Siege and Storm (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy, #2)

by Leigh Bardugo

aboard. As they floated by, the girl could have sworn she heard the clink of chains. The Verrhader found its berth. The gangway was lowered. The dockworkers and crew shouted their greetings, tied

aboard. As they floated by, the girl could have sworn she heard the clink of chains. The Verrhader found its berth. The gangway was lowered. The dockworkers and crew shouted their greetings, tied

Famous last words…

aboard. As they floated by, the girl could have sworn she heard the clink of chains. The Verrhader found its berth. The gangway was lowered. The dockworkers and crew shouted their greetings, tied

Famous last words…

return my smile, but gently patted my hand. Jes was definitely an odd one. We chatted a short while longer, but I knew Mal could see I was getting anxious. I didn’t like to be out in the open for too long. We said

return my smile, but gently patted my hand. Jes was definitely an odd one. We chatted a short while longer, but I knew Mal could see I was getting anxious. I didn’t like to be out in the open for too long. We said

THATTA MAN RIGHT THERE W

return my smile, but gently patted my hand. Jes was definitely an odd one. We chatted a short while longer, but I knew Mal could see I was getting anxious. I didn’t like to be out in the open for too long. We said

THATTA MAN RIGHT THERE W

or unwanted interruptions. My pulse gave a little jump—whether from nerves or excitement, I wasn’t sure. “So what did Jes say?” I asked again, when my brain felt a bit less scrambled. “He said I should take good care of you.”

or unwanted interruptions. My pulse gave a little jump—whether from nerves or excitement, I wasn’t sure. “So what did Jes say?” I asked again, when my brain felt a bit less scrambled. “He said I should take good care of you.”

lmao

or unwanted interruptions. My pulse gave a little jump—whether from nerves or excitement, I wasn’t sure. “So what did Jes say?” I asked again, when my brain felt a bit less scrambled. “He said I should take good care of you.”

lmao

my arms behind my back. I was dragged inside the room, kicking and thrashing. “Easy now,” said a cool

my arms behind my back. I was dragged inside the room, kicking and thrashing. “Easy now,” said a cool

ALREADY???? I THOUGHT I HAD A BREAK FROM HIM FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT!!!

my arms behind my back. I was dragged inside the room, kicking and thrashing. “Easy now,” said a cool

ALREADY???? I THOUGHT I HAD A BREAK FROM HIM FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT!!!

each sketched a quick bow to me before they departed. “Are they related?” I asked, watching them

each sketched a quick bow to me before they departed. “Are they related?” I asked, watching them

:)))

each sketched a quick bow to me before they departed. “Are they related?” I asked, watching them

:)))

The Darkling just stared out into the waves. I considered shoving him over the railing. Sure, he was hundreds of years old, but could he swim?

Lmao

We were alone on an icy sea, prisoners of a man who could literally make monsters, and yet somehow I believed. I leaned into him, and for the first time in days, I let myself hope.

“I want the choice,” I said. “You’ll have it,” he replied. “On my word as a liar and cutthroat.”

Maybe it was the same greed that had driven the Darkling so many years ago, the greed that had turned him into the Black Heretic and torn Ravka in two. But I couldn’t escape the truth that without the amplifiers, I was no match for him. Mal and I were low on options.

Sturmhond peered at the glittering cuff of scales. “Huh,” he murmured. “I thought the end of the world would be more exciting.”

I love him lol

Sturmhond leaned in and murmured, “If you want to know something about me, lovely, all you need to do is ask.”

Im sorry... LOVELY???

The privateer grinned. Again I was struck by the thought that there was something off about his features.

Uhhhhh what do u mean by that??

“Were you always this much trouble?” “I like to think of myself as delightfully complex.” As he bent to kiss me, Sturmhond’s voice cut through the dark. “Can we get to the cuddling later? I want us ashore before dawn.”

Does he like her?? Am i being delusional???

Sturmhond sighed and ran a hand over his face—a stranger’s face. His chin had lost its pronounced point. His nose was still slightly crooked, but nothing like the busted lump it had been. His hair was no longer ruddy brown but dark gold, neatly cut to military length, and those strange, muddy green eyes were now a clear, bright hazel. He looked completely different, but he was unmistakably Sturmhond. And he’s handsome, I thought with a baffling jab of resentment.

SQUELLLL

“I am Nikolai Lantsov, Major of the Twenty-Second Regiment, Soldier of the King’s Army, Grand Duke of Udova, and second son to His Most Royal Majesty, King Alexander the Third, Ruler of the Double Eagle Throne, may his life and reign be long.”

OH SHIT GAGGED

I’d hunted a magical stag. I wore the scales of a slain ice dragon around my wrist. I’d seen an entire city swallowed by darkness. But this was the strangest thing I’d ever witnessed. It had to be another one of Sturmhond’s deceptions, one that was sure to get us all killed.

I scoured my memory for the little bit I knew about the Ravkan king’s two sons. I’d met the eldest briefly at the Little Palace, but the younger son hadn’t been seen at court in years. He was supposed to be off somewhere apprenticing with a gunsmith or studying shipbuilding. Or maybe he had done both.

SQUEL

“Rise,” commanded Sturmhond—or whoever he was.

Lol

“Brothers,” he said, “I have brought the Sun Summoner back to Ravka.” I couldn’t help myself. I hauled off and punched him in the face.

Iconic

“It was worth it,” I replied. “Besides, no one’s going to shoot the Sun Summoner.” “You just punched a prince, Alina. I guess we can add one more act of treason to our list.”

“First of all, are we so sure he really is a prince? And second, you’re just jealous.” “Of course I’m jealous. I thought I was going to get to punch him. That isn’t the point.”

LMFAO

“Trust me.” “Every time you say ‘trust me,’ I trust you a little less,” I hissed.

I should have hit him harder.

<3

“And just how am I supposed to do that?” “By helping me unite the First and Second Armies. By becoming my Queen.”

SAY LESS <3

“Easy, now. Mustn’t get blood on the uniform. Let me explain—” “Try explaining with my fist in your mouth.”

Kinky

Mal jabbed his finger in Sturmhond’s face. “You don’t have a right to her.”

Shiiiit he could have a right to me...

“It would be a marriage in name only,” Sturmhond insisted. Then, as if he couldn’t help himself, he flashed Mal a taunting grin. “Except for the matter of producing heirs.”

IM DEAD

Sturmhond picked up a chair that had toppled and reseated himself, making a great show of stretching out his legs and pouring himself another glass of kvas.

<3

I took a breath. “Your highness—” “Nikolai,” he corrected. “But I’ve also been known to answer to ‘sweetheart’ or ‘handsome.’”

EEEK IM SO GIDDY RN

“And I’m not going to marry you.”

Boooooo

Whatever I might have said, he didn’t wait to hear it. He stepped out into the sunlight and was gone.

Good riddance!

“It’s the color of the man who tried to kill him and regularly takes me hostage. My sworn enemy?” “All the more reason to claim that color as your own.”

PERIOD

“Do you think I’m like the Darkling?” I studied him—the golden hair, the sharp uniform, those too-clever hazel eyes. “No,” I said slowly. “I don’t think you are.”

<3

He adapts, I thought. But I knew some part of him would always grieve for the life he’d been meant to have, the life he would have had without me.

Ummmm honey he would be DEAD without you

“Please don’t punch me,” he whispered. Then he yanked me hard against his chest and pressed his lips to mine.

AHHHHHHHGG EEEEEEEEK :)

Mixed in with the cries of “Nikolai!” and “Sankta Alina!” was a new chant: Sol Koroleva, they shouted. Sun Queen.

Te he he

“You’re so sure of everything,” I said sourly. “Maybe I’ll decide I want the throne and smother you in your sleep.” Nikolai just grinned. “Finally,” he said, “you’re thinking like a politician.”

I love them so much

“I seem to be immune,” I replied. “And luckily, I know what a real kiss should feel like.” I left him standing in the middle of the square. I could get used to making Mal blush.

L

I hesitated. I couldn’t believe what I was about to say, but apparently Nikolai was getting through to me—for better or worse.

SMIRK :)

“You have deserted your post and directly disobeyed the orders of a commanding officer. That is a hanging offense.”

No hes not :)))