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

depart?” she asked, a courtesy, a chance for Vanessa to begin healing the rift between their kingdoms.

“Yes, Your Grace. I would like to express my apologies to the prince,” Vanessa said thinly, the words ground out. Her smile was more a grimace, but she inclined her head in Tal’s direction primly, deliberately.

The queen narrowed her eyes. “Very well.”

Tal descended, leaving his family at the top of the stone stairs, and the small crowd dispersed around him, the way a school of fish react to a shark. He stopped at the bottom.

“I am sorry,” she said, eyes glittering, “that I didn’t kill you myself.”

Tal was not surprised. “You’ve lost,” he said evenly. “I survived. My family survived. And we’re stronger for it.”

“Yes, you did, unfortunately,” Vanessa breathed, features twisted in a snarl reminiscent of that of her maid. Her voice dropped to the sound of a breath. “What will all these people do when they find out what you are? Do you think your mother can stop the other kingdoms when they storm in to kill you? To take you away? No. She cannot, and your magic will be your family’s downfall.”

“I’m not hiding anymore. I’m not afraid.”

“You should be. People fear what they don’t understand. Fear becomes hatred so easily.”

Vanessa wasn’t wrong. He and his family were at the beginning of a hard few months as the political landscape changed and Tal’s magic became known, but they had one another. “I have my family.”

Vanessa’s expression hardened, and her sharp gaze cut to the carriage that awaited her. “Yes, they’ve already killed for you once.” She clenched her jaw. “I’m certain they will again.”

Tal stiffened.

“I’m not usually so petty,” she said, lifting her chin. “But you took someone from me. It’s only fair I return the favor. A sister should do.”

Tal’s blood ran cold. He followed her line of sight to a turret and caught the glint of the sun on an arrow tip.

“Isa! Corrie! Get down!”

He couldn’t move fast enough. He thrust his hand out and released a blaze of fire, but he merely singed the arrow as it thrummed through the air.

Chaos erupted. Women screamed. Guards swarmed. The knights swept the queen away into the castle and tried to corral Tal, blocking his view of the stairs, where the rest of his family stood. He fought through them, pushing people aside, shouting orders until they parted, and Tal ran to the steps.

He skidded to a halt, heart seizing. Blood spattered the stone. Corrie screamed, hysterical, blood spray across her face, pinned to the ground, Athlen sprawled across her.

“He pushed me,” she sobbed. “He pushed me.”

Athlen.

Tal gained his senses and vaulted up the steps, meeting Garrett at the top. Garrett slid Corrie from beneath the limp weight of Athlen, then passed her off to a guard standing by, and they both dropped to Athlen’s side.

Tal’s world narrowed, his senses fuzzing out save for those focused on Athlen, the absolute chaos around him mere background noise. The bolt was as brittle as ash from traveling through Tal’s magic fire, smoke curling around the wooden shaft. But the head of the arrow had struck true and lodged deeply in Athlen’s chest. Blood bubbled around the wound, slowly spreading across the fabric of Athlen’s shirt. Tal’s signet ring lay in the hollow of Athlen’s throat, the gold chain coiled around his pale neck, a rivulet of blood pooled in the dip of his collarbones, staining the emerald crimson.

“No,” Tal breathed, hands fluttering over Athlen’s body splayed across the stone, limp as a doll. “No. No. No. Athlen?”

His eyes were half open but staring at nothing. Tal gripped Athlen’s hand in both of his own, pulling it to his chest.

“Athlen, please. Garrett? Do something. Can you do something?”

Garrett’s expression was grim as he tapped Athlen’s cheek with his thick, calloused fingers. “Come on,” he said. “Come back for a moment before you go to your rest.”

His words shivered down Tal’s body. Come back to say good-bye. Garrett’s words confirmed what Tal feared—it was a mortal wound. For all the magic that lived under his skin, for all the power that inhabited his body, he couldn’t defend against a single arrow, he couldn’t rewind time, he couldn’t save Athlen from bleeding out from a sharp point of metal.

Athlen blinked sluggishly, eyes roving until they settled on Tal, gaze slowly focusing.

“Tal?”

Tal squeezed Athlen’s hand. “Yes. I’m here. I’m here. Why did you do that? Why would you do that?” He brought Athlen’s knuckles to his lips, tears slipping from his eyes and cutting tracks through the blood staining Athlen’s fingers.

“For you. Your family.” He grimaced. “Had to leave anyway.” Each word was a labor, stuttering out of him in tortured gasps. “Bargain…” He trailed off, coughing, red bubbling in the crease of his lips.

These were the last moments between them, and Tal wouldn’t be plagued by their argument from that morning. He shook his head. “No. Please. Athlen. I love you. I love you. I love you.”

Athlen’s fingers spasmed in Tal’s hand. “Beloved,” he murmured. His expression twisted in pain, and his body jerked.

“Can the sea witch save you? Athlen? What should I do?”

Athlen’s eyes rolled in his head and his body went limp.

“Athlen?” Tal gasped. He shook Athlen’s shoulders. “Athlen?” Tal held his hand above Athlen’s parted lips and cried at the soft, slow puffs against his skin. “He’s breathing.”

She’ll bargain with anyone who calls her name with a desire in their heart.

“Take him to the beach.”

“Tally,” Garrett said, voice sad and full of resignation.

“No!” Tal lurched across Athlen’s body and grabbed the lapel of Garrett’s shirt in his bloodied hand. “Take him. He’s a merman, which means he is hardier and heals faster. He will survive a little longer. Take him to the closest beach, the one by the castle wall. You must! Promise me.”

Garrett’s mouth was a grim line. “I promise.”

Tal shot to standing, tense as a bowstring, desperation and grief compelling him forward. He stumbled on the stone stairs, trusting Garrett to