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The Saltwater Curse by Avina St. Graves
Published by Avina St. Graves
Contact the author at [email protected]
Copyright © 2025 Avina St. Graves
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locations is entirely coincidental.
The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products, brands, and/or restaurants referenced in the work of fiction. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Editing by the Fiction Fix
Proofreading by Nessa’s Lair
Cover by Andrea Corsini
ISBN Print 978-0-473-73651-4
ISBN eBook 978-0-473-73653-8
Created with Vellum
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CONTENTS
Author’s Note
Triggers
Playlist
Playlist (Unofficial)
Prologue
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
Epilogue
Want More?
About the Author
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AUTHOR’S NOTE
To the FBI agent assigned to me,
THIS was why I was Googling all those shady things. I swear. I pinky promise I don’t have a lab at home where I’m trying to make that stuff.
Plus, half of what I wanted to know wasn’t even online, so I was left with no choice but to take liberties. If I actually made it, there’s no way it would work.
Just trust me. You can take me off that list you put me on.
Now, to whom it’s about to concern,
To avoid being placed on any more watchlists, please do not take the information contained in this book as fact. It is a work of fiction, in which a literal shape-shifting kraken exists.
If you somehow know the intricacies of mass manufacturing fake passports, I should warn you, I do not. Please know I failed high school physics, barely passed computer science, and no one on Reddit has asked this question before—that I could find.
Additionally, if you are a marine biologist, it might be in your best interest to reconsider reading this book, because I can promise you, I took a lot of ocean-related liberties. Kelp grows wherever I say kelp grows.
And as a PSA, out of respect, I am not touching on the myths, beliefs, or religions of my people. The kraken culture is entirely made-up, and any similarities with real-life religions are coincidental.
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TRIGGERS
Stretching, sex, tentacles, unconsented voyeurism, cannibalism (depends how you look at it), murder, gore, death by tentacles, shark attack (kind of?), sad animals, kidnapping, nerve issues, toxic characters, death of parents and siblings (off-screen), death of a spouse, domestic abuse not by the MMC, reference to sexual assault, trauma, PTSD, racism (by krakens toward humans).
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PLAYLIST
Angry Too - Lola Blanc
MILK OF THE SIREN - Melanie Martinez
Never Felt So Alone - Labrinth
Burn - The Pretty Reckless
Cross My Heart I Hope U Die - Meg Smith
The fruits - Paris Paloma
Which Witch - Florence + The Machine
Freak - Sub Urban, REI AMI
Wasteland - Royal & the Serpent
The Night We Met - Lord Hurton
Atlantis - Seafret
Cinnamon Girl - Lana Del Rey
To Be Alone - Hozier
Ophelia - The Lumineers
Again - Noah Cyrus ft. XXXTENTACION
Satu Bulan - Bernadya
All I Want – Kodaline
I Found - Amber Run
Romantic Homicide - d4vd
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PLAYLIST (UNOFFICIAL)
Going Under – Evanescence
Cake By The Ocean – DNCE
Waterfalls - TLC
Waves - Dean Lewis
Hoist The Colours - The Wellermen
My Heart Will Go On - Céline Dion
Rain Over Me - Pitbull, Marc Anthony
Riptide - Vance Joy
Ocean eyes - Billie Eilish
High Water - Sleep Token
Sailor Song - Gigi Perez
The Beach - The Neighbourhood
West Coast - Lana Del Rey
Wellerman - Sea Shanty - Nathan Evans
Soaked - Shy Smith
Siren - Kailee Morgue
Swim - Chase Atlantic
Waterloo - ABBA
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To those who always knew that “three-in-one” has an entirely different meaning in romance books.
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PROLOGUE
How would I sleep at night if I killed him right now?
Peacefully, I think.
I would only regret I didn’t do it sooner.
The pristine marble floor and the clean, white cupboard doors go in and out of focus. Tears trickle from the corners of my eyes, twining with the crimson trickle of blood leaking from the gash on my forehead, blazing a path onto the cold floor. If I move, he might kick me again.
It’s my fault.
I should have known better than to bring my emotions home.
Tommy is particular. He has certain expectations of his fiancée, and being upset over the third anniversary of my father’s death isn’t one of them. I should have been dolled up, head bowed, with dinner served on the table the moment he stepped through the imposing wooden door.
I should have done better.
The pain in my side is a faint ache, the bruise along my cheek a distant thought.
All I wanted was to visit the beach where I had spread his ashes, then spend the rest of the day wallowing and choking on my grief over the man who raised me.
I was foolish. I should have seen this punishment coming.
I should have known better.
If I had known the type of person Tommy really was, or what the Gallaghers were up to in the dark of night, I would’ve never applied for the job at his family’s tech company. I wouldn’t have fallen for his charming smile, nor would I have said “yes” when he pulled out a huge diamond ring, asking me—without words—to be his indentured servant. I wish I had seen through the fancy dresses and jewelry he showered me with, all the times he convinced me to stay home with him instead of seeing my friends or my dad.
