Arthur Pendragon has always been the golden son—the one destined to inherit his father’s legacy, ace his college entrance exams, and step seamlessly into the future chosen for him.
But perfection is exhausting.
The summer after graduation was supposed to be simple: study, succeed, and secure the life waiting for him. Instead, Arthur is trapped beneath expectations he’s no longer strong enough to carry.
Desperate for escape, he clings to the last summer he has with Merlin, Lancelot, Morgana, and Guinevere—the friends who see past the polished façade to the boy quietly falling apart. Late nights blur into confessions, old wounds reopen, and Arthur finds himself drawn toward a love that feels both safe and terrifyingly fragile.
But pressure doesn’t disappear just because you pretend to be okay. As self-destructive habits resurface, Arthur begins to unravel in ways he can’t hide. This may be the summer that either breaks him completely or teaches him how to live on his own terms.
Some legends begin with a crown.
Arthur’s begins when he decides to put it down
Short author bio
S. L. McGinnis writes dark fantasy about dangerous magic, emotional damage, questionable life choices, and characters who desperately need therapy but instead choose violence. When she’s not tormenting fictional people, she’s teaching, writing far past reasonable bedtime hours, and convincing herself that just one more chapter is a responsible decision. She believes stories are where grief, hope, and second chances collide—and occasionally explode. Residing in East Texas with a multitude of dogs and her lovely wife, S. L. McGinnis enjoys every second of her life.
More links:
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@s.l.mcginnis
Substack:
https://open.substack.com/pub/slmcginnis?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=6j0ok3
