From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash, #1)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“I’m not afraid to speak the truth. He may be powerful, but he’s just a weak man, who proves his strength by attempting to humiliate those more powerful than he is. Someone like you, with your strength? It makes him feel incompetent—which he is. And your scars? They are a testament to your fortitude. They are proof of what you survived. They are evidence of why you are here when so many twice your age wouldn’t be. They’re not ugly. Far from it. They’re beautiful, Poppy.”

Vikter’s gaze shifted back to me, and even though his cheeks were more red than golden, he smiled. “You make me proud.”

“I do believe our Maiden has also crossed a certain line with her Royal Guards. I don’t think her lessons were at all effective.”

no he didntttttttt

I still couldn’t believe how the Duke had been killed. Surely, the weapon had been coincidental, but it still pecked away at something in the back of my mind.

mhmm

“You cut him up like a butcher would a slab of meat,” she continued. I should’ve felt horror or disgust—anything other than the surge of gratification that swamped me. “But I’m sure you had your reasons.”

and did

“I would not ask that question,” she interrupted, her unflinching stare locking on mine. “You would not like my answer, nor would you understand. Neither would I expect you to. Take this as a much-needed lesson, Penellaphe. Some truths do nothing but destroy and decay what they do not obliterate. Truths do not always set one free. Only a fool who has spent their entire life being fed lies believes that.”

“You’re the Maiden,” she continued. “That is why you will not be punished. Count your blessings, and do not speak of them ever again.” A muscle twitched under her eye. “And do yourself a favor. Do not waste another moment thinking of either of them. I know I will not.”

lmboooo

He dipped his chin, eyes latched to mine. “If we take Tawny with us, we may as well just send her ahead and use her as Craven bait.” I gaped at him. “That was possibly the most absurd statement ever.” “No more absurd than standing here arguing with half of your face,” he retorted. I threw up my hands. “That sounds like your problem, not mine.”

And while I didn’t have the brain space or the emotional capacity to worry about the possibility of the Ascension moving up or even being found unworthy by the gods, I wasn’t borrowing tomorrow’s problems.

“And I have more input for you. Pack lightly. And don’t bother taking that damn veil. You won’t be wearing it.”

But I wouldn’t pray. The gods had never answered my prayers before. And it no longer felt right to ask them for anything when I…I could no longer deny what Vikter had claimed. That I wanted to be found unworthy.

simmered. “And what of when I arrive at the capital? I will become the Maiden once more.” “But that’s neither today nor tomorrow,” he said,

that part

“I can’t imagine rats that weigh nearly two hundred pounds being only a nuisance.”

rightttt

We’d reached the Blood Forest.

im nervous as heck

Never cave to panic. If you do, you die.

I didn’t need to. Phillips said it for me. “It’s true. The rumors. I heard it, but I didn’t believe it. Gods. You have the touch.”

“Poppy?” I also liked the way he said my name. “Yes?” He touched my cheek with his fingers. “I hope you realize that no matter what anyone has ever told you, you are more worthy than anyone I’ve ever met.”

But this…this I wanted. Hawke was who I wanted. This was my choice.

It was about me. What I wanted. My choice.

“Promise me you won’t forget this, Poppy. That no matter what happens tomorrow, the next day, next week, you won’t forget this—forget that this was real.” I couldn’t look away. “I promise. I won’t forget.”

kinda selfish to ask this of her if your not who you claim to be........im thinking DARK ONE MAYBE

“Damn,” Kieran drew the word out. “Should we intervene?” Delano asked, sounding concerned. “No,” Elijah answered with a chuckle. “This is the best thing I’ve seen in a while. Who would’ve thought the Maiden could throw down?” “This is why you don’t mix business with pleasure,” Kieran commented.

He was a thing of nightmares hidden in the guise of a dream, and I had fallen for it. I fell so hard.

That. As if I were the monster, the one who supported the Dark One and could create Craven. These people were beyond help.

lmfao

Was anything true? His pain was.

im sad

Lifting trembling hands to my face, I tucked back the hair that had escaped my braid. Why did he have to go so far, though? Why did he have to get under my skin and into my heart? I didn’t just trust him. I’d given myself to him. All of me. And it had been a lie.

“Why didn’t you say anything? This could become infected.” It took everything in me to keep my arms at my sides. “Well, there really wasn’t a lot of time, considering you were busy betraying me.” His eyes narrowed. “That’s no excuse.”