In Deeper Waters

by F.T. Lukens

And tell the gate guards to stop ringing that fucking bell!”

By the gods I'm dead lol

She huffed. “Whatever you think Emerick has done, you’re wrong. He’s not smart enough.” She tossed her hair and narrowed her eyes at Tal. “You must be the little prince. I’m surprised Zeph couldn’t wring the magic out of you. I paid her well enough, though it looks as if she didn’t finish the job.”

This bitch just admits it like that?! Yeesh

Vanessa smiled, cold and cruel. “What you couldn’t, brother. I have put us in a fine position. I’ve started a war we sorely needed to wrest control of the border mines from Mysten. And I’ve secured us a powerful ally, right, little prince?”

This bitch!!!!

you’ll be essential in our war. The war that started this morning.”

This is her war

He thrust out his other hand and, with the force of will, grabbed Vanessa and pulled her backward by her hair.

She deserves it

Garrett’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. “The boy from the derelict.” “The one you cried over?” Corrie asked, tilting her face upward. Tal winced and ran his hand down his flushed face. “How do you know about that?” “You cried over me?” Athlen knotted his hands, cheeks flushed. “Why?”

The second hand embarrassment right now...

Corrie took Athlen’s other side. “We can walk together, and while you’re visiting Kest, Isa and I can take care of your friend.” She winked at Tal, then turned to Athlen.

They're gonna interogate him. Poor guy

Kest cleared his throat. “How old is she?” His mother sighed softly, then raised her head,

No! Shay likes you!!

“Grandchildren? Hellions, more like,” Isa said,

Thank you!!

If he cannot stay, then end it. Do you understand?”

Or what if it's the other way around? What if Tal chooses to follow Athlen? Then what?

“The world isn’t kind,” Tal said as Garrett held him at arm’s length, the flames of the torch flickering from the ground, casting them both in eerie shadows. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t be.”

He's not wrong

But if you don’t want to, I’ll help you run away.

Oh???

Athlen touched a budding flower. “It’s beautiful.” “It’s yours, if you want it.”

Dat deja vu

“I know we’re young,” he blurted. “I know that we met under stressful circumstances. I know that I’m a prince and you’re a merman. But I also know that I’ve never felt this way about anyone else. I know we’re both the last, and we’ve felt alone. But we could be alone together.”

How romantic

“What was the bargain?”

That's what we all would like to know

“I pledge my life in servitude to you. I always believed in the merfolk and in you. I am the last of my crew. There is nothing left for me on land. I want to live with you in the sea.”

I do wonder if a romance can bloom out of this...

“Don’t light anything on fire, if you please,” Kest said. “Not on my wedding day, thank you.”

To Shay??

“Shay!” Isa hissed. “Will you stop? You’re ruining your train.”

Yes!!!

When Shay had returned from the border, as soon as she walked under the castle arches, Kest had dropped to a knee and proposed, giving her his ring. She’d said yes, on the condition that she continue to fight under Garrett’s command. Kest didn’t want it any other way.

I can see why. Man almost died lol

“We’re all in here,” Corrie chirped. “Even the extra ones.”

Lol. The bold and the brave!