In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens (best business books of all time txt) 📗

barked a laugh. “And we know how steadfast the promises of royalty are.”

Athlen frowned, his expression crumpling into disappointment. “Dara… I don’t understand why you’re being unfair to me and Tal.”

“You wouldn’t. But trust me when I tell you that the ruling family of Harth cares little about their people.”

“That’s not true!” Tal’s voice rose in indignation. “My sister is about to marry to form an alliance with another kingdom to help our people. My brother sails most of the year, protecting the merchant ships, to ensure our kingdom’s prosperity. My mother has done everything she can to repair our relationships with other kingdoms to keep us from war.”

Dara pursed her lips. “Fair enough. But when was the last time any of your family talked with a farmer about his struggles? Or a merchant about taxes? Or a tradesman? Your family is so worried about our relationships with other kingdoms, you’ve forgotten your own people in the process.”

Tal clenched his jaw. “My mother and siblings are doing the best they can.”

“Maybe they are. But what about you?”

That brought Tal up short.

A wet, rattling cough from the other room broke the gathering tension. Dara returned to making tea and turned her back on the pair of them.

“As much as I would love to continue this lively debate, Your Highness, I do have to attend to my mother.”

Tal knew a social cue when he heard one, despite what Garrett said. He gave a small bow. “I’m glad Athlen was able to get what she needed. I’ll be on my way.” Far bolder than he felt, he reached for Athlen’s hand. “Come along, Athlen.”

Athlen brushed away his outstretched hand and stepped into Tal’s space without a thought. Tal’s breath caught at the invasion. He cast a glance over Athlen’s shoulder, and Dara pretended to be busy behind him, but Tal didn’t believe for a moment she wasn’t listening.

“I can’t leave.”

“You said you’d answer my brother’s questions.”

“I never said that. You just assumed I agreed.”

Tal furrowed his brow, and hurt lanced through him like an open wound. “I thought you died. I thought I freed you by mistake and that…” He swallowed around a tight throat. “I owe my brother.”

“Oh, Tal,” Athlen said, dipping his head. “I’m sorry. I can’t come with you now.”

“But—”

Athlen leaned in close. He smiled, impish and beautiful, eyes sparkling. “Thank you, my prince, for everything. I will repay you.”

There was but a scant inch between them, and Tal’s magic shuddered. His skin prickled with the want to be touched, straining toward Athlen’s heat in a way he’d not experienced before. This close, he smelled the sea on Athlen’s skin and could trace the constellation of freckles on Athlen’s nose and cheeks.

“That’s not necessary,” he said, voice rough and strained.

“I know, but I will.” Athlen’s voice took on a deeper tone, and there was substance to his words, a physical quality Tal could compare only to an incantation, like the one Tal had made on the derelict.

Tal’s heart thumped hard when Athlen met his gaze, the playfulness gone, replaced with a somber appreciation. He nodded, and a shiver raced down Tal’s spine, as if a cold wave had splashed over him while he stood on the warm, sun-bleached shore. The weight of the moment meant something. Tal didn’t know what, but red and gold rippled over Athlen’s skin.

It was a pact, a promise, a declaration of intent, as if Tal had been folded into Athlen’s inner circle. He likened it to the feeling of his family, when they all were together and happy, but that didn’t make sense. He’d met Athlen only twice, and each time Tal had been inexplicably drawn to him. Maybe it had to do with the secret he obviously kept. A secret that only Dara and a missing captain of a ghostly derelict knew. And one of them had hurt him.

Tal took an unsteady step backward, and Athlen reached out and tugged on the cuff of Tal’s sleeve.

“I will,” he said again. “I will find you and answer all your questions. But not today.”

Then he cocked his head to the side and smiled, wide and happy. His brown eyes caught the high sunlight, sparking amber, and he let Tal go.

“Good-bye, Tal.”

Tal nodded, turned on his heel, and walked out. As Athlen closed the door, Dara instructed him to burn the root while she made the tea. Their voices faded behind him as Tal fumbled his way to the main street, Athlen’s declaration echoing in the hollow of his chest.

He had no doubt he’d see Athlen again.

3

Tally spent the afternoon with a boy?” Garrett asked, grinning widely. “Alone?”

“I was in the market,” Tal grumbled. “There were hundreds of people around.”

Shay laughed, her head thrown back, brown eyes creased shut. She nudged Tal with her shoulder. “Nice try. You sneaked away and shook me.” She punched his arm. “I can’t believe you had it in you.”

Tal rubbed his arm and mouthed an expletive. Shay chuckled, then took a bite of bread.

After leaving Athlen with Dara, Tal had followed the sound of the sea back to the market, where Shay was waiting for him. Her relief at finding him outweighed her anger, and when Tal explained where he’d been, her relief gave away to amusement. Escorting him back to the ship, Shay teased him the entire way and wouldn’t listen to Tal’s pleas not to tell Garrett. She spilled the whole story as soon as they stepped into Garrett’s captain’s quarters.

Garrett looked entirely too pleased about everything, and Tal buried his face in his hands, elbows propped up on the roughhewn table in front of them. The ship rocked gently at the dock, Tal’s soup rippling with the waves.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Garrett leered. “Do we need to have a talk about it?”

“No!” Tal wanted to sink into the floor. No. He’d had that talk. His tutor had given it to him, and then Kest had expounded on it and… it was