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

Without hesitation Tal cracked a whip of fire that sizzled and sparked. He caught her by the back leg and yanked her off course. She screamed, writhing, but Tal held fast.

He fell to his knees, grunting as his bones banged on the stone.

The doors from the royal household chambers wrenched open, and his mother barged in, a picture of fury in a brocade gown. She was followed by knights, with his little sister, Corrie, right behind them.

She surveyed the scene, sharp gaze settling on Vanessa and Emerick, both in the grip of castle soldiers, and the growling, snapping cat wrapped in a rope of fire. The scent of burned fur filled the room, and the queen wrinkled her nose.

“Detain them all!” she shouted, arm sweeping regally over the scene. “Lock the siblings in the guest quarters under heavy guard.” She pointed to the cat, whose struggles had weakened but who still swiped her massive paws at anyone who dared venture close. “Kill it or throw it in the dungeons.”

Tal jerked on the cord of magic binding the cat, and she shrieked. In a ripple of skin and fur and a cascade of sparks, she transformed back to her human form, and Tal immediately released her. Glaring at Tal, she lay on the floor, on her hands and knees, dark hair draped over her naked body. Garrett tossed a cloak over her, and she clutched it to her as the knights surrounded her and dragged her to the dungeons.

The rest of the guards easily subdued Emerick and Vanessa, escorting them to the guest wing, swords and spears aimed at them. Emerick pleaded with Isa. And Isa, with arms crossed over her chest, agony written in her features, turned away, red braid swinging. Vanessa remained stone-faced despite the cruel curl of her lip, and with head high, she peered down her nose at Tal as she strode past.

“You lost, little prince,” she sneered. “The war has started, and your magic is at the mercy of Ossetia.”

Shaking with fatigue and rage, Tal stood and faced her from the other side of a cross of spears. “I’ll die before I let anyone use my magic for war.”

“A bold claim, but as you’ve proven, you’re exceptionally hard to kill.”

“Enough,” the queen snapped. “Take her away until I can deal with her and him,” she said, indicating the wrecked Emerick. “Thank goodness they finally silenced that blasted bell. The whole kingdom doesn’t need to know what happened here tonight until we’re ready to tell them.”

Once the hall had cleared and all that remained were Tal’s family and Athlen, the queen’s visage softened, and she crossed the floor in a flurry of skirts. She cupped Tal’s face in her hands and stared at him with rapidly filling eyes.

“My son,” she said, voice trembling, her thumb smoothing over the line of his cheek. “My son. You’re alive.”

“Kest,” Tal said. “Is he…? Did they…?”

Her face shadowed. “They tried,” she said. “But your brother is strong. He’s resting under guard.”

“But the war—”

“Shh, my son,” she said, touching her forehead to his. “Let me see you first. I thought you were gone.”

Tal leaned into her touch, eyes closing at the gentleness of her hands, her familiar fragrance washing over him.

“I’m here,” he said.

“How?”

Tal opened his eyes and smiled. He pointed to where Athlen had slid down the wall, sitting on his haunches. Athlen looked as tired as Tal felt, his eyes sunken, his skin pale, his cheeks hollow. Tal’s stomach fluttered as Athlen raised his weary gaze and gave Tal a small, fond smile.

“Him.” Tal placed a hand over his heart. “Athlen saved me. And there was a village girl, Dara, who healed me.”

“I owe them both my gratitude.”

“As do I.”

His mother smiled and kissed Tal’s forehead. “I’m so very happy you’re home, my son. But your entrance has stirred a hornet’s nest. You accused another royal house of treason against our family. Not to mention the display of forbidden magic.”

“She was going to ram me,” Garrett said, coming behind Tal and resting his hand on Tal’s shoulder. “His magic saved me. He saved me.”

Tal gulped. “I’m sorry. It was the only way I could—”

“Hush now.” She lifted his chin with her finger. “I’m so proud that you have come into your own. But we will have much to discuss in the morning. For now you need to refresh and rest. And I need to send messages to our borders immediately and stop a war.” She squeezed his hands. “I’m certain your siblings want to talk to you as well.”

Garrett, Corrie, and Isa took her words as permission to crowd him. Corrie’s hug punched the air from Tal’s lungs, her arms wrapping around his torso in a vise, squeezing him until his ribs creaked. Garrett slapped his back, almost toppling him, and Isa grabbed him around his shoulders and kissed his cheek.

His mother smiled, then turned on her heel, waving at her own guards a few steps away to follow her, and disappeared through the doors leading back to the royal chambers.

“I didn’t know,” Isa whispered, tears glistening. “I didn’t know. I should’ve known. If I had, I would have killed him in our marriage bed for what he’s done to you and what he tried to do to Kest. This is my fault. I was the one who—”

Tal shook his head. “No, Isa. Please. Don’t.”

“Tally,” Garrett said, wiping his eyes. “Kest saw you fall overboard. We searched for you until we almost drowned. How are you alive?”

“Athlen.” Tal gestured to him. “He saved me. He pulled me from the waves.”

Athlen leveraged to standing, using the wall. His legs trembled. He lifted a hand in a wave. “Hi.”

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?”

“You jumped off the stern.” Garrett crossed his arms.