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Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
Stacia Stark
Read between
May 3 - May 10, 2025
“So you tamed the Drakoryx,” a voice said.
“Because the Drakoryx would only approve of someone it considered fit to rule this kingdom,
Which means you can now meet those who have risked their lives for your people while you grew up safe in your village.”
Four people were waiting for us.
“Is she—” “Your grandmother. The current hybrid queen.”
“The humans came from what is now known as the Cursed City in Eprotha. It is named such because your grandmother gave her life to see it so. As she gasped out her last dying breath, the hybrid queen cursed the city from which those ships had come. As long as her people had no home, neither would they. Nothing would grow on the lands around their city. Sickness would ravage the city, and death would haunt it, until those who had lived there fled deeper into human lands. If she could have cursed the entire human kingdom, I believe she would have.”
“Nourish the spark of your rage, Nelayra.” “Why?” “When you have to, you will change the worlds. If I have to torture you to convince you that you’re the only one who can do it …” I felt her shrug. “Well, what must be done must be done.”
“Protection.” I froze. So did Lorian. “Did you hear that?’ “Yes,” he said. “The creature wants protection.” The Drakoryx let out a yowling sound that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I choked out a laugh. “I don’t think that’s it. I think it’s offering us protection.” “Not us,” Lorian said. “You.” The lightning in his eyes disappeared, and he nodded at the Drakoryx. “Welcome to the group.
I stared at him. He just shrugged. “Anything that wants to protect you can stick around. Especially when you’re going to disappear at any moment.”
The Drakoryx will have to return. We can’t take him with us.” “No.”
You want to come with us? Fine. But no eating anyone.” He gave me a patient look, as if the very idea was ridiculous and he hadn’t been threatening to kill me just hours ago. Turning, I shook my head and headed back toward our ship. Lorian stayed behind, murmuring something to the Drakoryx.
“Wildcat.” He stepped closer and grabbed my shoulders. “What exactly did they say?”
“I’m not yet ready to be queen, and they won’t help. Oh, and I can’t keep you. As if we didn’t already know that.”
Telean had paled when she first saw the Drakoryx, her gaze jumping to Prisca. I’d asked her to explain the significance, and she’d informed me that Drakoryx were the ultimate test for anyone wanting to claim the hybrid throne.
“What does it mean that one of them followed her?” “I don’t know. Perhaps it means she is worthy but it wants to watch over her to ensure she remains so. It is something I’ve never encountered before.
The Drakoryx had opened one eye, clearly listening, and I’d given it a slow smile. “If you attempt to ‘change your mind’ and harm her in any way, I will make your death a horror you cannot imagine.” The Drakoryx lifted one side of its lip, halfheartedly displaying a few teeth, and closed its eyes.
“You’re pushing me. Why?” Asinia gave me a wide smile. “You and I haven’t spent nearly enough time together. I don’t know enough about you to know whether you’re the best or worst thing to ever happen to her. So I’m collecting evidence.”
“I know what it is to be eaten alive by the thought of you with another man. I’ll always spare you from that.”
It probably wasn’t normal that I wished I had access to every single one of her thoughts. But at least I knew her well enough to guess where her mind had gone.
You look beautiful. What’s wrong?” “There’s something stiff in here.” “It’s a fae material that repels iron. I had it sewn into the dress.” I stopped pulling on the bodice and glanced up. “You think someone will try to stab me in the Gromalian castle?” He looked vaguely offended. “Of course not. Or you wouldn’t be going.”
Lorian’s eyes darkened. “That look on your face is going to get you fucked.” “No, it’s not,” Asinia called, slamming her hand on the door. “We need to go.” He cut his gaze to the door, but his mouth twitched. “We’re coming.” “No, you’re not.” Asinia was laughing now. “Go away,” I called. Cavis’s low voice sounded. Asinia replied. And then he started laughing.
“Thank you.” She shrugged one curved shoulder. “Thank the prince. He insisted on paying for them.” “He did?” “You gave most of our money to the others. Demos left me more than enough should we run into problems, but your fae insisted he be the one to provide you with what you needed.
“Also from your prince.” My heart tripped at the gleam of diamonds and gems, and I fastened it around my neck. “And this.” I swallowed at the sight of the matching diadem.
“Take that heart of yours and turn it to stone,” she ordered me. “Tonight, you are not a woman who feels anything for the Bloodthirsty Prince. He is a tool you have chosen to wield, and you are a monarch who will do whatever it takes for your people.
It wasn’t my job to debate the political ramifications of murder. Usually, I left those kinds of musings to my brother. However, if the Gromalian king didn’t stop sneering at Prisca—in between the glances he stole at her breasts—I would gut him. Perhaps then, his son would be more open to an alliance.
“You’ll need to control that weakness before my father uses it to control you.”
So I began walking toward the door. Lorian’s fire moved with me. It wasn’t encircling him. It was encircling me.
I was the one he was attempting to protect. His power had leaked out because I was in danger.
Occasionally, Prisca’s aunt saw her as little more than a tool to wield against their enemies. I recognized it, because my brother had used me the same way since I’d reached nine winters. The difference was that I was a born killer. Prisca was a born protector. And if Telean thought I would allow her to break Prisca and mold her into a weapon, she would soon learn differently. Telean glanced at me, her eyebrows lifting at whatever she saw on my face. I watched her until she looked away.
“Of course,” Prisca said softly. “Just as soon as you make the blood vow.”
She glanced at her brother. “If the man who has saved my life over and over again needs to take a vow, then the one who was planning to kill me should make the same vow, don’t you think?”
” I wasn’t ready to talk about the fae fire. That power had come from somewhere else within me. Somewhere I’d never felt magic before. It was as if it had been lifted directly from my soul.
“Some of the hybrids who took a certain route would have traveled right above it on the way to the fae lands.” The twisting increased. “Where?” Prisca demanded. Demos’s eyes were dark with grief. “Close to Crawyth,
“What is it, Prisca?” His voice was gentle. As if he knew. “I never would have met you,” I got out. “If you’d killed Regner.” “Oh, wildcat. Don’t you know by now? I would have found you. No matter what happens, I will always find you.”
“You believe Vicer can convince them to move down to the fae lands?” “I think once we tell him what happened to my village, he’ll start playing dirty.”
I found Cavis wandering the hall, looking confused. “What’s wrong?” He jolted, staring at me as if he’d never seen me before. “Strange dreams.”
“I can’t explain it,” he said. “But I feel as if something is prodding me to go with you.”