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

you tell her that, dear,” Emerick said, straightening his cravat. “She intimidates me.”

“As she should,” Garrett said.

Tal leaned on the wall, Athlen snug at his side, their fingers threaded together, and he watched his family interact with one another. Months had passed since he’d stopped Vanessa’s plot and faced the sea witch. And while nothing had gone back to the normal it had been before he left the castle, he found he didn’t want it to. He and his siblings were closer than ever now that he could be his true self with them, now that they didn’t take any of their time together for granted. Any concerns Tal had had about Isa’s marriage had been resolved by the way Emerick looked at her like she’d hung the moon, and the way she would playfully swoon into his arms.

“You’d be nervous too if you were getting married,” Shay admonished Garrett, smacking him with her flowers again, petals flying everywhere.

“Hey, I was going to get married. She said no.”

The alliance with Mysten through marriage had dissolved when the bastard daughter gave a resounding no to Garrett’s proposal and eloped with her handmaiden and her fencing instructor. The alliance now hinged on an upcoming meeting between Tal and Mysten’s king. Thinking about it, Tal broke into a cold sweat.

“I heard there is a sleeping girl in a tower in the kingdom of Alemmeni waiting for a kiss.” Kest gave Garrett a cheeky grin. “Maybe you should journey there.”

“Tal? You look like you’re going to faint.” Shay whipped out a handkerchief and dabbed his forehead. “Maybe you should give your speech after the wedding.”

“I’ll be fine.”

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.

Corrie peered through the curtain and wrinkled her nose. “Everyone is restless. We should start soon.”

“Goodness!” They all turned to find their mother, Queen Carys, at the door, hand to her throat. Dressed in her finest gown, her crown positioned on her brow, her jewels glittering in the low light, she appeared a vision from a fairy tale, a beloved queen. She smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Are all my children in here when they are supposed to be other places?”

“We’re all in here,” Corrie chirped. “Even the extra ones.” She jerked her thumb to where Athlen, Emerick, and Shay stood near one another.

“Okay, everyone out save Taliesin and Kesterell.” She clapped her hands. “Come along. We have a wedding and a feast to get under way.”

The group filed out. Shay gave Kest a kiss on his cheek before whirling away in a sweep of fabric and flower petals. Garrett gave Kest a hug, slapping him on the back. He ruffled Tal’s hair on his way out as well.

“You too, Athlen,” their mother admonished gently. “And where are your boots?”

Athlen gave Tal a squeeze to his hand and a swift kiss to his mouth. “Good luck. I’ll be in the audience. Look at me if you get nervous. And remember”—he dropped his voice to a whisper—“you’re not alone.”

Tal smiled fondly, full of warmth and love. “Thank you.”

Athlen waved as he stepped through the door and began explaining to the queen how he’d misplaced his boots.

Tal sighed. He let his head knock against the stone wall.

“You ready, Tal?” Kest asked, straightening his jacket one more time.

Tal rolled his neck. He relaxed his shoulders. He was a prince of Harth. He was magic. He was loved by his family and by Athlen. He was the last mage, but he was not alone.

“Yes.”

He steeled himself with a deep breath, then pulled the curtain aside and walked into the beginning of his new life.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book exists because at some point in 2017 I thought to myself, “I wonder what it would be like to write a high fantasy fairy tale.” These acknowledgments should start with the people who told me that it was a fantastic idea even though I’d never written anything like it before. I’m eternally grateful to fellow author and National Novel Writing Month buddy Carrie Pack, and to my best friend, Kristinn, who both had utter faith that I could write this plotty romance adventure fantasy. They coaxed me along in my word count, read the finished product, and continued to encourage me throughout the process of this manuscript becoming a book. By the time this novel makes it out into the world, it will be a total of four years from inception to completion, which is a long time for anyone to have to field panicked emails about magic systems, potential titles, and nautical metaphors, which they have with more grace and patience than I probably deserve.

Next, I want to thank my agent, Eva Scalzo. Thank you, Eva, for seeing something special in this manuscript and championing it, and for being the ‘let’s talk via phone’ email that I had been striving for ever since I decided I wanted to become an author. And thank you to the team at McElderry Books, especially my editor, Kate Prosswimmer, who worked so hard to bring out all the potential in the storytelling and character arcs and made this book the best it could be. Thank you to the cover illustrator, Sam Schechter, and to the cover designers for this beautiful, beautiful cover. It really has been a dream to work with you all. Thank you for bringing Tal and Athlen’s story to the page.

I’d like to thank a group of authors who are not only my friends, but amazing colleagues, and who are my cheerleaders, beta readers, support group, confidants, and convention buddies: Julian Winters, C. B. Lee, Jude Sierra, Laura Stone, & D. L. Wainright.

I’d also like to thank the authors who run the Asheville/WNC Writers Coffeehouse—Beth Revis, Jamie Mason, Brian Rathbone, and