Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, #1)

by Nisha J. Tuli

That bitch took my soap.

Tears are only useful when they’re brandished as a weapon.

I’ve been kidnapped and sentenced to lie in a luxurious bed? That…doesn’t seem right.

Gabriel hesitates, looking between me and the king as if he can’t decide which one of us to scold. “Behave,” he says to neither of us in particular.

to celebrate whatever wretched females are still alive after Atlas has done his best to torture them. Barbaric tradition.”

I roll my eyes. “Is this a talent of yours? Stating the obvious as though it’s some profound revelation?”

“I need a library. With books.” “As opposed to a library full of squirrels?”

Gabriel is watching me with a curious expression. “I’m sorry,” he says, and I furrow my brow at the uncharacteristic softness in his tone. “Had I known you’d like this so much, I would have brought you here sooner. You’re free to borrow anything you want.”

He tells me of the forgotten realm of Heart and its fallen queen. Its lost Artefact—a crown with a blood-red stone. Her tainted realm is a black stain on the history of Ouranos.

she’s absolutely the missing decedent

“I’m going to die,” I whisper. “Probably,” Gabriel says, and I shoot him a dirty look.

The laughter from the stands confirms that I look ridiculous. I glare at no one and everyone, angry I’m here. Fuck these people. Fuck this entire demeaning experience.

When he bonded to his queen, he would settle for nothing less than someone who set his blood on fire.

ooohhhhhh

wondering why her touch felt so energetic even through his clothing.

I’ve never been in love, so I don’t know what it feels like. I don’t think this is love, but there is infatuation and lust and passion.

Aphelion is no different from Nostraza. The surroundings might be gilded with rivers of gold, but this is a prison, just the same.

“You’re all monsters, too!” I scream, and there’s a collective flinch, like I’ve just slapped them all with the back of my hand. I wish I could.

“Well, that’s too fucking bad, Lor,” Atlas whispers, a deadly threat in his voice. “I stole you from the Aurora King, and you are mine.”

We’ve all been waiting a very, very long time, Your Majesty.

Once again, I am a prisoner, but I am no longer caged.