hard which might happen sooner. Will they last and run away together??
“Tal, huh?” Garrett said. Tal covered his face with both hands. “Could you not?”
lol. Such a sibling thing
The sun illuminated his exposed skin, and he appeared preternatural, like a gleaming marble statue marking the entrance to an inlet, with the sky as its backdrop and the ocean at its feet. And for a moment Tal swore he saw a flash of red shimmer over Athlen’s body, as if it were reflecting the sunset.
Probably merfolk
“Thank you, Tal,” he said. Then he ran.
To where?!
“I don’t understand.” Garrett shook his head sadly. “I hope you never do.”
I need an explanation. Did he take himself out??
Garrett nodded. “I’m glad it was you,” he said, “who received the gift. If it was to come down in our line again, after Great-Grandfather, I’m glad it was you.”
Why? Normally family, especially siblings would be jealous of the other…
“I’m glad it’s you because you are a good person. You can be a little shit sometimes, but out of the five of us, you have the softest heart. It’s a good attribute to have when wielding so much power.”
Ah. Okay then
If, somehow, he had managed to survive, there would be no logical way for him to have arrived at the port before the War Bird.
Or is there? lol
The merchant’s eyes sparkled with greed.
So he does know. This snake!!
“I’m sorry,” Athlen said. “I didn’t know you’d be upset. No one has been upset before.”
My guy what do you mean?! It traumatized Tal!
Her gaze flickered to where Athlen gripped his hand, and the corners of her lips ticked down. Calmly she grabbed a fistful of Athlen’s large shirt and pulled him toward her. Athlen stumbled forward, and she slid smoothly between them, staking a claim.
The competition. Jealous much??
Athlen, who was oblivious, waved in Tal’s general direction. “He’s a prince. Oh, and he’s the one who saved me from the bad people.”
The casualty lol
Tally spent the afternoon with a boy?” Garrett asked, grinning widely. “Alone?”
His brother… or family know??
No. He’d had that talk. His tutor had given it to him, and then Kest had expounded on it and… it was mortifying.
Oh gods!! That is mortifying
Garrett’s eyebrows shot up. “Did you want something to happen?”
The gods can’t save us now. How mortifying!
“It was something,” Shay said, stepping forward, blush high on her cheeks. “Hello, Prince Kesterell.”
She has a crush on him??
Disentangling from Tal, Kest straightened his robe and tightened the knot. A love-sick blush spread across the bridge of his nose.
Oooohhh???
That one looks like my sister’s tail.”
Oh??
Athlen with his arms crossed on the low shelf, his long red-and-gold tail arched behind him.
Finally! The reveal!!
Even in his shock Tal couldn’t deny Athlen’s shape was beautiful. His fins floated long and delicate, gossamer thin as they swished in the shallow water. Tal had noticed before that Athlen’s shoulders were broad, but propped up as he was, Tal could see the carved muscles of his upper body. His torso was strong from swimming, and it tapered down to his hips, where his skin fused with scales below the line of his navel. Athlen rolled to his back in the pool and put his webbed hands behind his head, showing Tal the marks along his ribs—his gills, which lay closed.
Eyeballing your mans with no shame!!
“You’re magic. I thought you’d understand, since you’re the last too. Alone.”
This hurts
But Tal was the only one with magic burning in his gut that could melt sand. How could he have let himself be taken?
Because he didn’t want to expose himself
“Convenient that the wedding was planned for the same time.”
Right?? There could be more to it…
He should’ve kissed Athlen in the cave.
He should’ve
Tal closed his eyes and sank back against the bulkhead. “I just want to go home. But if I can’t, I’d at least like to know where I am when I die.” “We’re in the Morreline Sea.”
Damn. Hook, line, and sinker. I wonder if she’s lying…
Her crush wasn’t a secret to anyone except maybe the queen.
How would she be so oblivious?
She’d known about Tal even before he told her that he was attracted to the athletic squires and the beautiful ladies of the court and those who identified somewhere between. She’d merely smiled and cupped his reddened cheeks in her jeweled fingers and told him he was fortunate to have so many people to choose from for his potential spouse—when and if he wanted one. And whoever he did choose would be lucky to have him.
Awww. How fortunate
“The missing prince! Athlen! What have you done? Did you kidnap him?”
I wouldn’t put it past him lol
“I didn’t.”
We all know you didn’t lol
“Don’t be.” Athlen held him tighter. “Don’t be. I was waiting for it to happen.”
What?? Explain...
“Maybe next time I’ll have someone.”
Aww. Ya'll keep beating around the bush. Just kiss!!
“You’re officially dead.”
That’s helpful lol
“Your sister… is married.”
Shit. Now to figure out how to take him out!!
Athlen’s face went pale save for a splash of red on his cheeks. “You’ll abandon me, then?”
Oh he went there. Does this also have to do with the deal and the sea witch?
“Something I thought I would never find.”
Oh??
Closing the scant distance between them, Tal tilted his head.
Finally!!!!
“Your scary bodyguard was at the head of the line.”
This is news
“Kest blames himself for leaving you there. You know how he has bouts of melancholy, but now he’s inconsolable.
I can imagine
When you move on in the morning, you will leave a horse behind, a fast and sturdy steed, tied to a tree with a saddle and supplies.
Ride aquired I guess
She reached into a purse at her hip and flipped a coin toward them. Tal caught it, the cool edge of the gold biting into his palm. He smirked. “Thank you, milady.”
Leaving evidence like that! Dumb
The third took off running into the night, and Tal let him, concerned only with the two twitching in the mud.
You shouldn't have done that
“In his quarters.”
Ummm check to see if he's still awake
Emerick’s mouth opened, then shut. His face turned red, and he pointed a shaking finger at Tal. “How dare you? These are baseless accusations! This is ridiculous! Where did you come up with these… these… lies?”
This dumbass!!
