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She let me have my revenge without even knowing that it was partially for her. Because before I wanted to kill Ace for nearly killing Jax, I wanted to kill Ace for nearly killing Paedyn.
And yet, she looked at me as if I was deserving of Ace, of kindness, of— Her. I only want to be deserving of her.
“I think you will make a great king, Kitt,” I say quietly, cutting through his words. “And I will proudly serve you. But you need to learn to think on your own because one day, Father won’t be there to do it for you. So, I suggest you start figuring out what you think is for the best.”
Clock it
I sigh in frustration. “I see why you hate this game.” “No, I hate this game because it’s boring. You hate this game because you’re bad at it.”
My throat bobs when the guilt slams into me again, forcing me to fight to keep my voice steady as I say, “No, thank you for trusting me, Kitt.”
I know she has to but i feel so bad for kitt
He doesn’t hesitate. His arm is wrapped around my middle and tugging me against him before I have a chance to catch my breath. I’m pressed to his strong body, tucked between the covers and him. I feel secure and safe and more soothed in his arms than I have in years. I feel.
“Are you going to sleep?” “Oh, darling, I’m already dreaming.”
I drift off to the feel of Kai braiding my hair, vaguely wondering if I should be afraid of how safe I feel with him. If I should be worried that I feel content and comforted in his arms. I feel happy. I feel words murmured into my ear, and the whisper of fingers stroking my hair. And then all I feel is blissful sleep.
I count the faint freckles dusting her nose. Once. Twice. Twenty-eight.
HE COUNTED HER FRECKLES
She held my face in her hands while I held her life in my own. She looked at me like I was worthy of being seen, like she wanted to see me. And when she said my name, the sound of it rolling off her tongue finally had my head clearing, heart racing, thoughts reeling.
A smile tugs at her lips. “Picky prince.” “Clever Pae.”
“Oh? And what else are you when you’re around me, hmm?” She has me swallowing, has me nervous. “I’m a fool.” The smile she gives me is equally amused and alluring. “Only when you’re around me?” “Only for you.”
Hundreds of eyes track her every move, and I’m suddenly jealous that everyone else gets to witness her presence with me.
His mask slips, splinters, shatters, leaving only a boy beholding a girl like she is worthy of his wanting.
They both think they are unworthy of the other oh i cry
“I don’t know that I ever lived before laying eyes on the likes of you.”
He steps even closer, and with the coat draped over his arms, he holds it over my head to cover me from the rain.
“Call me anything you like. I’ll never pass up the chance to hear your voice, darling.”
I wasn’t prepared for the laugh that escapes him. It’s a rich, beautiful sound I wish I had the time to commit to memory.
“As adorable as you looked blinking up at me in the rain, I want you to see me clearly when I tell you this.”
“Tell me,” he murmurs, “what do you want me to call you?” My eyes slowly meet his, confused by his question. “What do you want to call me?” “I want to call you mine.”
“Feel alive. Feel on fire. Feel.”
The feel from both povs omg
“Pae, when I look at you… I’m devastated. I’m drowning. I’m dying to catch my breath.”
“But I’m never sober around you, Pae. Never not drunk on every detail that is you.”
“If I kiss you—really kiss you, like how I’ve wanted to, how I’ve waited to—should I expect a dagger at my throat?” His voice is rough, his gaze greedy. And then I reach up slowly and flick the tip of his nose. This time, I do take a moment to memorize the smile he gives me. “I guess you’ll have to kiss me to find out.”
She is a good beyond my grasp, one that I am not worthy of glimpsing, let alone grabbing hold of. And yet, here she is despite that. Choosing me.
It’s a privilege to look into those eyes, to drown in the essence that is her.
“I’ll take my chances,” I murmur as my fingers catch her chin, tilting her face up toward mine. Her mouth is pulled into a soft smile that only draws my lips closer to hers.
She doesn’t pull away. Perhaps the beast can earn the beauty after all.
FINALLY
“My pretty Pae, what have you done to me?”
Our lips brush. “Your Highness.” I halt. Then I sigh against her lips, making her shudder.
WAIT NO THEY DIDNT KISS
“It’s the king,” the Imperial blurts, no doubt knowing he won’t be able to get my attention again once my mouth has met hers. “It’s urgent.”
It was not, in fact, urgent.
I almost laugh at his feeble attempts to keep me away from her. If I can’t keep myself away, there is no way in hell he can.
hear a collective intake of breath from my fellow contestants, our gazes locked on what lies below us. It’s a maze.
Its giving goblet of fire
“Not only do you have to be the first contestant to reach the middle, but you must also kill the person that awaits you there.”
Why do i fear he has put paedyn in the middle or adena or lenny
Twenty-eight freckles dotting her nose, though I can’t count them from here.
I give her something then—a smile. One that is meant only for her.
“Thank the Plague,” the voice behind me is dripping with venom, “I was worried I wasn’t going to get to kill you before these Trials ended.”
BLAIR GET OUT
I’ve never felt so powerless, so unable to do anything to stop this impending doom.
Powerless hehe
There, at the end of this narrow path, is a sandy, open circle. The center. The victory. My victory.
I FEAR ITS A SET UP
I’ve already made it to the center.
I FEAR I KNOW HOW THIS IS GONNA GO
Paedyn’s steps falter, fumbling as though she’s back in my bedroom where I taught her how to dance. And then she’s sprinting toward the criminal who’s destined to die.
OH MAYBE IM WRONG
I stagger forward, tripping into a run. I force myself to go faster, ignoring the protest of pain shooting up my foot. “Adena?”
NO I FEARED THIS WOULD HAPPEN
She sways, blinking down at the bloody branch protruding from her chest. Then her gaze slowly climbs up to mine as I stumble into a sprint, tears blurring my vision.
NOOOOOOO
“This is not a goodbye… only a good way to say bye until I see you next.”
Im devastated
Only then, her phrase was accompanied by smiles and waves, so sure that she would see me again. And now she never will.
My blurry eyes snag on her bound hands tucked behind her back, and the sight of them sends a shuddering sob through me. They broke her fingers.
They are bent at odd angles, bleeding, bruised. Those small and slender hands are mangled, a mockery of what they once were, of what they could do. Before death, the thing that made her feel most alive was taken from her.
For once in their life, Elites feel truly powerless.
They are going to kill the princes if the king does not relent. They are gambling with the future of Ilya. Gambling with lives. They didn’t tell me that. No, no, no.
WOAH WOAH WOAH SLOW DOWN
