His stepmother his queen

a was

's breath on his skin. The waves rose and fell, each one like a heartbeat that echoed in h

odline, the Heart of the Abyss that kept him tethered to this endless journey.

t wha

life, his empire, and even his soul-would be lost to the sea forever. But as the storm raged a

the sea

. It had been alive long before Lucien had bee

him to tak

houghts. "Your Majesty, the cours

ics, a former ally of Lucien's father, but there was something about him that made Lucien uneasy. Ryker had alwa

ucien replied, his voice cold. "If the Hea

f course, Your Majesty. You're the k

ing sense of dread in his chest, as if the power he sought was alread

out across the churning waters. The ocean seemed to stretc

as no turni

o break the curse... is to claim the Heart. But to

ower? Was she the one who st

he bring himself to

im to the depths, to the darkness, where the Heart waited. It promis

r name," Isolde had said. "But this power... it will destroy yo

he truly control the

her fiery eyes glowing with an unsettling mix of lust and malice. She was

throaty, like the hum of the tides. "But you don

eyes. "And what woul

u realize. The Heart is not just a relic. It is alive. And if

hest growing stronger. "What do y

is always steep. The Heart demands a sacrifice. A

or a moment, Lucien felt as if the ver

cus. "I don't have time for riddles, witch. Tel

hing almost like pity in her eyes. "You will learn, Lucien Dreadmour. You

ving Lucien standing alone at the helm, th

k the curse. But with each step he took, the ocean's whispers

was just

fhan

ng Lucien off balance. From the crow's nest came a fran

ast! Three ship

el should've been able to track them

y colors," the lookout

n. Through the sheets of rain, faint silhouettes emerged-ships, blac

anished. "They'

rned shar

His eyes were locked

voice slithered across the water-lo

eart... or dr

he Heart was no longer ju

contin