Maelstrom Wanderer Novels & Stories

He was completely on his own, entirely disconnected from his corporate boardrooms, and he was throwing a silent, frantic temper tantrum that would have embarrassed a toddler. With an ugly, frustrated screech, Malakai hauled himself back to his feet, trying to slick his plaster-wet hair back over his forehead. He checked his wrist out of habit, only to find that his custom, six-figure platinum watch had stopped ticking the moment Maeve’s displacement spell had warped him across the island.

He’d follow. He always had to finish what he started. “Landfall in thirty-six hours,” the captain’s voice crackled through the intercom. “Stay clear of deck during the storm.” Thirty-six hours. That was how long I had before the next country tried to name me. Before the new order decided whether I was prey or prophecy. I reached into my coat again, found Maeve’s last charm—a coin blackened by flame, carved with a sigil I didn’t recognize. It pulsed faintly, like a heart remembering itself.

Runes glowed faintly along its sides, pulsing in time with the tide. “The Tidemarch,” Maelis said. “She'll take us to Isle Nerithea, where Luminara Coast rests.” I hesitated at the edge of the dock. I'd traveled by air countless times, but this—this was different. The water stretched endlessly, alive and unpredictable. Caspian noticed immediately. “You alright?” he asked quietly. “I've never been on a ship before,” I admitted. His mouth twitched, somewhere between concern

“You’re always so considerate, Ana, so much more understanding than that girl. I messed up these past few days. I ignored how you were feeling. I’ve told her off. From now on, you don’t have to come along on our dates anymore. And tomorrow, I’ll move out for a while. That way you won’t have to cook for me when I come home, and you won’t have to watch Cherry and me together and get hurt.” So he did know I could feel hurt. He pulled me closer and added with a soft voice, “Just rest and take care of yourself at home. Once the three months are up, I’ll make it all up to you. I’ll take you to Auroria to see the auroras, like you’ve always wanted. Just the two of us.” “Okay,” I said, nestling into

"Don't move, princess. You've got some explaining to do before I decide whether to drop you back in the harbor." Maeve gasped, clutching her bruised neck, her long black hair soaked and plastered to her cheeks. She looked up at the burning warship, then at the empty harbor street where the star-metal legion had vanished, her golden eyes filled with an unbearable, hollow defeat. "I told you..." Maeve choked out, her voice trembling with an emotion that sounded terrifyingly genuine. "I told you the seal was failing... You blew up the stern... you broke the secondary stasis chambers..."

That guy is something else. The other day Mason had actually thrown something at me but he tried to keep the emotions to a minimum. It’s this really neat blanket with wolves all over. I’ve sent you a picture of it. Thank you for the pictures by the way. Hail drop looks perfect. The book I’m reading also has pictures like that but Hail drop looks a billion times better than the images. No-I-didn’t Liam _________________________________________________________________________ RESPONSE TO FROM: Hayley.Hailstorm.Anderson@Tomlinson.com

When I was five, I was always excited whenever it was time for bed. My Grandma Momma will cook our dinner. Let me brush my teeth and comb my long hair. And after that, she will put me into bed and bedtime stories will follow. She told me a lot of fantasy stories, but my favorite was the pirate of the Lost Sea named Escarial. He was the epitome of perfection. Gentleman, handsome, a knight in shining armor to most of the ladies in their land, and most of all, he caught the heart of the brave princess, Athalia.

The whole place had a pulse of excitement and anticipation. The tailors gave me the clothes for tonight. It is a three-piece suit made from wool that matches our eye color, blue, and silver. They embroidered the sleeves with symbols of our pack, the triskele. “Alarick!” I shouted as a lot of werewolves also occupied the tavern. “Ylva’s looking for you.” Alarick nodded and went in my direction. He looks like a busy merchant trying to greet all his emptor. “Let her be. She knows her way around.”

Their clean clothes, scars, and aura of bullishness were a stark contrast to the rest of the pack that appeared downtrodden and neglected, their malnourished forms and haunted expressions painting a grim picture of their plight. Mason's unimpressed gaze swept over the gathered pack until it landed on Mia, standing by Arlo and Kali. "If it isn't the pack toy," Mason sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Now make yourself useful. How many warriors were in the pack you came from, and how many able-bodied?" Mia bristled at the offensive remark but remained composed, her chin held high as she considered Mason's question. It was becoming all too familiar, the warlock's penchant for cruelty a

"Those jellyfish usually sting the moment anyone gets close. Why are they so obedient in his hands?" I did not explain. I simply looked at the interface that appeared from the system. [Tamed Creatures: Glowing Jellyfish x15] [Status: Docile / Illuminating] "Everybody move." A rough voice cut through the murmurs. Captain Graham White, the leader of the small fleet, strode over with half an unlit cigarette clenched between his teeth. He looked me up and down. "Finn, did you awaken some kind of special ability?" After the tsunami, ninety-five percent of Earth's land had been swallowed by the sea. Seawater had become Calamity Water.