In Deeper Waters F.T. Lukens (acx book reading txt) 📖

Athlen’s smile was like the sun breaking out between clouds. “You’re not afraid?”

“Afraid?” Tal’s heart beat like a jackrabbit, and his palms went slick with sweat. His body’s reactions were akin to those when the sailor had him pinned that morning, but in a wholly different context. It was wonder and awe at being someone Athlen trusted with such a paradigm-altering secret. It was the explosion of possibilities he might find in the world now that a fairy tale had come to life before his eyes. “No, I don’t think I could be afraid of you.” Only of everything else, Tal thought, the memory of Athlen diving over the side of the ship still a wrench to his gut.

“I wanted to tell you,” Athlen said. “But those men kept me in chains, then left me to die. Your brother acted the same, like he was set on keeping me, and I knew it would be worse if he knew what I was.”

Tal blinked, remembering those moments in the hold when Athlen had touched him, pleaded with him, invoked Tal’s promise on the condition of providing information to Garrett. It had all been an act. Tal frowned, angry and embarrassed at how easily Athlen had manipulated him. “You… you tricked me.”

“A little,” Athlen admitted. “I couldn’t transform fully with that fetter on my ankle. I needed it off.”

Tal swallowed hard, then dropped his voice to barely above a whisper. “You told me my magic was wonderful, and you kissed my palm.” Tal pressed that same hand to his chest, where a pang of hurt lanced through him. “You told me you weren’t afraid of me.”

Athlen surged upward and pointed a webbed finger at Tal. “That was true!” he said, voice firm. “Tal, I wasn’t afraid of you because of your magic. And I do think you’re wonderful. That’s the truth.”

Tal didn’t know what to say. A wave of emotions swirled within him, but the one that floated to the surface was joy that Athlen thought he was wonderful.

“I’m sorry.” Athlen ducked his head and dropped his shoulders under the water, his chin submerged. “I really am. But I didn’t know you or your brother, and I saw a chance to escape. I took it.”

Tal couldn’t blame Athlen for his trickery, not when he saw his own insecurities echoed in the anxious curve of Athlen’s spine. They shared a similar burden, a secret that marked them as different, and Tal empathized with Athlen’s fear of not knowing how others would react if that secret was revealed. He crossed the small space and settled on the edge of the shelf, marveling as the moonlight played over Athlen’s scales. Tentatively, he reached out and touched the back of Athlen’s hand, offering comfort the best he could. “I understand.”

“Thank you for saving me.”

“Thank you for not being afraid of me.”

Athlen’s grin returned, his lips tipping up at the corners. “You’re welcome.”

“As are you,” Tal said with a nod. “So those mercenaries…”

Athlen frowned and rubbed a webbed finger over the bridge of his nose. “I made a mistake that gave them the opportunity to capture me. They kept me in irons while in both forms, chaining me to either the anchor or the cabin floor. There was never an opportunity to escape, so I finally did as they asked and retrieved the chest of gold in the hopes that it would earn my freedom. But they never had any intention of letting me go. When I felt the squall coming, I tried to warn them that it was beyond their skill to weather, but they didn’t trust me. Very few of them were practiced sailors, and those few were the only ones who survived. The others were swept away.”

All of Tal’s residual upset feelings vanished with Athlen’s confession. He ached to wrap Athlen in a hug, to protect him from all the ills of the world. “Athlen—” he said, voice soft.

“I’m fine,” Athlen cut him off. “Really, I am.” He sniffed, rubbed his hand over his eyes, then flashed Tal a grin and a wink. “Promise.”

“Okay.” Tal didn’t believe him but knew not to press. “Since you’re the first and only merman I’ve ever met, I have questions.”

Athlen spread his arms, showing off his fins and his gills. “Ask away. I’m an open book.”

Tal spied another jewel amid the piles of trinkets. “What happened to your sister? Why do you need a memento to remind you of her tail?”

Athlen’s expression shuttered. He wrapped his arms around his torso. “Several years ago the seafloor shifted, and I was separated from my family in the commotion. I went to where I knew they might rebuild if they’d survived the shift, but they weren’t there.” His eyelashes fluttered against his cheeks. “I’ve looked for a long time, but I haven’t found them.”

Tal bit his lip. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“I haven’t given up. I’m certain they’re looking for me, too, and they’ll answer my call one day. Until then…” Athlen cocked a small smile and spread out his hands.

Tal’s lip twitched up at the corner.

“So”—Athlen propped his head on his hands—“I’ve shared secrets with you. Now it’s your turn.”

Tal dangled his feet in the water, the flicker of amusement leaving him in a swell of anxiety. “Here’s my secret.”

He opened his palm and flames licked over his fingers. Brow furrowed, Tal concentrated the flames into a ball and willed it up and up and up until it hovered in the arch of the ceiling and cast flickering light along the carved walls of the cave.

“Magic,” Athlen said with a smile. “You’ve shown me before.”

“Yes, but there’s more.”

“More?” Athlen asked, eyebrows raising.

Tal nodded. “You might not know our… land folk history, but my great-grandfather was the last powerful mage of our kingdom… of all the kingdoms. He… he thought it was his destiny to conquer the entirety of our continent. He waged war on anyone who stood in his way. He hurt thousands of people, and his legacy is my