The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air, #3)

by Holly Black

“I want—” I say, but I am too shy to say the words.

real

I kiss him instead. Kiss him until he understands.

[insert granny biting her hand reaction meme]

He shucks off his pants, watching me as though waiting for me to change my mind. I feel the soft brush of his tail against my ankle, winding around my calf. Then I fumble my way into what I think is the right position. Gasp as our bodies slide together. He holds me steady through the sharp, bright spark of pain. I bite his palm. Everything is fast and hot, and I am kind of in control and out of control at the same time.

okay yeah i need to take a walk

His face is wholly unguarded.

NSNSNWMWNSNWNWJKWWIW

When we’re finished, he kisses me, s...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

“I missed you,” I whisper against his skin and feel dizzy with the intimacy of the admission, feel more naked than when he could see every inch of me. “In the mortal world, when I thought you were my enemy, I still missed you.”

😭🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠

“My sweet nemesis, how glad I am that you returned.” He pulls my body against his, cradling my head against his chest. We are still lying on the floor, although a perfectly good bed is right next to us.

AWWWWWWWWWWW DNENWNWNWMMWKW

I think of his riddle. How do people like us take off our armor? One piece at a time.

🥲

The next two days are spent mostly in the war room, where I ask Grima Mog to join Cardan’s generals and those of the low Courts in creating battle plans.

y’all can’t make me blush like that and move on like it was nothing 🫠🫠🫠🫠

“Challenge him to a game of tiddlywinks, and I will be your champion,” says Fala.

why is fala even here bruh

A clear path, and yet I have a sense of great foreboding.

there is no clear path THERE CANT BE

Cardan slips his fingers into mine. “It’s hard to work against someone you love.”

i am a blubbering mess rn

His mother birthed him in battle, and he plans to die with a sword in his hand. But I don’t think he plans to die that way today. I think he plans to win.

unfortunately

Cardan, beside me, goes over final plans with the Bomb. He is dressed in a green so mossy dark that it is nearly the black of his curls.

random but i just remembered her ring where’s her ring did taryn bring it 🤨🤨

“I want to see my mother,” he says, voice firm. “And I want to see what happens.”

you’re so real oak

Whatever happens today, I doubt there’s a way to avoid its being nightmarish for Oak.

the trauma adds character

“Here’s your ring back,” he says,

OH LMFAO THAT WAS QUICK

“I kept it safe like ...

OAAKKKK 😭

“We’ll leave before things get bad,” Taryn promises, but she wasn’t there during Prince Dain’s coronation. She doesn’t understand how quickly everything can change.

hey jude don’t make me anxious now

When they go, the Bomb comes to me and takes my hands in hers. “Whatever happens,” she tells me, “remember, I will be watching over you from the shadows.”

y’all are worrying me i don’t like it 😆

“I will never forget,” I say in return, thinking of the Roach, who sleeps on because of my father. Of the Ghost, who was his prisoner. Of me, who nearly bled out in the snow. I have a lot to avenge.

END HIMMMMMMM

“It’s you I love,” he says. “I spent much of my life guarding my heart. I guarded it so well that I could behave as though I didn’t have one at all. Even now, it is a shabby, worm-eaten, and scabrous thing. But it is yours.” He walks to the door to the royal chambers, as though to end the conversation. “You probably guessed as much,” he says. “But just in case you didn’t.”

EEEEAAAAAAAAA—[explodes]

I can’t believe he said that and then just walked out, leaving me reeling. I am going to strangle him.

do it 🤍🤍

You love him, too, I think. You’ve loved him since before you were a prisoner of the Undersea. You loved him when you agreed to marry him.

i’m sobbing stop

Once this is over, I will find the bravery to tell him.

this is giving me anxiety can you not 🥲🥲🥲

Behind him are Lady Nore and Lord Jarel from the Court of Teeth, with their leashed little Queen Suren by their side.

totally not disturbing

“Lord Madoc,” Cardan says. “Traitor to the throne, murderer of my brother, what brings you here? Have you come to throw yourself on the mercy of the crown? Perhaps you hope the Queen of Elfhame will show leniency.”

PERHAPS NOT

“I am alive,” I say. “No thanks to you.”

chop him up rn

I am somehow wed to Cardan.

😏😏😏🤭

“This is your last chance to surrender,” I say. “Bend the knee, Father.” He laughs again, shaking his head. “I have never surrendered in my life. In all the years I have battled, never have I given that to anyone. And I will not give it to you.”

stop pissing me off ARRGGGHH

Madoc puts his hand up onto the hilt of his sword. “I have come to challenge you for your crown.”

argh not this again

No, I want to say. Stop talking.

SERIOUSLY

“Put it down?” says Madoc. “Very well.” He slams it into the floor of the brugh. A thunderous sound rocks the palace, a tremor that seems to go through the ground beneath us. The Folk scream. Grimsen cackles, clearly delighted with his own work.

i hate you i hate this i hate

Then the ancient throne of Elfhame cracks down the middle, its flowering branches turned into splinters, its seat obliterated. Sap leaks from the rupture like blood from a wound.

well isn’t that just peachy 😀

Despite himself, Cardan looks intrigued. Dread gnaws at my gut.

IM NOT LIKING THIS

“High King Cardan, son of Eldred, great-grandson of Mab. You who were born under an ill-favored star, whose mother left you to eat the crumbs off the royal table as though you were one of its hounds, you who are given to luxury and ease, whose father despised you, whose wife keeps you under her control—can you inspire any loyalty in your people?”

ihateyouihateyouihateyou

The hearts and minds of the Court. If you are too much the coward to duel me with blades, let that be our duel.”

greed is the root of all evil

Do not agree to this, I want to scream, but if I do, Cardan might feel he has to accept Madoc’s ridiculous contest just to prove I don’t have power over him.

i want to scream too 😄🫠🫠🫠

Cardan takes the crown from his head. The crowd gasps.

i’m gasping too WHAT

I am the High King, and I do not forfeit that title to you, not for a sword or a show or my pride. It is worth more than any of those things.”

!!!!!

Cardan looks at me and smiles. “Besides which, two rulers stand before you. And even had you cut me down, one would remain.”

omg stop it 🙈🙈🙈🙈

“When I was born, there was a prophecy that were I to rule, I would be the destruction of the crown and the ruination of the throne.”

YEAH IT ISNT DIRECTLY TIED TO HIM IT JUST MEANS IT WILL HAPPEN NOT THAT HE IS THE ONE TO DO IT

They’re not good, but he does still have a very big sword. My hand goes automatically to the hilt of Nightfell.

chop him UPPPP

Cardan extends one long-fingered hand toward the throne of Elfhame and the great crack running along the ground. “Behold, half that has come to pass.” He laughs. “I never considered it was meant to be interpreted literally. And I never considered I would desire its fulfillment.” I do not like where this is going.

yeah me neither no matter what this is all driving me insane

I am your king, and beside me stands my queen.

🤭🤭🤭🤭

And with his bare hands, he cracks the Blood Crown in two. It breaks like a child’s toy, as though in his hands it was never made of metal at all, brittle as a wishbone.

well damn either the crown was made poorly or he’s just strong af 😳😳

Madoc looks appalled. He came for that crown, and now it is nothing but a cracked piece of slag.

take that you asshole

“Folk of Elfhame, will you accept me as your High King?” Cardan calls out.

😥😥😥😥😥

They have chosen him. They are giving him their fealty. We have won.

YEAAAAHHH

I look over at Cardan and see that his eyes have gone completely black.

…sorry?