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“Atlantia believes in due process, but there are exceptions. Namely—you guessed it—treason.”
They’re going to have to be really convincing if they have any hope of surviving.” My shout of victory died a little before it reached my lips. “I don’t like your condition.” “Too bad.” I narrowed my eyes. “Sorry,” he demurred, not even sounding remotely apologetic. “What I meant to say is that we’re compromising between our two wants. I’m meeting you halfway here. I am giving them a chance.” I wasn’t sure what chance he was giving, but this was a…compromise. It was also a definite improvement. “Okay. Then I will meet you in the middle.”
But what if Malik did want what he’d grown up believing was his birthright once he did find himself? I wasn’t sure the question even mattered at the moment. The bridge hadn’t even been built to cross yet.
“I do not want to be party to forcing you into yet another role you did not ask for nor desire. I will not replace the veil you loathed with a crown you hate. If you do not want to take the Crown, I will support you,” he swore,
“And if you decide you want to take what is yours, claim the throne, I will set this entire kingdom on fire and watch it burn if that ensures that the crown sits on your head.” I jolted. “You love your people—” “But I love you more.” Flecks of gold burned brightly in his eyes, churning restlessly. “Do not underestimate what I would or would not do to ensure your happiness. I think you know this by now. There is nothing that I wouldn’t do, Poppy. Nothing.”
And maybe the truth was that I wasn’t worthy of him.
“Fear is not remotely what I feel when I think you might stab me.” My nose scrunched as I shook my head. “That is twisted.”
From that, I had learned what not to do when in a leadership position, starting with the simplest of things. Do not lie to your people. Or kill them.
the government could take some tips
He was staring at me, golden eyes filled with wonder. “I…” He swallowed thickly. “You…you are a goddess.” “No.” I folded my hands against my legs. “I’m not.” Sunlight glanced off his cheek as he tipped forward, bracing his weight on the hand he’d placed on the ground. He leaned in, brushing his nose across mine as he cupped my cheek. “To me, you are.” He kissed me softly, scattering what was left of my senses. “To them, you are.”
stop denying it
I hadn’t realized that Casteel had been paying attention, nor did I expect him to remember something I’d forgotten.
Nyktos’s ability to shift was something passed on to his children.” Of course, not.
still desperate to be a shifter
“You don’t have to worry about anyone bowing or beating their fists off the sand tonight.” A tiny grin appeared. “Was my awkwardness the last time really that noticeable?” “Yes,” both Casteel and Kieran answered.
“I…I don’t really know how to dance.” “No one does,” Delano said, grinning. “Until they do.” He wiggled his fingers. “What do you say, Penellaphe?”
Nothing should ever make you forget that I laugh because of you.”
“I know the people who saw what happened yesterday think I am a deity—” “I believe they think you’re a goddess,” he countered. “And there is a difference between the two.” “Okay. They think I’m a goddess.
poppy really said sureeee
“What about me?” Kieran asked, and his mother and I looked at him. “I’ve been kind to you.” “Someone sounds like they’re already experiencing middle-child syndrome,” Casteel murmured under his breath.
“Is the bowing thing going to happen often?” “Yes,” he answered, taking the reins of his horse. “Why didn’t your mother do that?” I wondered out loud. “Not that I wanted her to, but I’m curious. Is it because she’s pregnant?” I doubted she would’ve been able to drop into such a position. “I told her it would make you uncomfortable if she did,” Kieran answered. “Just like I told my father not to do it.” My chest warmed. “You know what?” He raised a brow as he looked down at me. “What?” I reached over and patted his chest. “You’re more than okay.” “Now that I know you think I’m more than okay,
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“But the Da’Neer bloodline is purer than his thoughts.”
“Have you gotten taller?” “No, Mother.” “You sure?” she asked. “The boy stopped growing ages ago, right around the time he stopped listening to us,” his father finally spoke, and his tone was fond despite the words.
senses, not allowing myself to read anyone in the room. At this moment, what I felt mattered. “It’s over because not only is lecturing Casteel irrelevant and serves no purpose other than to imply he’s guilty of something, when in reality, your people are the only ones who are guilty.” My chin lifted a notch. “But also because it’s a rather repetitive, tiresome conversation at this point.” Queen Eloana’s nostrils flared as she inhaled a sharp breath. Her lips parted. But I wasn’t done. “Furthermore, regarding what happened in the Wastelands spreading beyond those who were present, I’m not sure
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safely assumed they will not be sharing the events of the night anytime soon,” I continued, my fingers beginning to ache from how tightly I clasped them. “But in the rare, off chance that what happened that night becomes widely known, I am still unsure what there is to be concerned about. The Atlantian people appear to be intelligent enough to realize that since I have no fangs and can walk in the sun, I am not a vampry. Or am I overestimating the people’s common sense?” No one responded.
“We’re committed,” Casteel advised as the rush of hot anger joined my irritation. “Very.” “I do not doubt that,” his father drawled. “I think one would have to be blind to not notice that.”
“I would say you succeeded, Maiden.” Casteel’s head snapped toward his father, tension stiffening his broad shoulders. “Her name is Penellaphe. And if you get my wife’s permission, you may call her that. If not, then you may call her Princess. Whatever rolls more respectfully off your tongue. But what you will never refer to her as is the Maiden. Do you understand me?”
“And I never expected any of this.”
she really made it clear that SHE was the one who was kidnapped
Kieran remained standing, taking up a guard position behind the settee, and it didn’t escape me that that was exactly what he was doing. He was standing guard directly behind me, his hand resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword. That had to send a rather uncomfortable message.
you don’t say
“I hope what you saw of Atlantia yesterday has shown you that your experiences with us so far are not who we are,” King Valyn stated, his stare nearly as intense as his son’s as he revealed their knowledge of how we’d spent the day before. He and his wife sat. “And those you may have met yesterday are more of a representation.” “I want nothing more than for that to be true,”
really you don’t want ppl to kill you????
and here i was thinking you had a martyr complex
“My wife is far humbler than I am,” Casteel asserted, and there was a soft, barely audible but recognizable snort from behind me. The corners of my lips turned down as Casteel’s gaze slid to mine. “If I were capable of doing what she did, I would have my greatness inked on my skin.”
I know of no other half-Atlantian descended from the gods, who is alive today.” “Me, either,” I said and then cringed. Obviously, I didn’t. Gods.
bestie we all cringed
Amusement trickled in from Casteel, and surprisingly, his father. A faint grin appeared on the King’s face as Casteel said, “You said you know of no other that is alive today. Are you saying there were others like her before?” I almost wanted to smack myself for not catching that earlier.
yea cause you were embarrassing
Amusement trickled in from Casteel, and surprisingly, his father. A faint grin appeared on the King’s face as Casteel said, “You said you know of no other that is alive today. Are you saying there were others like her before?” I almost wanted to smack myself for not catching that earlier.
we won’t hold you to it we all know you were preoccupied thinking of other things
Just as my parents, who had given their lives to protect us, would always be the only mother and father I knew.
the foreshadowing plsssssss
“How could either of you continue a friendship with that bastard after knowing what he did?” That… That was an excellent question. His father’s chest rose with a heavy breath. “Because we thought that he was acting in the best interests of Atlantia.” “He allowed a child to be attacked by Craven,” snarled Casteel. “How in the fuck is that in the best interests of Atlantia?”
if I discover that any of my people took part in harming or killing a child, they will find themselves in the Abyss, where they belong. That will never be blood that sits on my hands.” Sorrow pierced through the walls surrounding King Valyn. “I hope and pray that it never does.” “Prayers aren’t needed,” Casteel replied coolly
casteel wondering why the fuck he would ever kill a child
Not only was my…father prone to chaotic violence and was a habitual adulterer, he was also apparently a murderer.
“I’ve had serious doubts about the Blood Crown’s judgement, but if they trusted the Teermans, that shows a lack of awareness that is startling,” Casteel replied, smoothing his fingers down the center of my palm. “But they never fed from me,” I said. “As much as I can remember.” “No, they abused you instead.” His tone hardened. “I’m not sure I see much of a difference between the two.”
The idea of drinking blood was still a strange thing for me to consider, but I could get used to it. I snuck a glance at Casteel. He would definitely get used to it.
Although if I had Ascended into a vampry, I imagined that Casteel would’ve laid waste to quite a few people before leaving.
forget Cas you would have laid waste to a lot of people before leaving
There was a good chance that I might do something silly like run around the garden…or hug her.
There was a faint curve of her lips. “That doesn’t surprise me. Most men wouldn’t know logic if it smacked them in the face.”
“But what measures has Atlantia taken to compromise since the end of the last war?” “Some would say allowing Solis to exist would be the greatest compromise we ever offered,” she returned. “I would say that doesn’t sound like a compromise at all,” I stated. “It sounds like Atlantia basically closed their borders and spent centuries preparing for war, biding their time instead of trying to negotiate with Solis, despite the failures of the past. Meanwhile, the Ascended continued to grow, to kill, and to terrorize. So, no, that doesn’t sound like a compromise. It sounds like complicity to me. And
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“I’m going to be blunt once more,” she advised, and I wondered when she’d stopped. “I am sorry for everything that was forced upon you in your life. I can imagine that your need for freedom and to have control over your life is as great as the need many have for retribution. But I honestly do not care.” Oh. Okay. That was really blunt. “That may sound cruel,
yea it kinda does
I stared at Casteel. He…gods, there were times I couldn’t believe I’d actually stabbed him in the heart.
“Spoken like a man in love and not someone who has ever ruled a kingdom,”
when was he supposed to have had the chance to do that???
I stopped at the wardrobe, grabbing an extra shirt for both of us, each in black, and another pair of breeches for him just in case our clothing became soiled…or bloodied. Which seemed to happen a lot.
but I was still surprised that Jasper would make the trip. I was unsure of how to tactfully point out that his wife was super pregnant.
“My parents have ruled Atlantia fairly and have done the best they can—better than anyone else could have. Maybe I’m biased in believing that, but whatever.
“You’re not worried that we could be talking about you without you knowing?” I teased as we neared the terrace at the end. It was as I remembered, the chaise lounge and low-to-the-floor chairs inviting. “Why would I be?” Casteel opened the door, and the scent of lemon and vanilla greeted us. “I’m sure you only have amazing things to say.”
“And if it is a trap, do you think I will just give up and say ‘You got me?’”
“Because when you learned he was an Ascended, you got so upset, you lost control of your emotions. You began to glow and call the wolven to you,” he said, lowering his chin so we were at eye-level. “They felt your anger, and I don’t know if you noticed or not, but I’m pretty sure if you had commanded them to attack, they would’ve done so without hesitation.”
“I want you, Casteel.” He shuddered. “You have me. You will always have me.”
cries in the painful foreshadowing
