Her son is irresistibly charismatic though, and after a lifetime of being kicked out and disavowed, Rubem is desperate to believe in the friendship Tavish offers. She desperately wants to tear Rubem apart for the parasite before those who oppose her can do the same. Findlay, a dashing and manipulative philanthropist whose mother’s fuel company monopolizes their corrupt underwater city with an iron claw. The only person offering Rubem help is Tavish K.

The parasite itself is no better, influencing his emotions and sassing him with his own memories as it slowly takes over his body.

Rubem of No-Man’s Land was content keeping to his wine, his pets, and his extensive collection of fishnets.īut since a sentient, fuel-producing parasite bonded to his brainstem, every morally-depraved scientist and hardcore rebel for a hundred miles wants to ruthlessly dissect him. “Fungus brain.Content warnings: (from the author, edited for length, but click here for the full list ) alcoholism and drunkenness animaldeath, often violent, including cats and dogs general fantasy violence with minor fantasy gore references to feeling a parasite move inside the body of the point of view character drowning scientific experimentation/vivisection/dissection body horror. Her cheeks puff out and she shakes her head. It’s not nice that your love hurts other people.” “Hey now, I never said I approved of your actions. “You’re the only one who feels that way.”

She repeats it three times before her words finally sink in. Most people go their entire lives and never find a passion like that.” Her hands lower, and she raps out a rhythm against the center seating block. “You have something that means a lot to you. “I think it’s nice, Cacao.” She brushes her wiry curls back, tucking her feet beneath her legs. Of course you would know so much about ignits.” You say you just like rocks while wearing a rock necklace, playing with a rock, traveling through the Murk to get more rocks. “No-I-” She keeps quaking, and it finally hits me that the vibration might be laughter. I bolt upright, half-annoyed and-well, fully annoyed, and not the least bit worried that the poison in her veins might be giving her some kind of spasm again. Thais stares at me, her expression a crinkled mess. The gentle lap of the peaceful Murk water vibrates against the side of the boat, small animals romping through the trees around us. I tug my ignit out of my necklace to rub it before I sign, “I like rocks.” With a shrug, I lie out along the deck, my tail still twisted up in the driver’s seat. “How do you know this stuff?” Thais asks. Want a little taste of the book? Here’s a brief excerpt! Return to Our Bloody Pearl’s steampunk-inspired world of merfolk in this fun, fast-paced adventure with a hate-to-love romance, a boat-load of sass, and even more heart.Īnd here’s the ominous cover, designed by Laya Rose!

Once Stolen by D.N. Bryn