A Rising Tide – Haley J Munroe

My heart is a death knell in my ears, and I sprint forward, my eyes struggling to adjust to the dim lighting. But even if my eyes were closed, I’d know the way to the dungeon. I round a corner in the hall, my boots steady on the slick floor, and fling myself down the corridor. Somewhere behind me, a door opens, and shouts ring out—the guards.

But I keep my gaze steady, pumping my arms. Guilt gnaws at my chest, stinging and aching. If they get a hold of Kressa, her fate would be far worse than mine. But we both have responsibilities that go far beyond what we want. And she’s willing to kill me for hers. Footsteps echo off the walls, but they grow distant—heading in the opposite direction.

Sweat gathers at my nape, and a steep set of stairs branch off to the left. I throw myself down, taking the steps two at a time, clutching the railing as the lanterns cast a dim glow over the marble The air grows thicker, damper, and the staircase levels out at a landing. The tread on my boots slips over the stone, but I hold myself upright and sprint toward the dungeon.

It’s likely the guards didn’t recognize me—given my short hair and the hat shielding the better half of my face. But that means they’d only be quicker to kill me. At this point, I wouldn’t be a valuable prisoner. I slow, scanning the wall for a doorway. It was rare I frequented this part of the castle, but in the early years I mapped out the pathways, just in case.

Firelight glints against metal, and a handle juts from a narrow wooden door. I wrap my hand around it and ease it open. Through the hairline gap, two guards stand on either side of the dungeon doors with twin blades strapped over their shoulders. I hold my breath, flexing my hands against the rhodium gloves. My fingers dance over the hilt of the dagger Kressa gave me, and I pull it from the sheathe.

I can’t risk taking off my gloves, and I don’t have Gemma’s glamour to help me. But it wouldn’t be the first time I took down two guards on my own. My pulse races in my ears. Adjusting the blade in my grip, I ease the door open, silently, and⁠— The castle trembles. Small rocks and debris fall from the ceiling, and I slink back into the shadows as the guards exchange a look.

A shout comes from somewhere in the distance, and a chill snakes over my body. Kressa. She must be using her power.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. No parts of this work were made with AI. Copyright © 2026 by Haley J Munroe All rights reserved. Cover design by Maria Spada The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected].

Thank you for your support of the author’s rights. First edition: March 2026 No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. ISBNs: 979-8994459522 (ebook) 1kitap1.com/en for my mudbug, kelsey 1kitap1.com/en CONTENT WARNING Content warnings include: Death/grief Suicide ideation Sex Physical and emotional abuse Alcohol use Violence Swearing Blood/injuries Loss of a mother Your mental health is important to me.

If you have any questions regarding the content of this book, don’t hesitate to reach out on Instagram (@haleyjmunroe). 1kitap1.com/en CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Acknowledgments About the Author 1kitap1.com/en W 1 aves crest against the hull of the ship, the foamed tips tapping against the windowsill like fingers.

There’s nothing but a sheet of glass separating me from my home, yet we might as well be worlds apart. I shift on the small cot and reach for the window, but the rhodium cuff yanks my arm back. Gritting my teeth, I press forward, the metal digging into my skin, and the icy chill of the glass radiates against the pad of my fingers—yet not close enough to touch.

An ache spreads across my chest, and as I drop my arm, the chain rattles against the wall. I’ve had my power back for little more than a day, and here it is, already stifled. I turn toward Kressa. “Prisoner?” She paces to the other side of the captain’s quarters and stops in front of a map strung to the wall.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: 138802bd6245f68a
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 4,776,383 bytes (4.555 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• ISBN: 9798994459522
• Pages: 375
• Language: English (en)

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• Estimated Reading Time: 608.19 minutes
• Total Words: 121,638
• Total Characters: 650,299
• Average Words per Page: 324.37
• Average Characters per Page: 1734.13

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