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August 11 - August 12, 2025
“What matters is that I choose her,” Casteel spoke, and my stupid, stupid heart skipped a beat, even though I did not choose him. “And that is all that matters.”
What you should be asking is why they need you. Why would they make you the Maiden, keep you closeted away, under their protection and under their ever-watchful gaze? Why did they wait until now for your Ascension?”
“So you think my abilities are changing because I’m going through the Culling?” “A version of it, yes. Your blood wouldn’t have been useful to them until you at least hit nineteen, even if your abilities took the next two years to morph.”
So, Ian and I likely had different parents, either one or both. Because he had to have been turned. He’d been writing me letters, and Casteel claimed that Ian had only been seen at night. Unless— Unless Casteel’s contacts had seen someone else, and it hadn’t been Ian sending those letters at all.
Faint gray light seeped in through the narrow window across from the bed. I wasn’t at the inn, being ripped and torn into. I was in the keep, in bed, with a warm, hard chest against my cheek, a hand that continuously smoothed over my hair, a voice that whispered my name over and over, telling me it was okay, promising me that it was safe. I was nestled in his lap, held tightly to his chest as if he tried to keep the tremors at bay with his hold alone. Casteel.
cryinggggg
“What a pretty poppy. Pick it and watch it bleed,” I murmured. “Not so pretty any longer.”
“Do you know what the fluffy animals are called that live in the trees near the capital?” I asked. “What?” “The ones that hang onto the limbs,” I explained. “They’re fluffy and cute, but are supposedly vicious.” “Dear gods, do I even want to know why you’re thinking of the tree bears?” “Tree bear?” My brow puckered. “That’s the name?” “Poppy,” he sighed. I rolled my eyes. “You remind me of a tree bear.” “I would tell you that I’m offended, but that requires speaking, which means neither of us would be sleeping.” “Whatever,” I muttered.
THEY ARE CUTE IDCCCC I SWITCHED UPP
He glanced down at me. “It’s also possible that neither of them were your birth parents.”
And all that I ask is that the next time you think I am no better than an Ascended, you think of the names on these walls.”
poppy got COOKED
“You’re beautiful when you’re quiet and somber, but when you laugh? You rival the sunrise over the Skotos Mountains.”
“Just so you know, Penellaphe doesn’t need protection. She is more than capable of handling things herself. But that is my future you are walking away with. Guard her well. Your life depends on it.”
omg????
And it was something I could see Vikter doing. It was something I knew Vikter had wished that he could’ve done once he realized how much being the Maiden was killing me, bit by bit, each and every day. Tears burned the backs of my eyes once more.
“They were favored by the deities, as they were the only ones who could do what the empaths could—read the emotions of others and then turn that into a weapon, amplifying pain or fear. Sending an army running before a sword was even lifted.” My breath caught. “This is the bloodline I believe you’re descended from, Poppy.
“One of the watchers signaled that we have company, coming from the western roads.” “Who?” Casteel demanded. “The Ascended.”
I didn’t offer Casteel a piece of me as we rode forward, joining the others. There was no reason to because what he didn’t know was that he already held too many of them.
He shattered the arrow in his fist. “It’s really not. Not when my cloak has been ruined. And I really liked it. It was warm, and now it has godsdamn holes in it. How will that keep me warm?”
its giving Ridoc
My lips parted on a shaky inhale. I didn’t want to hear what he said. I didn’t want to recognize the truth of his words. Acknowledging them was…it felt irrevocable. Because caring for Casteel meant more than just wanting him. It meant either forgiving or forgetting his lies and betrayals, and I didn’t know if that was right or wrong. Because him caring for me meant more than just an agreement or pretending, and the implications of all of that was…well, it was terrifying for a multitude of reasons. Kieran could be wrong. Casteel could care for me, but not deeply. While I would…oh, gods, I
...more
duh girl
“Still caring for him would only lead to heartache,” I whispered, knowing the truth right then and there. I did care. I never stopped caring. And acknowledging that felt as if I’d slipped under the black water. “It doesn’t have to,” Kieran said. “But even so, sometimes, the heartbreak that comes with loving someone is worth it, even if loving that person means eventually saying goodbye to them.”
“I think you’re heartmates.”
wouldnt be a romantasy without mates
“And the reason I know his bonded wolven would’ve refused if asked?” Alastir stated. “It’s because I was his last, and it was I who alerted the Queen to what Malec had done, shattering an unbreakable oath.”
“So, you’re okay with being that? Being the source of my strength, considering everything that I’ve done to you? Adding this to a long list of things you don’t want to do but feel you need to?”
Casteel shook his head and then looked down at Beckett. “I think…I think you healed his legs.” “No.” I glanced down at my hands—at my normal, flesh-toned palms. “I can’t do that.” “But you did,” Casteel insisted.
“Not that you’ve asked, and I’m assuming you were getting around to it, but yes,” I cut him off. “I will marry you in Spessa’s End.”
I was done lying to him and to myself. “Only on one condition,” I said. “You have a condition now?” I nodded, my heart thundering. “I don’t want to pretend,” I whispered. “I’m Poppy and you’re Casteel, and this is real.”
I wanted to tell him right then that I could bear his touch because I loved him. But it didn’t seem like a good idea with the sky being on fire.
Tearing his gaze from me, he turned to Casteel, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. “They’re coming. The Ascended.”
He turned to me, his head cocked. “I’m looking at you now.” “But are you listening?” “Oh, man,” Delano murmured under his breath as the rest of the room went dead silent. “Someone is getting stabbed again.” Someone, I think it was Jasper, snorted.
And I…once it seeped through the haze, through the hunger, that she was the reason they had my brother instead of me, and that she would hand me over to them again, I lost it. I killed the Ascended. I killed her. With my bare hands.
did NOT expect that
And it was one of many things forbidden to me as the Maiden. It was love. “Don’t cry.” He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed the center of my palm.
I…I couldn’t believe I was married. That I’d gone from being Penellaphe Balfour, to the Maiden, and now, Penellaphe Da’Neer.
“But do you know that your mother was Queen Ileana’s daughter? That you are the Queen’s granddaughter? That is why you are the Maiden. The Chosen.”
I looked down into the pale blue eyes of a large, fawn-colored wolven. Kieran nudged my hand again, and I opened it, revealing the golden mark and the ring on my finger. “Yeah,” I said hoarsely. “You missed it.”
AWWWSW
His eyes deepened to a heated honey. “I’m furious, and yet, at the same time, I’m in awe. Because I know you would’ve done it. You would’ve killed yourself to save the lives of those who still stood. You would’ve done it to save me.”
YES SHE WOULD HAVE
“Some say patience is a virtue,” his voice echoed back to me. “Some deserve a punch in the face,” I muttered,
keenan said this is me
“Who did you say you saw? Who stopped you?” “I don’t know who it was, but it was a woman,” I told him. “Why?” “Because that was a god,” Kieran said hoarsely. “Returning to their place of rest.”
But he…he had led me here. He’d offered to bring me here, and then he’d left me.
A Blood Forest tree stood, rooted where my blood had first fallen.
Casteel lowered to one knee, crossing the swords over his chest as he bowed his head between the vee of the deadly sharp blades. A stuttered heartbeat passed, and he lifted his chin just enough that he saw me.
“And bow before the…before the last descendent of the most ancient ones, she who carries the blood of the King of the Gods within her. Bow before your new Queen.”
