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Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
Kate Golden
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November 4 - November 7, 2024
“I’d like to be there for you, if you’ll let me.”
I WAS IN LOVE WITH HER. And it was a fucking nightmare.
. Now I couldn’t fathom bedding anyone but Arwen.
mermagic.”
SIRENAS?!?!?
I could feel her little heart racing. She was looking at me like— That face— Battles had been started over less. Wars.
I couldn’t help but peer over at Griffin. His glare said he was weighing the ramifications of ripping Ryder’s finger clean off and chucking it into the ocean behind us.
“I spend time with Leigh because she’s lonely. She needs someone to take care of her.”
When she was done, Griffin stepped to the side, rubbing distractedly at his chest where her hand had been.
“You really did a number on him.” Amelia’s eyes fell to me. “It’s almost impressive.”
“The numbskull with the sword at your neck did come close to losing his hand, though.”
Of course Kane had done something—surely something unethical, double-crossing, and self-serving—that would land us all without safe haven.
And . . . I dreamt of her. Every fucking night. Arwen had invaded not only my waking thoughts but my sleeping ones as well.
“She was too good for you anyway,” he offered earnestly. “I know that.” “I’m not going to talk feelings with you.” “I know that, too,”
My dearest bird. I am so sorry. For everything. Bastard.
“No need for such formalities. Not after this morning.” “Fedrik, then,” I conceded. “What happened this morning?” Kane’s voice was casual, but something else sparked in those silver eyes.
“What are we playing? I love cards.” Kane and Griffin released simultaneous groans.
She laughed. Actually laughed. It had been weeks since I’d heard the sound. Like the ringing of temple bells, I felt that harmony in my entire body.
streets. “What is? Leaving when I asked? Respecting someone’s wishes? Can you even fathom such a thing?” “No,” he snarled. “Not when it comes to your safety.”
“Maybe so.” I wasn’t sure what I was asking for, but still I said, “Please, Kane.” “Fuck,” he groaned, finally, blessedly, releasing my fist to run his hands up my sides—those hands, like they were made for my body—and scoop me into a bruising kiss.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he managed. “I can’t breathe when you look at me like that.”
“You asked me once if I thought love was a weakness,” he said, too low. “You, Arwen. You are my weakness.”
smile—“I have very little time to teach you quite a lot about life. I’m simply trying to speed up the process.” “Now who’s making the dark jokes?”
But because this wasn’t rage at all—it was grief. I would not be able to endure her with someone else. I wasn’t strong enough. I had never been strong enough to lose her.
“Amulet heist, Shadow Woods wolfbeast disaster, Halden escape scheme . . .” I counted on my outstretched fingers as I recalled each harebrained plot. “Need I go on?” “The Shadow Woods wolfbeast disaster was all her.” Mari pointed to Arwen. “Traitor,” Arwen muttered, though her lips twitched.
cheeks. “He caught some fish wherever he and Kane went. He’s gutting them now. But no cod, of course.” I tried not to smirk. “Of course. Because you hate cod.”
leathers. “Care to stay for the show?” “We’ll pass.” Finally, speech had returned to me. “The reviews were terrible.” “Witty and beautiful.” Fedrik regarded me with a lifted brow. “You might be dangerous.” “Don’t worry,” I teased. “I’ll spare you.”
“Don’t you know why I call you bird?” “Because you locked me in a cage?” His silver gaze simmered like hot smoke. “Because when I met you, for the first time in as long as I could remember, I felt hope. And not just hope that I might beat my father, though of course, I can’t deny that.” Acid roiled in my stomach, but those eyes held mine, and I found myself unable to look away. “That’s what birds represent. Stranded sailors look to the sky to be led by them back to dry land. Birds soar through the dawn each morning, as sure as the sun rising in the east—the promise of something new, regardless
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Panic thrummed through every inch of me, the lighte under my skin demanding that I crush, break, tear everything apart until I reached them. Until I reached her. So fierce I nearly had to brace myself against the rocks atop Fedrik.
“Mari?” I roared. “Arwen?” “Kane.” “Yes, my love.” Sweet relief. “We’re trapped!”
MY LOVVVVVVE
“Arwen!” Kane’s voice cut through my despair like a single ray of resplendent sunlight.
“Someone branded you?”
Someone needs to be ripped limb from limb for laying their hands on your precious fucking body.”
Kane rolled his eyes. “I can’t lose sight of you for even one moment.”
“So I just . . . let him.” The sound of screeching, twisting metal shook me from my work. I whirled to see Kane’s hand around a mangled mug. Fedrik’s eyes widened. “Quite the grip you have there, King.” “Why don’t you go get some air,” I said to Kane pointedly.
“And I’m going to leave.” Mari stood. “Because this is awkward.”
“You must know . . .” He pressed his lips into a line as if debating his next words. “You must know he’s madly in love with you, right?”
Fine? Fine with this? I would be more fine with a javelin through the gut. I would barely feel it compared to this. You’re mine. You will always be mine. Nobody else should be allowed to touch you. To look at you. To make you laugh. I want to take you from this jungle tonight—continent, blade, prophecy be damned—and go somewhere nobody can find us. Somewhere I can keep you like buried treasure. Where I can feed you cloverbread, and read to you, and fuck you when I please, and worship you every day and every night for the rest of our lives.
“It’s vague, as all prophecies are. Perhaps he takes his dying breath in her arms after I’ve killed him. Or, maybe by meeting her, it led to his end. Look, Briar, either way, I have to try. I love her.”
I had been right—I wouldn’t sleep tonight. I wasn’t going to miss a single second of what it felt like to hold Arwen in my arms.
“You matter more to me. More than revenge, redemption—anything. Don’t you know I love you, Arwen?”
“I’m in love with you.” His laugh was rough and tired. “Desperately so. The way those sailors lost at sea love the bird that guides them home.”
“It’s late. We should stay here for the night. Come on.”
One bed?
“I said it before, on the ship to Citrine all those weeks ago—I will not let anything happen to you. Nothing, not even the good of all the realms combined, is worth the loss of you. We will find another way.”
which earned only a nod from Dagan—an obvious sign of his deep and steadfast love—
MAYBE SHE’D LIKE THE PANSIES.
Drama queen at his best
I wanted her to be protected, to live, and to enjoy doing so. I’d never free my mind from the sound of her sobs last night. Thousands of years I’d live if I failed to take her place. And that memory would stay with me through each and every one.
“I have to . . . I have to tell you something.” I quirked a brow. “Go on.” “I’m in love with you.” My heart stilled. “Also, I think Drake Alcott stole the Blade of the Sun and took it with him to Hemlock Isle, and it’s still there now, five years later. Are those for me?” She pointed at the flowers in my hand.
I regretted every single decision in my life that led me to purchase the dress this morning. I abhorred the thing.
Until . . . a tremble. A pause, a barely audible gulp— Without realizing they had been closed, my eyes shot open and down to her. “What’s wrong?” Arwen shook her head, on her knees as she ran her hands up my legs, and they were—shaking. Her hands were shaking.
“Is this all right?” He sounded like he’d punctured a lung.
