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

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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.

wanted memories of cheeks pink with either lust or annoyance, the latter usually occurring when she was silently—or very loudly—debating whether stabbing me would be considered inappropriate. I wanted to see her lush lips parted, and her skin shining as she touched my flesh and healed me in ways she would never know or understand.

The Blood Queen. Ileana. Isbeth. Better known as one soon-to-be-dead bitch.

“Demis,” I whispered hoarsely, my eyes widening. “You’re a demis. A false god.” One side of Isbeth’s lips curled up, but it was the golden Rev who spoke. “Well, apparently, he is rather clever.” “At times,” she said with a shrug. Holy shit. I’d believed that the demis were as much a myth as the lamaea. “Is that what

you’ve always been? A poor imitation of the real thing, hell-bent on destroying the lives of the desperate?” “That’s a rather offensive assumption. But, no. A demis is not born but made when a god commits the forbidden act of Ascending a mortal who was not Chosen.”

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.”

“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.”

It tasted like the promise of retribution. Of wrath. And death.

You don’t have to always be strong with me.

Reaver,

omg reaver

“Do you…do you dream of him?” I don’t. Kieran lowered his head to my hip. His eyes closed. And I don’t know if that’s a blessing or not.

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…

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.”

“Her name is a shadow in the ember, a light in the flame, and the fire in the flesh. The Primal of Life has forbidden us to speak or write her name.”

The same message was inscribed on both. Neither of us had removed our rings since the ceremony. And this one hadn’t been now, either, for it remained on the finger I had placed it on.

Oh my god

But his name was love. It was power and strength. It would never break me.

“Don’t forget what he means to me, Poppy. I’ve known him my whole damn life,” he said. “We shared the same crib more times than not. We took our first steps together. Sat at the same table most nights, refusing to eat the same vegetables. We explored tunnels and lakes, pretended that fields were new, undiscovered kingdoms. We were inseparable. And that didn’t change as we grew older.” His voice roughened, and he dropped his forehead to mine. “He was and still is a part of me.”

They had each other, no matter what.

That is screaming foreshadowing

Isbitch’s

“If you think that Granddaddy is the true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death, then you know nothing.”

girl picking flowers who had been startled by a god, falling to her death from some cliff.

SERA

“Please, Cas.” “You know better, Poppy. You don’t ever have to beg.”

An outline of a figure filled the chamber’s opening as lightning lit the sky, illuminating Naill’s familiar features.

Nyktos???

“Your kindness is part of who you are. It is one of the things that will make you a great Queen and god. You just need to learn when not to be kind.”

The Joining.

Hehehe

I thought about what I’d had Naill create for me. Come to find out, he was rather skilled with a needle and thread. Now that would be uncomfortable to wear. But it would serve a purpose.

Nothing would stop me. Not the Atlantian generals. Not the Blood Queen. And not her stolen magic.

“Unlike last time Cas was taken, I will not stand by. And I will not try to stop her and fail, only to have her go off by herself. No way either of those things are happening. And maybe that makes me a poor choice as advisor. I don’t know. And I don’t care.”

“You’ll understand soon enough.” Malik tucked the tail of the gauze under the wrapping. “I have a feeling you will be reunited with your Queen sooner rather than later.”

Oh shit

“I’m not untouched by it. Death is death. Killing is killing, Poppy, no matter how justified it is. Every death leaves a mark behind, but I do not expect anyone to take a risk that I would not take. Nor would I ask another to bear a burden I refused to shoulder or feel a mark I haven’t felt myself.”

A measure of respect grew in me for the man. Because if Casteel felt that way for Shea, I would be consumed by irrational jealousy.

Same girl

The female wolven pressed her forehead to Hisa’s. “But be brave,” she replied, kissing her. “Always,” Hisa confirmed. “But be brave,” I whispered, looking away. I liked that. Be careful but be brave. And we would all be that today.

Shields and spears clattered off the stone steps as they surrendered.

I shuddered as Delano turned, nudging Arden’s paw with a whimper.

I cant cope

“There are things far worse than death. Like her when she’s annoyed.” He jerked his chin in my direction. “She likes to stab things then. But when she gets angry? You’ll see exactly what a god is capable of.”

I want their bodies to be the very last thing you commit to memory, as it will be the last thing the families who claim their own will ever remember from this day forward. Look at them.”

“Really?” She eyed him. “Yum.”

I hadn’t felt this hungry since the first time I’d been to Castle Redrock.

Oh uh

“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.”

“What else would he be doing?” Reaver asked. Kieran’s eyes narrowed on the draken. “Literally anything that doesn’t include sitting in nothing but a sheet and eating an apple.” “So, not much, then?” Reaver quipped. “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.”