The War of Two Queens (Blood And Ash, #4)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My brows flew up. “Can you not?” “He started it,” Kieran muttered. “How?” “He’s staring at me.” A pause. “Again.” “So?” “I don’t like it.” Kieran frowned. “At all.” “You sound like a small child right now,” I informed him, and Reaver huffed out another laugh. I turned to him. “And you’re not any better.” Reaver reared back his spiked head, blowing out a smoky breath. He looked affronted.

“And he was kind of flirty, but not in a creepy way.” A small smile appeared briefly. “When he came to Spessa’s End, looking for you, the Guardians didn’t want to let him leave, believing he was a threat. I watched over him, and he spent the time telling me a story about Stygian Bay and the Temples of Eternity—how many of the Temples in Solis had been around since the gods walked the realm. They weren’t just places of worship but also places of profound power, able to neutralize gods. He also said they were gateways to Iliseeum, where gods ferried mortals through.” She picked up a braid, running it between her fingers. “Which I don’t think is remotely true. But what he said was interesting. He had a way of telling the story where you couldn’t help but get invested in it. I mean, he had me totally hooked on this tale about a girl picking flowers who had been startled by a god, falling to her death from some cliff. Anyway, Ian told me that he used to tell you stories, too, when you were lonely or upset…or when he was bored—which he claimed was often.”

Theory: They could use the temple to trap Kolis in book 7 - How did Ian know all these stories? He was older and remembered Leopold and Coralena. Could he be the second son?

“Find someplace to rest?” Emil looked over at me, his gold eyes wide. “And he chose that?” “That wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind when I said that, but Reaver’s…going to be Reaver.”

“He’s wearing a sheet.” “And that’s why I said he needed clothing.” Reaver frowned around his apple. “Do you expect me to wear his clothing?” “What’s wrong with my clothes?” Kieran demanded. A fair brow rose as Reaver mimicked Kieran’s earlier look. “I don’t believe they will fit me. I have broader shoulders.” “I don’t think so,” Kieran replied. “And chest.” Kieran’s arms crossed. “You definitely do not have that either.” “And my legs are not thin twigs that could snap under a breeze,” Reaver continued. “Are you serious?” Kieran looked down at himself. He didn’t have…twig legs or whatever. “Reaver.” I sighed. He lifted a bare shoulder. “Just saying.” “You’re just saying nonsense. You both are nearly the same height and size,” I said. “I believe your vision could use improvement,” the draken responded, and I rolled my eyes. “You could use an attitude improvement,” Kieran retorted.

“Reaver,” I said, shooting him a look. “Stop antagonizing Kieran.” “I have done no such thing,” the draken denied. “He is just overly sensitive…for a wolven.”

A muscle ticked along his jaw. “I have a feeling that’s a lie.” “Something I think we can agree on,” Reaver chimed in. “No one asked you,” I shot back. “So?” I exhaled slowly. “I think I like you better in your draken form.” “Most would agree with you on that.” Picking up another apple from the bushel, Reaver brushed past us in his sheet. “I think I will take a nap.” He paused at the archway. “I know you’re not nearly as graceful as most wolven, but please do not step on me while I’m sleeping.” And with that parting shot, Reaver left the kitchens. “I really don’t like him,” Kieran muttered. “Never would’ve guessed that.”

My brows rose as Reaver entered the stairwell. His face and clothing weren’t sprinkled with blood. They were drenched in it as he looked up at us from the floor below. Kieran sighed. “Well, I’m glad that wasn’t one of my shirts.” The draken smiled, revealing blood-smeared teeth. “Sorry,” he replied as I sheathed the dagger. “I’m a messy eater.”

“Remind me to stop antagonizing him,” Kieran murmured. “Uh-huh.”

“Fun times are over,” the Revenant said, lifting a heavy broadsword. “Wrong.” Reaver rose. “Fun times have just begun.” He exhaled.

Reaver knelt by us. “I’m going to need you to lift one arm at a time,” he instructed. “And I’m going to need you to do that without trying to bite me because I bite back.”

“Three things.” Reaver held up three fingers. “First off, I need my rest. If I don’t get my rest, I get cranky.”

“And can you please stop giving Kieran the middle finger?” “I was actually giving it to everyone, but whatever.” Slowly, Reaver lowered his middle finger.