His stepmother his queen

med to grow brighter as the ships neared. The storm surged around them, a violent cacophony of

torm's fury. The sea witch was as dangerous as the legends said-perhaps even more so. A part of him wanted to run, to s

e Heart of the Abyss is calling, Lucien. The sea has chosen you-whether

voice icy with determination, "I won't let th

ommand the sea, Lucien? You are nothing but a puppet to the Heart. A puppet who doesn't even know

dow's Wake was no ordinary ship, and Lira was no ordinary foe. Magic hummed in the air, a thick, tangible presence th

orm. It was almost familiar, like a melody from a dream.

ly, the voice growing louder, more insistent. It was the Heart. T

th knowing. "It speaks to you, doesn't it? Th

in control. The storm raged on, the Crimson Serpent creaking under the pressure

t now, but you don't understand. The Heart has you, Lucien. It is a part of you-your bl

louder this time, drowning out everything else. He could feel it now, like an unbearable we

ed him-it was the sea itself. And

. He couldn't afford to let Lira-or the Heart-manipulate h

ore. Her lips parted, and for the first time, Lucien saw her true power in her eyes. Magic. Ancie

She raised her hands, and the waters beneath the Crimson Serpent began to churn

s heart racing. But the se

ves rising higher. The Crimson Serpent groaned in prot

if the violent storm didn't touch her. "You will come with me,

ll of defiance. He drew his sword with a fluid mo

ake his move, a sudde

huddered violently, and Lira staggered back, her eyes wide with surprise. Lucien didn't hesit

ds, and a barrier of water materialized before her. The sword clashed a

voice now carried a note of something far more dangerou

ter, a sound so horrifying that it shook him to his very core. The

water like a beast of the abyss. The Crimson Serpent was thrown violent

-it wasn't just the Hear

mething f

fhan

hilt of his sword. The Heart's call was no longer a whisper-it was a roar inside h

haps...

ng like a tidal wave given form, its eyes locked onto his with terrif

he deck. "We have to get out of here! That thing-it's

hallow, his muscles tense. He realized th

wasn't here t

ere to t

ien. If you answer the call-if you accept what the Heart offers-you won'

fury in his eyes. "I

oftly. "But you

sudden. The crew froze. The wind halted. Even the bea

obeyed t

stepped

ythm that mirrored his heartbeat. The beast lowered its head t

d two

ntrol the abyss-or reject it and

e air around him shimmering as th

should Lu

art's power and c

efy the sea, and fight