More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
I would spend an eternity taking these bites if that meant she was safe. That it wasn’t her in this cell. That she wasn’t the one in pain.
“I am nothing more than a myth. A cautionary tale once told to Atlantian children to make sure they didn’t steal what they didn’t deserve,”
“Demis,” I whispered hoarsely, my eyes widening. “You’re a demis. A false god.”
I couldn’t believe I was staring at the Blood King’s head. A slow smile spread across my face. I laughed—deep and hard. Gods, Poppy was…damn, she was vicious in the most magnificent way, and I could not wait to show her just how much I approved of it. “That’s…gods, that’s my Queen.”
I held her stare. “Whether she ruled over all the lands and seas or was the Queen of nothing but a pile of ashes and bones, she would—will—always be my Queen. Love is too weak an emotion to describe how she consumes me and what I feel for her. She is my everything.”
Princess Kayleigh, first daughter of King Saegar and Queen Geneva of Irelone, joined Queen Ezmeria of Lasania and her Consort, Marisol, to celebrate the Rite and Ascension of the Chosen, marking the…
“One born from a grave misdeed, of a great and terrible Primal power, with blood full of ash and ice.” Her words rattled her entire body, raising the tiny hairs all over mine. “The Chosen who will usher in the end, remaking the realms. The Harbinger of Death and Destruction.”
“But you are the first female descendant of the Primal of Life—the most powerful being known. In time, you will become even more powerful than your father.”
But she has Kieran. He would be there for her. And she would be there for him. Knowing that made it a little easier to breathe. To let go of some of the rigid tension in my body. They had each other, no matter what.
“If you think that Granddaddy is the true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death, then you know nothing.”
“Harbinger,” she cooed, her frail body shaking as the reddish-black smoke whirled. “You were told when you entered this manor, Queen with a crown of gold, that all that you and those who follow will find here is death.” The reddish-black smoke spun faster, spreading. “You will not harness the fire of the gods. You will win no war.”
“Wait.” Reaver’s brows knitted and then smoothed as his head jerked toward me. “Holy shit, I should’ve caught on to this. Admittedly, I don’t always pay attention. You all talk a lot and do so in circles.”
I stared down at Aylard. At all of them. “I was born with the flesh and fire of the Primal god in my blood. Make no mistake, with each passing day, I feel less like a mortal than I did the day before.” The truth of my words entrenched deep in my bones.
“I don’t give a damn about leadership right now. It’s you that I’m concerned about,” Valyn said, and my head jerked toward him. “You are the Queen, but you are also my daughter-in-law.”
“I, more than anyone, understand why you feel the need to do this. The gods know I want my sons here. I want them both safe and healthy. But not a single member of my family has ever entered Carsodonia and returned as they were when they left—if they returned at all.” Valyn’s stare met mine. “I will not have that happen to you.” My family. Valyn considered me part of his family.
“He made seven wolven daggers out of her bones. I found six of them, and I know exactly where the seventh one is.” He nodded slowly. “Yeah, I know who has it.”
“And you need to stop,” I said, planting my hands on my hips. “I get it. Kieran almost stepped on your tail.” I turned to the wolven. “Reaver almost bit your hand. Stop whining and get over it.” “He almost stepped on my entire leg,” Reaver corrected. “Not my tail.” “And he almost bit my arm off.” Kieran’s eyes narrowed. “Not my hand.”
“‘A first daughter, with blood full of fire, fated for the once-promised King. And the second daughter, with blood full of ash and ice, the other half of the future King. Together, they will remake the realms as they usher in the end. And so it will begin with the last Chosen blood spilled, the great conspirator birthed from the flesh and fire of the Primals will awaken as the Harbinger and the Bringer of Death and Destruction to the lands gifted by the gods. Beware, for the end will come from the west to destroy the east and lay waste to all which lies between,’”
“So,” Tawny drew out the word. “Why is it that he behaves as I would expect from your husband?”
“I was going to say cute,” he replied. I rolled my eyes. “There’s nothing cute about needing to drink my friend’s blood. Someone who also happens to be my advisor and my husband’s best friend. It’s awkward.”
And Kieran…he hadn’t just seen me watching him and Lyra. He’d watched. The spiciness of arousal filled my throat. My veins.
“I thought of the beach on purpose. Figured it would shock you.” “Jerk,” I muttered. “But the thing is,” he continued as if he hadn’t heard me, “I don’t think it shocked you at all. I think it intrigued you.”
“You going to pretend that you don’t know I was watching the both of you and that you and Casteel were watching us?”
“You’re so very special.” Kieran gave me a half-grin as we edged around the dais. “Very,” Reaver said dryly. I glared at the draken’s back. “Neither of you sound like you think that at all.” “So special,” Kieran added. I rolled my eyes as we passed a colonnade.
Kieran said nothing as he pulled away, and the strangest urge to reach out and stop him swept through me. I didn’t understand where that want had come from. Or if it was mine or Casteel’s. And I didn’t know why it felt wrong not to act on it.
She nodded after a moment. “I’ll see if Kieran is willing—” “He’ll be willing.” Poppy frowned. “You sound a little confident for it not being your blood.” “He’ll be willing,” I repeated, thinking she really had no idea when it came to Kieran and what he would or wouldn’t willingly do for her.
Kieran smiled at her as he leaned over her hip, bracing his weight with his hand on the bed. His features softened in a way I hadn’t seen from him in a long time. “Morning.”
“I didn’t want her to go,” my father said, his words muffled. “I demanded that she stay. She put me in my place really quick.” A thick laugh rattled me. “I bet she did.” “And I’m glad she did.” His embrace tightened,
I fought the urge to ask him what kind of love he felt for Casteel. For me. I knew it wasn’t a familial one and that it went beyond what one felt for friends. I also thought that it wasn’t the same as what he’d felt for Elashya or what Casteel and I felt for each other. But I also knew that what I felt for Kieran wasn’t the same as what I felt for Delano or Vonetta or Tawny. It was…more.
“There are many kinds of love, but when it comes to you, it’s the kind that allowed me to make that—” He inhaled sharply, his jaw hardening. “It’s the kind of love that allowed me to make that promise to you, Poppy. It’s the same kind of love that allowed you to ask that of me.”
“I’m safe with both of you.” “Always,” Kieran confirmed. Casteel’s lip brushed my chin. “And forever.”
Captivating and impressive in both forms, his eyes were the blue of winter, and the glow of eather behind his pupils was vibrant. My shields slipped again, and what I felt from him was the same as I’d felt before—sweet and soft. Not as intense as what came from Casteel, but no less meaningful. Nothing about Kieran was less.
of the sudden feel of him against my lower back as he adjusted his stance. “Sorry,” Kieran said in a voice rough and thick that tickled the back of my shoulder. “It’s just that you’re beautiful, and I’m, well…” He trailed off, and I’d never heard him so thoroughly rattled. “I’m trying to behave…appropriately.”
Kieran and I were attempting to behave appropriately. Apparently, Casteel wasn’t. He bit his lower lip, revealing a hint of fang. His lack of behaving appropriately didn’t come as a shock. At all. Kieran sighed heavily. “No help whatsoever, man.”
Casteel groaned again as his hand tightened around mine. “Behave,” he ordered roughly. “Or you’re going to make Kieran blush.” “Yeah,” came that not-so-dry response. “That’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
“Or would you pray to come?” a sultry voice whispered in my ear. “I think that’s definitely it.” “I don’t think I like either of you all that much at the moment,” I said. “You’re a terrible liar, meyaah Liessa,” Kieran teased. “I know that’s not true. I can almost taste just how much you like us at the moment.”
I watched Casteel and Kieran, standing waist-deep in the water, and hoped both knew just how worthy they were. How lucky I was. And as I pulled the cloak tighter, desperately ignoring the hollowness slowly returning like an unwanted visitor, I prayed to gods that slept that I was worthy of them.
“Jalara killed her in front of me,” he answered so flatly that I almost thought the swirl of grief was mine. “It wasn’t quick or honorable what he and the others did to her.” He faced me. “And you don’t have to ask what that was. You carry a part of her with you. You hold it in your hand even now.”
