Beyond The Blue

But more often, it shows how muc

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th Merbel's

iffface cave. But pain blossomed-spreading upward through her bones like fire up a tree. She shrieked a

al," sh

is expression already transforming

urns. Inside. Like s

but from inside her. Her shoulders twitched and her jaw

manded, taking her gaze. "Ha

her head

claws. The shadows clung to her skin, dark and moist. Gills slit open

t pounding. This was no mer

sea and earth magics struggled for dominance. It skipped generations now and then. Now and th

on old cadences. His hands danced a liquid rhythm. A so

ng ago to calm

into the air. He moved closer. Her eyes were wild now-bl

st

rhythm of the ocean's pulse, in the warmth of his magic. The sna

u are not your blood. You are

ed from her

ll int

le-fingers shortening, gills closing, skin warming up. The wo

she whispered i

" he said. "The mo

ce reclaimed the cave. Out

d after a time. "You knew th

end, I suspected. When the gull healed under your hands, I knew. You ca

eyes. "I was go

You were lost. B

. "What if next

, gently. "Then I'll return you. Over

e sound of breathing, of

hy did you leave y

rew thicker.

y because I saw what the Deep Court did to those who doubted them. My brother, Edrik, once told me doubt was the fir

m. "You were not the only on

their hands sought each other's. Flesh on

e with me?"

tide forget

on their skin, the ocean singing lullabies older than w

over her damp skin. Anacobal slept beside

y was brushed with soft hues, the sun barely rising abov

tugging at her hair. She closed her eyes, li

s to see a form emerging from the water-a woman

the woman

Merbel asked, s

the Deep Court," the woman repl

was pounding.

ur awakening Moonblood has not gone unnoti

lenched. "I didn

choose what to do with it. The tides are r

ight of destiny pressing down upo

"Then prepare yourself.

bel was left alone on the cliff, the wind whi

s ablaze with resolve. Anacobal s

ppened?"

said. "The sea is callin

out at the horizon, ready to fac

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