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This second shadowy figure speaks like gold, rich and soft. He has the practiced ability to spin words into something far prettier than the meaning behind them.
Is this calum bc i dont trust him
pointed. “He was yours, entirely.” I swallow. “Not anymore.” Pretend.
Yeah exactly
I see a friendship, not love. No, love is what I see when I look at his brother.
“There. Now it’s just a ring. No vows attached.” She pulls away with a smile that has my breath catching. “Oh, it’s that simple?”
“So, I take it you spoke to Kitt?”
Yeah Einstein how else would she know
“When I left for the Purging Trials, Adena reassured me that it wasn’t a goodbye, simply a good way to say bye until I saw her again.”
Adena and Mak were the best of this series
“So, in the wise words of Adena, this is simply a good way to say bye until… whatever the hell.”
Lmao
“Until whatever the hell,” Paedyn repeats with a nod.
Not to be nitpicky but wouldnt it be "whenever" the hell
“Kai.” Her voice is delicate enough to refocus my fragile mind. “You’re not him,” she whispers again, tears pricking those beautiful blue eyes. “I need you to know that. For me.”
Kai is way too flowery sometimes
“Don’t. Not yet.” She blows out a breath, her fingers brushing down the length of my cheek. “Every person who has ever said that to me is gone. And I… I need you more than I need those words.”
Once the Trials are completed, you—people of Ilya—will accept her as your queen.”
WHy were doing this is beyond me
“This is truly a test of bravery. First, she will cut through the Scorches before finding the crypt within the Sanctuary of Souls. To retrieve the crown, Paedyn will be met with all manner of danger. Worst of all, her mind will likely conjure up fears all on its own.”
Arent the scourches like huge
“If the crown is presented to the court before midnight, Paedyn Gray will pass this first
If she does not, however…” He scans the crowd, expression unreadable. “She is not fit to be your queen.”
You’re literally he king like cant you just decide?
It is cruel, not being able to call him mine after everything we’ve endured.
The repetition is extra annoying me today
Bandits have claimed this land, stolen it from the souls themselves. And I know firsthand how cutthroat they can be.
DIdnt they go in the crypt in the last book
but the key to my “Psychic” ability is sight. And that is precisely what I am missing at the moment.
Girlie pop its not real tho and you know this lmao
The air is thick and damp in my lungs as I force myself deeper into the cave. Reaching to my right, I find the wall now far closer than it had been when I entered. Panic swells in my chest as I turn to my left, nearly cracking my skull against the rock.
Bro this is like those cave crawling people who die in those cave holes named like "satan's tiny asscrack" i could never lmao. Claustrophobia and bugs that i cant see? I’ll actually choose another death
The scream that rips from my throat is rabid, the accompanying swipe of my dagger even more so. I slice wildly through the air, managing to hit several of the bloodthirsty beasts.
Stop hurting them
This was a human. This was a woman who lived and loved and was left to rot. The dead deserve more than respect from the living. They deserve peace. And I’ve disturbed her rest to steal what rightfully belongs to her.
Shes literally ancient, i get it but you're actually alive and need this to survive so
“If I don’t marry her, I have no choice but to kill her.”
Why tho
The plush carpet beneath my shoes is something I had never taken the time to notice until Adena—Paedyn’s other half—had brought it to my attention before that final Trial ball.
We know who Adena is fam
“I thought I was broken after losing Ava,” she continues softly. “But it seems that the loss of your father will be the death of me.” My teeth grind together at her words and every one I wish to say in return. I could never imagine Father deserving more of my grief than Ava.
Fr wtf that was ur child??
“It’s not your fault,” I murmur. “Kitt has always been… stubborn when it comes to you.” “Because I’m not really his mother.” A long pause. “I know.”
Its things like this that would be so much more impactful if she just said "i know" we already know shes not his mother
she hardly notices the heels hanging from my fingers.
This is so blatant to me
With her free hand, she shoves a finger into my chest. “Then you’d beg for a dance with me. And occasionally unlace my dress afterward.” I chuckle at her sly grin. “You know why I did that.”
THEY’RE LITERALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BALL
“In that case…” Her voice is a lazy drawl as she presses her fingers to the bottom of my glass, lifting it to my mouth. Even as she tips the glass against my lips, our gazes never roam from each other. “Let’s test that self-control of yours, Enforcer,” she croons, handing her own champagne to me.
The public setting and acting this way has my jaw completely dropped on the floor
I admire her for a long moment, desperately wishing we were the only ones in this room. Wishing there was no audience, no rules to follow.
I find it hard to believe that yall are around people with the way you’re acting…
“You found my shoes!” He whispers the three-worded secret. “You found my shoes for me.” Another murmured declaration of devotion. Tears prick my eyes. “… you found my shoes for me.” He says he loves me. Again and again.
THIS is good writing, so you ARE capable of it, why can’t she write like this the whole time? This made me feel something. (Though she didn’t need to spell it out for us and tell us that he said he loves her at the end. We understood that so It kinda ruined it, but I’ll let it slide.)
“What do you think that crew will do to their Ordinary queen?”
I twas thinking this too
This may be my last night on solid ground. I feel queasy.
Highly recommend having a bonine everyday the whole time lmao
“Hi,” I say, if only to fill the silence. His response is equally awkward. “Hi.” “Sorry, did I wake you?” “Oh, no.” Kitt rubs the back of his neck, an action he frequents. He looks over his shoulder, seeming slightly surprised to find the air unoccupied. “No, I don’t sleep much anymore.”
“Just… notes. It helps me think.” He clears his throat. Mumbles something under his breath. For a moment, I think he’s forgotten my presence.
BRO IS WRITING FINAL LETTERS I KNOW HES DYING THIS MF KEEPS COUGHING…I’VE SEEN VIOLET EVERGARDEN
My eyes narrow at his strange behavior. “Are you—?”
Are you?!!? WHAT?!? FINISH THE SENTENCE
Kitt glances over his shoulder again, as if weighing whether this is worth a pause in his writing.
Someone has gotta be in that room, maybe its Ellie or blair but their personalities dont go together so… have i mentioned that i think Kitt is gay?
With a relieved smile, I creep into the room. The folded blanket hangs limply from my fingers while I try not to look so intrigued by his bedchamber.
Oh i thought they were gonna go into the garden or something
Potted plants litter the room, dotting each corner with color and twining around anything in reach.
My gay evidence is stacking up nicely
Popping the sweet into his mouth, Kitt mumbles, “I was the only one catching. You were dropping.” “All right.” I sigh out the words. “No need to gloat.”
I’m here for this friendship big time
“I thought I did.” Another chocolate disappears into his mouth. “Once.” A frown pulls at my mouth.
KITT Why is he so emo lmao
“Now, I want to know this king you’ve become.” Kitt’s voice is light despite the weight of his words. “I worry for what you will find.”
Sometimes this book has me like “i needed this interaction”
The king seems to be in higher spirits this morning, despite our heavy conversation last night. Or perhaps it’s simply Kai who brightens his mood.
Def u pae pae
“When your father died, and you disappeared,” he starts slowly, “I grabbed some of your favorite stories for safekeeping. And I hoped to give them back to you one day.”
Couldnt you give it to her earlier wheN she was on solid ground and not have to take them on the boat to get ruined?!
“I promise,” Kitt returns quietly. “I would ask you to ensure Paedyn does the same, but I already know you will.”
YIKE
He’s saying something I can’t hear, something that is likely meant to be a comfort.
No shit Sherlock
Composing herself, Pae looks down at me with watery eyes that may just be a drop of the sea itself.
Its truly a hellscape to being in Kai's mind
My gaze wanders over the face she tilts toward me, over every strand of silver hair falling around it. I reach up slowly, running my fingers through the shining, sun-drenched pieces.
Its too much genuinely, not a single man or woman EVER thinks this way, ESPECIALLY not a man, if they do then they need to be confined, it’s not poetry it’s cringey when it’s done constantly
How could he, a Brawny and king of gods, produce something so weak?
King of Gods?!
This ability allowed her to sense and manipulate another’s emotions. More than once, Iris had used it on the king to turn the pressures of ruling into a spark of happiness that he only ever felt when she was around.
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.”
Lmaooo
“I know, but”—I swallow before hurling the harsh truth at him—“there is no us. There can never be an us, Kai. Not really.”
??? So forced
