Two Twisted Crowns (The Shepherd King, #2)

by Rachel Gillig

“Elspeth Spindle,” he said quietly, his eyes—so strange and yellow—ensnaring me. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Balance,” she answered, head tilting like a bird of prey. “To right terrible wrongs. To free Blunder from the Rowans.” Her yellow eyes narrowed, wicked and absolute. “To collect his due.”

“There once was a girl,” he said, his voice slick, “clever and good, who tarried in shadow in the depths of the wood. There also was a King—a shepherd by his crook, who reigned over magic and wrote the old book. The two were together, so the two were the same: “The girl, the King, and the monster they became.”

“I need your help, Prince. The knots have tightened with rainwater.” “And you mistook me for your maid?” “Don’t tell me you’re uncomfortable undressing a woman.”

“You’ll need a cloak.” “I’m fine as I am.” “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.”

Don’t be turned by her beauty. We’ve enough on our plate already. Elm’s smile did not touch his eyes. He rolled his shoulder, and Ravyn’s hand fell. Because you’ve never been turned by a beautiful woman, have you, Captain?

The urge to scrape his teeth across her palm—to press her skin like clay and test her fortitude—was overwhelming.

“Nightmare,” he said through his teeth. The monster laughed as he slipped out of the fort. “She’ll live. All I did was pay her back for breaking your nose.” “I didn’t ask you to do that.” “No. But Elspeth did.”

You’re tired, Elspeth whispered, her voice covering his mind like a blanket. I’ll be here when you wake up. Rest now. I don’t want rest, Elspeth. His eyelids drooped. I just want you.

i will do terrible things if either of them dies

“I’d be your King, but always your servant. Never your keeper.” He arched up, dragging his knuckles down her chin, making her lips part for him. “Think about it, Hawthorn.”

he's so far gone for her. they are the stars of this book, holy shiiiiii

There were not enough pages in all the books Elm had read, in all the libraries he’d wandered, in all the notebooks he’d scrawled, that could measure—denote or describe—just how beautiful she was.

this man

Her voice was hushed, coated in awe. “You’re beautiful.” “No. That word is only for you.”

YOUR HONOR! THIS IS SETTING EXPECTATIONS TOO HIGH! CENSOR IT!

“I’m yours. Even if you won’t be Queen—I’m yours.”

looking back, i wanna die,,,, i wanna kill hauth so viciously it isn't funny

Tears burned Elm’s eyes. “See you in the woods,” he murmured. “Mud on my ankles.”

rachel gillig is paying for my therapy bills. PLURAL

“Don’t you want to say goodbye?” “To you, stupid bird?” Ravyn crossed his arms over his chest. “To her, parasite.”

ravyn x elspeth x the nightmare 🫶 fave throuple