Fearless (The Powerless Trilogy, #3)

by Lauren Roberts

A drop of blood splatters onto the floor, marring the pristine marble beneath my shaking legs. I stare at the scarlet splotch, ears ringing and vision blurring. Honey. It’s just honey.

Omg quit with the honey

I am a Psychic who is nothing of the sort.

GRRRR why do they say nothing of the sort SO MUCH AHHSHEBAHS

My gaze scans the room, body shuddering in pain as I search for him. I’m frantic, eyes fumbling over unfamiliar faces. Damn the pretending. Damn the hiding. Damn everything but him and us and this moment where I need him.

It is my undoing.

What isnt

Why couldn’t we have just stayed in that field of poppies? I would spend the rest of my days making her flower crowns if she wanted to be a queen. My queen. Not Kitt’s. Not Ilya’s. Mine.

Stepping forward, I tower over him, ignoring the gasping crowd surrounding the scene I’ve made. Because the truth is, I don’t give a damn about what this court thinks of me. And my reputation sure as hell can’t get any worse.

In fact, my entire life is in shambles and all I can do is stare at the jagged pieces in my palm and laugh.

“Have you heard from Lenny? I saw him during my… travels, but we got separated.” “Right. About that.” Her gaze strays from my narrowing one. “Um, he’s here, actually.” “What?” I choke. “Where is he?”

WHERE IS MY BABY

Even with half of his face partially concealed by the white mask, I can still see those brown eyes widen when they land on me. That is when his gaze crinkles with a mingling of joy and relief. He straightens, spreading his arms. “Princess, glad to see you somehow made it back in one—”

Lenny!!

This is most definitely not the manner in which a future queen would conduct herself, but fortunately for me, I doubt my reputation could get any worse.

Soulmates fr

“I came back for you, Princess. And being slammed against the wall was certainly not how I figured I’d be thanked for it. But I suppose violence is one of your love languages.”

“What was it you called me?” I can see the exact moment recognition lights his face. “A cockroach,” he chuckles, head shaking. “You’re a damn cockroach, Princess.”

So gross lol

When my eyes lift to find Kitt, it’s his brother they find their way back to—a repetition of the past I can’t seem to escape. His black tunic is cut close to the body beneath, inky like the ebony waves that fall over his brow. As if feeling my gaze, he pulls those strong arms behind his back and tosses me a quick wink.

AH

“If you wish to lose your tongue, by all means, continue speaking over your king.” Kai’s casual threat carries across the room, clamping shut even the most eager of mouths. With one final glance at the court, the Enforcer gestures casually to his king, urging him to continue. Kitt’s green gaze brims with gratitude. He looks at Kai like he once had—like a brother. But the moment passes too quickly. Without warning, he’s suddenly morphed back into a king addressing his court.

My ears ring slightly as I release a shaky breath. I never thought this day would come, never imagined living in a world where I no longer had to hide what I wasn’t. Kitt may only be allowing Ordinaries back in Ilya to appease the surrounding kingdoms, but it is a start.

WE GET IT (one issue with these books that got really annoying is the constant repetition. you don’t need to explain things a million times)

“We both know it will take more than a locked door to keep me from you.” My eyes travel over his shadowed shoulder to find a gaping hole where my door once stood. Now it decorates the floor, having ungracefully toppled to the ground. The thudding in my dream. That was real—that was this. He had kicked the damn door down.

He couldnt pick the lock? 🤨

“Then I’ll never leave your side.” I give him a look. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” “It’s not promises I care to keep—it’s you.”

“Oh, my pretty Pae.” His words are a murmur against my lips. “For once, it is I who will be your undoing.”

Their knees are touching.

LOL

I almost laugh. “And how do we plan on doing that?” His silence is ominous. And when he finally speaks, I understand why. “The people want to send you back into your own Trials.”

Youve got to be kidding

“So bow at my feet with a sneer, if you must. I won’t see it with your face to the ground.”

Dang girl

His sword clatters to the ground. Strong arms wrap suddenly around my waist before another drop of rain can fall from the sky. I’m being pulled closer, pressed flush against his solid body. With a tilt of my chin, he murmurs against my lips. “My pretty Pae. Tell me you missed me.”

WAAA

“Where are you taking me?” I’m breathless and gripping the waist of his pants for dear life. He’s quiet for several steps. “Somewhere even the future can’t find us.” I smile sadly. “The willow tree?” “The willow tree.”

I see a friendship, not love. No, love is what I see when I look at his brother.

Lol

“So, in the wise words of Adena, this is simply a good way to say bye until… whatever the hell.” She was laughing before I’d even begun trailing off. But this time, it’s the kind of sound that has my breath catching, eyes unblinking so I don’t miss a single second of it. “Until whatever the hell,” Paedyn repeats with a nod.

And for this one, single moment, all is right in the world. There she is, the Silver Savior, standing before me—dagger in hand and a smile spreading across her face.

I realize how happily I’d live the rest of my life at the end of a blade. So long as she is the one holding it.

The absence of light is the absence of knowledge.

“She is powerless.”

Dont tell me- it cant be (me guessing the plot twist)

I lunge, teeth bared, and arms outstretched— Arms wrap around my waist, tugging me back from her.

In front of the court?!

When I halt in the center of the dance floor, I turn to the boys. “As future queen, I hereby instate a new tradition.” I might have yelled the words. Oops. Kai is now pinching the bridge of his nose, swallowing the laugh in his throat. “Plagues, I hope you remember this tomorrow.” “Shh, I’m making a decree,” I scold. Kitt might have smiled. “We’re listening, Paedyn.”

He tells me to stop looking at him like that. My voice sounds far away. “And how am I looking at you?” He says I’m looking at him like a promise I can’t keep. This confuses me. Or maybe it doesn’t. Maybe it makes perfect sense. “I want to tell you a secret, but I’m scared of it.” He offers to say it for me.

“I’m going with her.” There is not a hint of hesitancy in my voice. It’s a demand, a compromise I won’t negotiate. Even worse, I don’t care if my worry for her seeps into the words. I will follow her to the bottom of the sea if I must. “Kai, you can’t be serious—” Kitt starts, sounding betrayed. “I’m not just your Enforcer,” I state. “I’m now Paedyn’s as well. And if there is one thing Father ensured I had learned, it was to never let my king and queen face danger unless I was between it and them.”

Slay

But I am no stranger to drowning. I’ve been doing just that since the day I looked into her ocean eyes.

Omg SHUT UP ABOUT IT

we were children. “Oh, you are fuc—” “Prince Kai!” Looking up, I find an Imperial standing in the center of the hall with a plate of food in each hand. Identifying his red hair immediately, I watch Lenny’s eyes flick between his Enforcer and the girl he’s meant to be guarding. He clears his throat, hurrying over with an equally rushed, “Hello, sir, it’s great to see you. Um, Blair, sweetheart, you’re meant to be in the room. Not loitering outside of it, yes?”

LOL

Her eyes roll before she’s spewing falsely sweet words, thoroughly mocking him. “Um, Lenny, my little gingersnap that I could quite literally snap in half with a single thought, Kai spotted me before I had the chance to enter the room and send my sharpened knives flying toward those who pass beneath the window.”

LOL

No, peace implies that all is well in my life.

No it doesnt

“Is the water always this choppy?” I ask, looking over at the brothers. “No,” Kai answers dully. I let out a sigh of relief. “Well, that’s good.” “It’s usually worse.” And just like that, my chest is tightening once again.

Water is fickle, and man is foolish enough to think we can tame it.

Literally who thinks we can tame the ocean

“Yes?” “Would you like some company?” I call back. “Is it yours?” “I’m afraid so, darling.”

It’s this sticky bun I focus on

I was wondering where the sticky buns were

I lean over the railing, watching the water rush below. Its light blue and green coloring is deceitfully inviting, despite the great depth beneath its surface. And that is precisely how it earned the name Shallows for itself.

Bruh 😭 don’t try to give it a deep meaning now

The ship grows more nauseating with each violent roll and dip. In fact, when I’m not in the presence of Pae, I can likely be found emptying the contents of my stomach over the boat’s railing. But it’s her voice that seems to keep the stale biscuits and salty beef down.

Wow she even cures seasickness

In fact, I believe I could bathe in their remains for being the reason my last piece of Adena is destroyed.

Thats a bit much

“What,” he muses, “you’re okay with the spilling of so much blood?” I run a finger down my blade before flicking my eyes up to his. “It depends on whose blood.” He’s never kissed me so thoroughly.

Why was this funny

“I’ll deal with him when we get back to Ilya. But until then”—he pats the dagger strapped to my thigh—“this doesn’t leave your side. Even when you’re with me.”

(spoiler: he never dealt with him)

A strange sensation tugs on the corners of my consciousness, though I ignore it for the distraction lying beside me.

I hate that they call each other distractions

“I like her, you know,” she cuts in dryly. “Perhaps due to the fact that she killed your father. Because, well, let’s face it.” Her long nails click against the porcelain teacup. “He was a dick. Though, I’m a bit jealous I didn’t get to finish him off myself.”

What queen would say this

“Oh, and Paedyn?” She turns, her long fingers wrapped around the handle. “Don’t fear power. Wield it. Perhaps even let it control you.” The queen smiles sharply. “Being an Ordinary is not what makes you weak. It’s your heart.”

Not this being the worst advice LOL

“You know,” he says genuinely, “I can’t think of a single reason you’d wish to escape me.” “Your arrogance is astounding as always, Kai.” “Thank you.”