In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens (most motivational books txt) 📕

“We thought you were dead. That seems to be a theme. How are you alive?”

Tal disentangled from his sisters’ arms and staggered across the room to the where Athlen leaned on the wall. He took Athlen’s arm and settled it on his shoulders, wrapping his other arm around his waist.

“Questions later.” Tal waved his hand, fatigue catching up with him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept well, and he looked forward to collapsing into his bed. “We need baths and beds and rest. I should see the court physician. And I want to see Kest.”

“So demanding, Tally,” Garrett said, smiling. “We’ll wake the steward; he can get everything sorted and find Athlen his own quarters. But we can bother Kest. He’ll want to see you.”

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. “We’ll take you to Tally’s room while we wait for the steward.”

Athlen’s eyes widened. “Spitfire,” he mouthed.

“Corrie,” Tal said, rubbing his hand over his eyes. “I’m too tired for your antics and so is Athlen. He’s fragile and in pain, and I don’t want you to pester him.” Tal tightened his grip as Athlen staggered and his eyelids drooped.

“I’ll be fine. We’ve survived much worse than your nosy sister. Please go see your brother.”

“Are you sure?”

Athlen gave Tal a light push. “Yes. Go. I’ll see you when you’re done.”

Despite his misgivings, Tal left Athlen with Isa and Corrie in Tal’s quarters and followed Garrett into Kest’s bedchamber. They passed several guards along the way, all alert, all bowing their heads to Garrett, and all prepared to defend Kest.

“There are more,” Tal said as they entered Kest’s room.

“More?”

“I ran into Vanessa’s handmaiden in a tavern when she was bargaining with the mercenaries who fled the derelict. She told them she’d paid more than one assassin. They thought the death of a different prince of Harth would push Mother to war with Mysten.”

Garrett stopped in his tracks. “Tal,” he said, voice choked, grabbing Tal by the elbow. His grip was unforgiving. “You must know.… It wasn’t that we weren’t devastated and enraged. I wanted to…” Garrett took a breath. “I would have walked into Mysten with only my bare hands as weapons if I’d thought for a second it would have brought you back. You know that, right?”

Tal had never doubted his family’s love for him, not once. He might be a burden, the fourth in line for the throne, and a prince with the same magic that had destroyed the continent and his family’s legacy, but his family truly loved him.

“I know.”

“Good.” Garrett shook his shoulder. “We’ll protect Kest. We won’t allow anyone near him who means him harm.”

“I’m worried.” Tal knuckled the sleep from his eyes. “Isa was manipulated. We’ve invaded another kingdom. There are others after our family. And I’ve revealed my magic to the world after keeping it a secret for years.” Tal’s chin dropped to his chest. “I’m scared of what’s going to happen next.”

Garrett’s hand landed heavy on his shoulder. “Tally, you’re forgetting something.”

“What?”

“You don’t have to face any of these things alone. You’re home. We’re here. Whatever happens, we’ll be together.”

Tears gathered in Tal’s eyes. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you, for being a stubborn shit and surviving. Your return was the best gift I’ve ever received.” He cleared his throat. “Now, are you sure you want to see Kest? I’m not going to lie—you look like one stiff breeze could knock you over. He’ll be here in the morning.”

Shaking his head, Tal continued farther into Kest’s room. “He’ll be mad if we don’t wake him. And I can’t be the source of his despair for another day.”

Garrett sighed. “You’re right. Come along.”

Kest lay in his bed, fast asleep, dark hair spread out on the pillow. Crisp sheets covered his bare chest. Tal sat next to Kest’s hip, and Kest roused at the shift of the mattress.

“What?” His eyelids fluttered, voice heavy with sleep. “Who’s there? Garrett? If this is a prank, I swear on my feathers—”

“Kest.”

His brow furrowed. “Tally?

“Yes.”

Kest’s eyes snapped open. He shot to sitting but groaned and fell back to the nest of pillows. The coverlet slipped, revealing bandages around his ribs and a bruise that spread from his armpit to his hip.

“Hey, be careful! Don’t hurt yourself.”

“Tally,” he breathed. “Am I dead? Or is this a dream?”

Tal smiled fondly. “Neither.”

Kest’s expression didn’t ease. With a shaking hand, he slid his fingers along Tal’s cheek. “How? I watched you die.”

Tal leaned into the touch. “I didn’t. I promise you.”

“You fell. I saw you. How are you here?”

“There’s a boy who helped me. The one from the derelict. He’s also the boy from the market.”

“You didn’t tell me that!” Garrett said, gripping Kest’s bedpost.

“I haven’t had the time.”

Kest smiled. He touched Tal’s chin with his thumb. “I’m glad to see you.”

“I’m glad to see you, too. Are you okay?”

“An archer tried to shoot me from the sky this morning, but he didn’t have the best aim. Merely grazed my side.”

“Don’t listen to him. He stuck Kest like a pheasant, but our brother is an obstinate bastard.”

Kest swatted at Garrett, who danced away, laughing.

Tal’s body warmed. His brothers—he was back among his brothers. He was home.

“This belongs to you.” Kest tugged on the chain around his neck, and a gold ring slid from beneath the blankets. “They sent it with no ransom note.” Kest frowned at Tal’s signet ring, running his thumb along the line of the family’s crest. The emerald, denoting Tal’s birth month, shone in the low light. “We knew we had to find you quickly. The messages you sent helped.”

“You got them?”

“Yes. Mother was frantic when the first one arrived written in blood. The tar was a better idea.”

Tal grimaced. “Sorry.”

“Here.” Kest took off the necklace and dropped the ring into Tal’s hand. The chain pooled in his palm. “I’m glad I don’t need to