More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
That shocks me still again. Lochlan is the last person in the world I ever expected to hear such a thing from. But maybe it’s a reminder I need, because I take a deep breath and let a cool band of focus wrap around my thoughts. I’ve done terrible things to protect Kandala for years. I’ve supported my brother’s reign for years. I can’t be better for Tessa if I can’t get us out of this mess. I steel my spine, and then I tap Lochlan on the cheek, a little too hard to be friendly. “Love you, too. Now cover my back.”
“Don’t worry.” For the first time in what feels like weeks, I smile. “I have an idea.”
Look i love you dearly but those words coming from you arent very promising
“I knew you’d fail,” she says. “Give me one good reason I shouldn’t kill you right now.” “The fact that you’ll never forget that I could have killed you with my bare hands, but you need two people to hold me down while you do it with a knife.”
That is the BEST roast i have ever heard!
“Well, that’s horrific,” I say, clenching my eyes closed. “I might have preferred the knife.”
omg he is savage
“Ellmo
Excuse me ? Like from sesame street?
“Maybe I should whistle for you like a dog,” Rocco calls. “Maybe I should whistle for you like a dog,” the boy calls back, but he sounds closer than I expected.
Kid got guts
The guardsman is looking back at him. “How old are you? Five?” “I’m seven!” “Well, you’re small for seven. You look like you’re five.” “You look like the back end of a pig.”
Ellmo picks up a handful of pebbles and chucks them at the guardsman. To my absolute shock, Rocco picks up a small handful of his own and lightly flings them right back. Ellmo yelps in surprise and skitters away, which makes Olive glare at them both—but the boy bursts out laughing. “Are you five?” I say to Rocco. “He started it.”
I nod in return. “Tomorrow.” I wave to her son. “Goodbye, Ellmo.” “Goodbye, Tessa,” he calls. He throws a pebble at Rocco. “I’m going to break all the toys before you get there,” Rocco says. “I’m going to break your face when I get there,” the boy calls back. I sigh. “Let’s just go.”
“I’m not your enemy, Tessa.” That finally gets my attention, and I meet his eyes. “Your entire country is now my prison, Your Majesty. If I’m not your enemy, then find a way to send me home.”
She got a point
Rocco clears his throat. “Miss Olive, if you would be so kind as to take this little demon off our hands, I would be most appreciative. Either that, or come help. The day isn’t growing any shorter.”
No wonder the kid fights you so much,you just called him a demon
“And my child is not a demon,” Olive adds, glaring at him. From behind us, Ellmo growls like a wildcat. “I can be a demon.” “Trust me, I know,” says Rocco.
Nvm
Annabeth didn’t show up with an ax, so she can honestly call me whatever she wants.
“No.” Then he sobers, and his pencil goes still for a moment as he reconsiders. “Well.”
Well you are very encouraging ,Quint (insert laugh emoji)
“I wasn’t sure it was possible to feel worse, Quint. Thank you.”
I believe that proves my point
But before the door falls closed, I notice Quint flip open the little book, just turning back the cover to that list of dates. At the bottom, he adds one more.
What is that supposed to mean Quint?!?!?
The man grunts and says, “Not so lucky. He’s one of the ones who was working for that crooked king.” “They’re going to hang him when they catch him,” says the woman. “As well they should, for what he did.” “Poisoning us all,” says the man. He spits at Reed’s feet.
Shut up before i make you myself *intense glare *
“That boy is a man from my personal guard,” I say, “and I trust that his word is good.” He grunts. “For a thousand silvers a man might think about slipping a dagger between your ribs right now.” “And I could slit your throat in half the time,” Saeth says sharply. “Move back.” “I didn’t say I was going to!”
Nice going Saeth
They shot him in the chest right in front of me.
Tbh thank the lord bc i could not with them anymore
And then I recognize his voice. The cloak slips back a little, and I see the edge of his jaw, a bit of his blond hair. This is Sommer.
That son of a - oh i HATE him
My head whips around, and when I turn, there’s Saeth. He has a crossbow in one hand and a dagger in the other. A little girl is strapped to his back, soaking wet and shivering, her hands pressed tight to her eyes. Nook is behind them both, half soaked in mud.
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!
My muddy fingers press into my eyes. “Please. Forgive me.”
Okay but you probably have an infection now just btw
I can’t read his expression, and I don’t want to. I can’t decide which is the most humiliating: knowing he watched me kill someone, watched me cry over it, or watched me nearly vomit on the body.
All of the above
“We might have had a little fun before we put him down there.”
I mean you gotta do what you gotta do
There are a few low snickers from the others.
Fr me when i was reading that last line (insert laugh emoji)
Dear Tessa, I’m coming, my love.
*sniffling * h-h-he loves her so much
If we have to spend the next twenty-four hours like this, I’m going to hand myself over to Oren Crane.
Okay but like (insert laugh emoji)
just crumple the paper up and leave him alone. But then he says, “Do Karri.”
Awwwww
LOCHLAN KARRI TESSA CORRICK
“Teach someone else, Your Highness. I’m not your trick pony.” “I know.” I slam down the pencil and match his scowl. “It’s a real pity, too. A trick pony would’ve been a lot more fun at every turn.”
“She’s so smart,” Lochlan says, musing. “She can do better.” “Undoubtedly,” I say. “You’re such an ass,” he says, and he kicks my chair. “Oh, were you talking about Karri? I was talking about Tessa.” I give him a wicked look. “Though I’m not sure my response would change.”
They should start a "we dont know how we tricked two smart girls to fall in love with us "club.they just be skipping and holding hands talking about their girlfriends
“All this food could be poisoned.” He shoves the basket in my direction. “Have a pastry.”
Well....okay then (insert laugh emoji)
I don’t hate you anymore, I think—but I can’t say it. Instead, I say, “Rian could have an army.” He shrugs a little. “Well, I’ve faced an army before.” He holds out a hand. “Still breathing, Cory.” I give him a nod. “Still breathing.” Then I reach out and clasp his hand.
“Do you have spirits?” Olive says, adding cheese to the bread. “Whiskey? Anything stronger? It might be better to cut out the infection and rinse it with that first.” Erik stares at her. “And then what? Set myself on fire?” Ellmo appears in the doorway, and he gasps, but not with horror. “Can I watch?”
This kid is too much i swear
“Fine.” I look at Lochlan. “We’re done here.” Once we’re outside again, he all but pokes me in the arm. “What on earth did you write that made him so angry?” he demands. “I said, ‘It’s me, you arrogant prick.’ ”
Omg (insert laugh emoji)
“Oh no?” “I’m trying to remember if you told her she was pretty before or after you asked her to marry you.” He chokes on his bread, and I have to pour him a glass of water. I nod emphatically. “It was quite the proposal. You looked ready to pull her into your lap.”
“You like to think you’re better than Corrick,” I hiss, “but deep down, you’re so much worse.”
Welll....dang
I could have at least told her I loved her. Mind your mettle. I’m such a fool.
Yes.but a love sick fool at that and it makes up for everything
“Yes! Go on. From the beginning. You’ll have it all now.” He takes a breath and begins slowly, but more confidently. “I wish I were as strong and brave as Corr—” He stops short, realizing what he’s reading. He flings the pencil at me, but there’s no real vitriol to it. “You ass.”
Omg that! I love it so much (insert laugh emoji)
Oh, Corrick. My love.
“Am I dead?” I say, and my voice breaks. “No, my love.” He takes my hand, and he brings it to his face. He kisses my fingertips, then presses my palm to his cheek. “Very much alive, I promise you.”
“I don’t want you to disappear,” I say, and then I realize I’m crying in earnest. “I won’t,” he says. “Never again. I swear it.” He leans down to kiss me. “I swear to you. Never again.”
But then he sits up, pulling me with him, tugging me into his lap. Before I can ask him anything at all, his hands find my cheeks, and his mouth lands on mine. Every emotion pours through his kiss, and this is what finally convinces me he’s real. I can feel his longing. His loss. His worry. His fear. His love. His hope.
No bc im crying
Corrick climbs to his feet more slowly than I did. “I rather doubt you want me to do that.” “Do it anyway,” a strained male voice calls from the hallway, and I’m shocked to realize that the male voice I heard earlier was Lochlan. “It’ll make you feel better.”
A soldier has followed her, breathless and sweat-streaked. There’s soot in his hair. “I rode here as fast as I could,” he says. “It’s the palace at Tarrumor. You need to return at once. Oren Crane is attacking.”
You realize this is all your fault right Rian?!?!?!?
than anything that the rebels ever did. The glow from the fire was supposed to defy the night eternally, a symbol of love built by my great-grandfather for his wife.
“You’re right,” he says. “I don’t owe him anything at all.” Then he falls in step beside me.
Yayy they is friends now !
“I hope you know I plan to sob all over you properly later.” “I hope that’s not all you plan to do all over me later.” She gasps, then grins, her smile bright in the darkness. “Not for nothing, but I am right here,” Lochlan says from below us.
“Because he was killing all those people.” Corrick pauses. “I love her, Mouse. She’s very precious. Please give her back.”
I look up at Corrick. “Captain Lark?” He smiles. “I don’t hate it.” He loses the smile and looks at Mouse, then at the others.
