Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King, #2)

by Rachel Gillig

Ravyn

DUAL POV????? fuck yes

But his soul carried on, buried deep in Elspeth Spindle, the only woman Ravyn had ever loved.

AHHHH

Elm

MULTIPLE POV!? IM SCREAMING

He climbed up behind her, his jaw flexing when she settled into the saddle, the curve of her backside pressing into him. Her hair smelled sweet.

TOOT TOOT ALL ABOARD

He may have been less powerful without Ravyn and Jespyr—but he had enough rage for the three of them.

Elm honey you are brave and strong all on ur own

“Next time we ride,” he gritted, setting her on bare feet, “wear a damn cloak.”

Nxt time???

“And you mistook me for your maid?” “Don’t tell me you’re uncomfortable undressing a woman.”

God i love them

And Elm’s fingers were swollen and bruised. A blade would have to do.

IM FUCKING SCREAMING

It was surprisingly heavy, her hair. Dense. Long enough to wrap around his fist and tug.

Im not ok

“Gently does it,” he grunted. “I’m delicate.”

i love sassy elm

“You’ll lose your toes, then your fingers. Maybe the tip of your nose. Or that wicked mouth.” “What’s my mouth to you?” “Nothing.”

I am on my fuckin knees for them

Because you’ve never been turned by a beautiful woman, have you, Captain?

Like fr tho

“You agreed to marry Hauth, knowing you’d be tethering him to a family that carried sickness? You disgust me.” “The disgust,” Ione said, her tone idle, “is mutual.”

PERIOD

“Careful with that finger, Hawthorn. I told you, I’m delicate.” “What you are is a damn idiot.”

“Please,” he said, softer than before. “Will you show me?”

Omg

But it had become so, all because of Ione bloody Hawthorn and her Maiden Card. If he ever grew old enough to do so, he would tell this story to his children, with the firm lesson being don’t ever strike bargains with beautiful women.

“Highwayman, Destrier, and another. One of age, of birthright. Tell me, Ravyn Yew, after your long walk in my wood—do you finally know your name?”

Omg???

Elm’s smirk budded to a smile. He traced Ione’s blush with a curiosity he decided was purely scientific.

“You should know. You’ve taken up every moment of my time today.” Elm leaned down, his mouth close to Ione’s ear—testing to see if her blush would return. “And I can’t say it hasn’t been… interesting.”

AH

“But I do want it said, loud enough so everyone hears, that I am nothing like Hauth.”

“Please, continue. I live and breathe to hear your opinion of my gown, Prince Renelm.”

“If you want free rein of the castle, I am to be your chaperone.”

So good

“Unless you’d like to see me take my seat atop the Prince’s lap.”

SCREAMING I FUCKING LOVE HER

“Developed a taste for removing my clothes, have you, Prince?”

“Careful.” Elm brushed his thumb along the flagon’s wet rim—where her mouth had been.

Ugh omg

“Does that make me wicked?” “If it does, you and I are the same kind of wicked.”

“You have a wonderful mouth.” He tapped the Chalice three times, severing its hold. “And now, it’s all mine.”

AHH

“All that talk of pleasure and warmth and that terrible, unquiet ache between your legs,” he murmured. “You painted such a pretty picture for me. And wouldn’t it be fun, denying me a kiss, had I lost our bet? To take my Scythe and render me helpless?” His top lip brushed hers. “Tell me, Hawthorn—does it make you feel something, toying with me like this?”

Im on my fucking kneeeeeeees for elm

“Yes.” “Then do it,” he whispered, gliding a hand up her spine. “Use me. Toy with me. Feel something, Ione.”

Omg

She clearly wanted him to be rough with her. And he could. It was what he was most familiar with.

God he reminds me of Dorian and we all know how much i love my sweet princeling

“Who the hell are you two?” “Courtesans, here to make your journey a little sweeter,”

Lmao love him

He held the Destrier’s gaze long enough for Gorse to drop his eyes,

Hot

The Nightmare said nothing. But for a sliver of a moment, his ire shifted to an expression Ravyn had not yet seen on the monster’s face. Despair.

Omg

“Keep your cut shallow,” he said. “Don’t give her a scar.”

Ravyn you sweet boy I love you

“Are you with me, Jes?” His sister’s voice was close, just as it always was. “I’m right behind you.”

I love them

“Don’t leave me alone with these fools.”

lol I love them

“If I take you away from this place, Elspeth,” Taxus said, “you will see what I see. But you will have no control of what used to be your body. You will live in my mind as I once lived in yours.”

“It’s hardly my fault, dearest, that they are pathetic swimmers.”

I just love that he appreciates her like he seems to adore her

Elm sat sideways in a satin chair, his legs thrown over its cushioned arm, a sketchbook splayed in his lap.

SKETCH BOOK LADIES AND GENTS AN ARTEEST IF U WILL I LOVE HIM ALL THE MORE

shape, two sweeping arches.

Pls if it’s Ione I will simply parish

Next to it he drew a contoured nose, then another eye. A face. A mouth. Shadows and highlights.

Omgomgomgomg

He’d wanted to go straight to Ione’s room and finish what they’d started, to obey her command and rip her out of her dress.

Pls I’m screaming

when Elm looked down at his sketchbook, he realized the face he’s spent half an hour drawing was hers.

When Elm had told Filick that the King had thrust the throne upon him, the Physician had sighed in the way those who’d lived a great many years sighed at those who’d clocked only a few.

“But, if you’d humor an old man just once more,” he said, “you’d let me tell you what a fine King you’d make—what a blessing you’d be to those of us who still hope to see a better future for this cold, unfeeling place.”

“Memory,” Elm said in a low voice, running his thumb along the balled-up portrait in his hand. “Why? Are you offering to pose for me, Miss Larch?”

Elm you smooth criminal

Elm rose from his chair, tucking Ione’s portrait into his pocket, and headed for the stairs.

I love him even more after this scene

You vile, traitorous SNAKE. Tether yourself, dear one, the Nightmare said, unaffected. It’s only hair.

Lmaoooooo

“Do as I say, Jes, not as I do.” Jespyr jabbed her brother in the ribs. Ravyn absorbed the blow, then pinched the tip of his sister’s ear until she squealed.

🫶🏼

Ha! Call him what you like. But never mark him as a fool. The Nightmare exhaled. But he is a fool, dear one. Terribly, incessantly stupid. Take that back.