More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Not when death itself chased their heels.
cloaked stranger in the marketplace,
The rebel that they were spotted with and were imprisoned because of?
Some called it the blood of traitors. Others, the blood of kings. Or—in her case—queens.
But Tilda Corentine would be damned if she didn’t spend the rest of her life making those who were responsible pay. One way or another, no matter what it cost, she would have her revenge.
No matter how she might feel, no matter how the crown prince had wormed his way into her heart, it was time for the Vallentis family to fall.
the comforting scent of fresh earth, sea salt, morning dew, and wood smoke tickling her nose. Earth, wind, water, and fire—a smell perfectly unique to Jaren.
Kiva nearly snorted, realizing his intention had been to remind her that she was safe with him—always. Not that she didn’t already know that.
With dark hair braided over her shoulder, eyes the color of liquid gold mixed with honey—their father’s eyes—and moon-pale skin, she looked so similar to when Kiva had last seen her ten years ago. But Zuleeka was no longer an innocent, wide-eyed eleven-year-old child. There was a harshness about her now, her angular features set, her hands resting on weapons belted to her leather-clad waist. Her stance was both casual and threatening, the latter becoming more evident when a slow, dangerous smile stretched across her hawkish face.
But whatever you do, don’t stab yourself. Jaren will kill me.” As an afterthought, he added, “Don’t stab me either, obviously.”
“I told you not to stab me,” he said angrily. “You had one job.”
“Just the one wound, actually,” Caldon said with a pointed look.
“Never better,” he lied. “Can you send word to the search parties that they can return to the palace? Our little felon is safe and sound.” Kiva not so subtly stomped on his foot.
“What happened to you?” Jaren asked his cousin. With a sly look at Kiva, Caldon answered, “Your girlfriend stabbed me.” Kiva flushed as everyone turned to her—the guards, the royals, and the healer. “It was an accident,” she said, ignoring the girlfriend remark entirely. Frowning at Caldon, she warned, “But at this rate, the next time won’t be.”
I’m dragging you to the training yard at dawn to work on your nonexistent fighting skills. Next time you hold a blade, I don’t plan on becoming collateral damage.”
“Sometimes the people who act like they don’t care are really the ones who care the most. They feel so much that it overwhelms them, and to keep from falling apart, they hide behind easy smiles and quick laughter, acting like nothing matters. It’s a defense mechanism, a way to protect themselves from the world. A way to keep from getting hurt.”
Kiva would have felt more comfortable in a pit of snakes, but she made herself return Ariana’s smile.
Mirryn enjoyed her company as well—they became fast friends.
Girlfriend? Reason why they broke up is becase of her betrothal? Didn't Tell family because they are kinda enemies?
“Normal is tedious, it’s boring. The best people are the ones with stories, the ones who have lived through things others can only imagine in their wildest dreams—and their worst nightmares.” She looked pointedly toward Kiva’s hand. “People like you.”
She had questions, and it was about damn time they were answered.
Kiva could no longer deny that, like Tor, she was having second thoughts. But she also couldn’t forget the atrocities that had been committed against her family, the heartache she would never heal from. The Vallentis family had done that to her. And that was why, even if her heart was divided, she had no choice but to do the same to them. Even if it cost her everything.
“No, we just make them run training drills over and over until their eyes bleed from sheer boredom,” Caldon said dryly, buttering a slice of bread.
“Consider me your new best friend, Sunshine. Where you go, I go. Doesn’t that sound fun?”
“If it’s important t-to you, it’s important to m-me,” Tipp said quietly, walking over to wrap his arms around her waist. “We’re in this t-together, Kiva. Always.”
“Move your ass, Sunshine,”
“You say you became the darkness, that it consumed you,” he said, his cobalt eyes soft on hers, “but I call bull on that. I’ve never met anyone who shines as brightly as you do.”
Tilda screamed out ‘No!’ and raised her hand as if to stop me, but I was no threat—I was so frozen I could barely breathe. But then it was like my adrenaline finally kicked in and suddenly the darkness vanished in a blaze of light,
Other part of power being able to control people?
“How would you feel if someone you were falling hard for was locked away for more than half their life, and then their siblings swooped in like nothing had happened, wanting to be a family again after ten years of abandonment?”
“Best sleep I’ve ever had,” he said quietly. Kiva swallowed at the look that had returned to his eyes. She wanted to lie, but what came out was the absolute, undeniable truth. “Me too.”
The reason for his unexpected look became clear when he said, “Humor me. I’m . . . thinking ahead.”
“Our scars define us,” Maddis said quietly, the tip of her finger tracing the three slashed lines. “They tell a story of courage and survival. They tell of who we are at our deepest being, of the challenges we’ve faced and overcome.” Whispering now, she patted Kiva’s hand and finished, “Not all scars are as visible as this. I daresay you have many more on the inside. But never forget that every scar is beautiful. And you should never, ever, be ashamed of them.”
She couldn’t access her magic while under its effects, not even by choice.
Wise choice, idiot. Someone's obviously going to get injured and you won't be able to help
Caldon came to a stop right in front of her. “Let me rephrase.” He leaned in, his eyes like cobalt fire as he asked in a lethal voice, “What did your brother and sister—the Viper and the Jackal—want?”
She finally understood now. Her mother’s vengeance was not her own. She could choose to forgive, to let go of old grudges and ancient betrayals and just— And just be Kiva Meridan. Her mother’s daughter—but her father’s, too. Faran Meridan, the healer who inspired her dreams. Dreams she could follow, as soon as she let go of her past. As soon as she let go of Kiva Corentine.
“You’re a pain in my ass, Sunshine,” he told her gruffly. “But you sure keep things interesting around here.”
“And then I saw your brother. He was like an avenging god among men, his jackal mask alone making people tremble at the sight of him. But the thing I’ll never forget is that he wasn’t attacking anyone. He was protecting them. All of them. Even the guards.”
“I’m looking for Rhessinda Lorin.”
Hopefully she's like Faran and is just sneaking into classes, otherwise shes probably a spy for Evalons enemies since she doesn't work for the rebels because Tor and Zulee didn't seem to know her :(
She would figure out how to make the damned stuff herself.
Not a good idea
Kiva shook her head, disappointment—and fear—filling her.
Then what WILL it do? Enhance her powers?
Hell, even last week, the Matron Healer herself hadn’t recognized Rhess’s name. And— I’m here every day for the morning shift. Whenever Kiva had found Rhess, she’d been waiting for her. Just sitting on that same bench in the sanctuary, a coincidence Kiva had never bothered to consider, always too happy to have found her friend to question why she wasn’t working. Never mind how she’d conveniently offered up herself as a tour guide to Oakhollow, and—gods—she’d even seen the magic burst out of Kiva and had said nothing. Because she’d already known.
I KNEW IT! God, Kiva is an idiot. Im glad she works for the Rebels and not Mirraven or something.
“Goshdarnit, there go my plans to toss her in the Serin,” Caldon deadpanned.
Caldon is my new book best friend <3
Kiva nodded.
Damn, Kiva's really I double agent now. This is a bad idea!! Zuleeka will kill her if she ever learns about Caldon, and probably kill him too. It would atually kill me if Caldon dies
Princess Serafine was Mirryn’s girlfriend.
I KNEW IT!!
I know you’re scared. But I promise you don’t have to be. His voice washed over her like pure sunshine, and she wanted to tell him he was wrong. She wasn’t scared anymore. Because she loved him. More than anything.
