Spoilers!

As an author trying to compose a history of my fantasy universe, I keep finding myself struggling with the fine line between foreshadowing and spoiling the ending. I originally intended to keep my steampunk stories set before Resurrected Thief to help prevent that. Esther's origins are not the most helpful in doing so, but I haven't given away any major secrets yet. But as I keep coming up with new ideas, I'm teased by the idea of writing more outside of Bryan and Esther.

I am working on a submission for an anthology exploring the difficulties between human and inhuman relationships. My Muse shouts "This is perfect for Riley Cooper and Nerina!" Slight pause for a history lesson: Riley and Nerina were the characters of the short story that first birthed this fantasy universe. He's a struggling constable and she's a mermaid living in the Thames. Eventually, that short story turned into Volume Two of the Hunter's series. Despite the demotion to side characters helping Bryan and Esther, I still adore those two. I always planned on writing more with just them...but perhaps after the book was actually finished. The Muse doesn't seem to care about that anymore.

The plot I have in mind will take place several months after Book Two. It has no spoilers other than Cooper and Nerina are together. GASP. But is that too much of a spoiler in itself? A good part of Book Two is them meeting and falling in love. When I look at the outlines and scrambled drafts, it seems obvious from the beginning they are meant to be. They are sweethearts and serve as a great contrast to the mystery and issues growing within our group of Hunters.

I'm simply stumped how to proceed. Any other idea I come up with just doesn't have the same feeling. I scribbled out ideas for Human/Elf and Human/Goblin, but both swiftly fell flat. I thought perhaps I could write out the original story, but with different characters. That vanished when the Muse commented I might appear redundant and unoriginal.

The Muse refuses to cooperate unless I follow her plans. In her own helpful way, she gave me the spark to finish my other short story two weeks in advance...but whispered new ideas into my ear the entire time.

She isn't going to let me write anything else, so I should probably just get to work.