Year One (Kingmakers, #1)

by Sophie Lark

“You do this every year.”

Yo sid the sloth mention

Leo’s my cousin, sort of. His aunt Aida married my uncle Callum.

I’m so confused on if they’re blood related I think no but I’ve looked at the family tree so many times

But the iron roots of our family tree remain.

Okay I double checked and they’re not related I’m just dumb

zhizn moya,”

My life

Like my dad always says, you can’t go anywhere without your bellybutton.

I know this is serious but I laughed bc wtf not wrong but like how do you say that seriously

2 DEAN

The gasp I just gusped

I don’t want to think about anything in my real life. That’s what books are for. To take you away . . .

Technically Leo and I are cousins, though not by blood. His father’s sister is married to my mother’s brother. It’s complicated, and nobody at school could ever understand it when we tried to explain.

Same guys

know it’s ridiculous because they’re just kids. But I want to be first in her eyes, the way she is in mine. Closer than blood.

I can sort of identify with that—I don’t look on the outside how I feel on the inside.

“Clothes, hair, makeup . . . it’s all part of your personal brand. What represents you. How you want other people to perceive you.” “So you want to be perceived as . . . dark and scary?” Dean says. “No. It’s more about how I don’t want to be perceived. I don’t want people to see me as someone who seeks approval or belonging. I don’t want to be a part of trends or styles. And I don’t want to look like I’m trying to attract anyone.”

He has everything, and I have nothing. Parents that love him. A beautiful, clean house. Friends and family—his cousins right here at the school. And the most beautiful, brilliant woman I’ve ever seen right by his side. Why does he have it all? Why does he deserve that, and I don’t?

But he’s not made for her. I am. If Leo is the sun, then I’m the whole expanse of the night sky. And that’s where Anna belongs—wrapped up in my arms like the moon goddess she is.

I hate to break it to y’all but I am rooting Dean here….

The beginning of the night seems to be dissolving away. I don’t know how I got here or what’s happening.

Everything I just said about Dean I take back

I kiss those soft and devastated lips.

Wait am I rooting for Dean again idk idk idk

And eventually you realize there is no bottom—you’re plunging down into hell. That’s what it was like losing Anna. There is no bottom. I’m still falling. Every day that passes is worse than the day before.

LEOOOOO

I hadn’t done anything to make sure that Anna was mine. I just assumed that I owned her and I always would. I thought I possessed her without actually earning it first.

UH YA

I spend most of my time with Ares now.

I don’t trust him

In the end, I do something kind of fucked up. I break into her room again and read all her letters from her sister.

I really don’t want to like him

Somehow I’m burning with envy. Leo is naked, disgraced, and publicly shamed. And I’m sitting here jealous of him yet again.

Karma

“You’re going to give me what I want, Anna. Sooner or later . . .”

I hope her dad kills dean oh my god

He took my place, and now he’s basking in the light of the most beautiful girl in school, and I’m the one locked outside, jealously looking in with my face pressed up against the glass.

It’s time for me to take something from her.

Die

I feel low. As hard as I’ve been trying to fight it, a deep depression has been taking hold of me.

I have to try to focus on the things that are bright and stimulating and interesting in the world, or else depression wraps its tentacles around me and begins to drag me down.

He’s not going to stop tonight, I know that already.

Dead. I want him dead.

I’m worried about Anna. She’s not looking well. She seems to be folding in on herself, like a star collapsing.

she is collapsing. You were her star

I know I’ve fucked up all over again. But I have no idea how to stop.

Im so sad

I loved Anna . . . she loved Leo instead.

You literally didnt love her you wanted to own a pretty object

“Young love!” my dad says, cheerfully. “Can I get you some orange juice, Miko?” And then, in an undertone, “Please don’t murder my son.”

Seb and miko is a duo i did not expect to last