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Bodies fell from the sky like stars that had lost their grip on the galaxy. Children in gold burned in the marketplace. Silver-clad people painted the island in heaps of lustrous gray, limbs still knotted together in the last throes of panic. The hearts of lovers were stabbed through with shaking hands and sharpened blades. The curses were spun and felt in minutes, and Lightlark became more dead than alive. It is said that by the end of the day, six rulers of six realms came together before an oracle who spoke a prophecy.
What a way to start a book wow
The Centennial was many things. A game. A chance at breaking the many curses that plagued the six realms. An opportunity to win unmatched power. A meeting of the six rulers. A hundred days on an island cursed to only appear once every hundred years. And for Isla— Almost certain death.
Ahh the good old fantasy trials. Im home.
She spoke of kings who could grip the sun in their hands, white-haired women who could make the sea dance, castles in clouds, and flowers that bloomed pure power.
Five hundred years before, each of the six realms—Wildling, Starling, Moonling, Skyling, Sunling, and Nightshade—were cursed, their strengths turned into their own personal poisons. Each curse was uniquely wicked. Wildlings’ was twofold. They were cursed to kill anyone they fell in love with—and to live exclusively on human hearts. They turned into terrifyingly beautiful monsters with the wicked power to seduce with a single look.
She breathed in the metallic sent.
“The first rule. A ruler may not assassinate or attempt to assassinate another ruler until after the fiftieth day.” The rule was a relief to Isla. For at least half of the Centennial, powerless or not, she would be safe. Which was why she and Celeste planned to be off the island before the ball on the fiftieth day even took place. “And, when pairs are decided on the twenty-fifth day, a ruler may not assassinate their partner.”
How many times had she been left abandoned in the middle of the woods, or in the center of a rain forest storm, with fifty pounds of chain mail and armor on her? Getting back took more than a day. Without water, without food, with the howls of wolves and patter of panthers at her heels.
Ok wow
“So far, I’ve been a thief. A liar.” She sighed. “Time to become a fraud.”
Slay
When Isla was seventeen, she was left blindfolded in the middle of the woods, during a hurricane.
Help what
Isla had sworn she would break her curse, even if it meant breaking herself. Perhaps she should have worded her promise a little differently.
The king’s pointer finger circled the lip of one of his teacups. “This is no ordinary tea,” he continued, his tone steady. “It is a truth tea.”
Shut up what
gave her a grating look. “My choice of partner,” the king repeated through his teeth, clearly hating every word coming out of his mouth. The room fell away. She forgot to school her expression or control her emotions around Grim. Her mouth might have been hanging open. She might have accidentally shot Celeste a horrified look. “Is Isla.”
Isla might have promised she wouldn’t tell Grim about the heart. But she had said nothing about telling Celeste.
Realll
Her eyes were closed so tight, her head hurt. She slipped in and out of consciousness. But she pulled every spike out herself.
Omg my poor girl
wasn’t until she was done and slumped against a tree that she realized she had been biting into Oro’s hand. It was covered in bite marks. She had pierced the skin in various places.
Only powerful enchantment could do such
Her hand tightened on the knife’s hilt. “Why not yours?” “I offered. But she requested . . . something specific.” The specter was suddenly at her side. “The most beautiful girl on the island, that’s what I requested.” She reached out a silvery finger, making to touch Isla’s cheek. “And you’re perfect.”
He thinks shes the most beautiful...
And Grim only laughed darkly. His hand ran a slow trail down her spine—then up once more. “Hearteater,” he said into her ear. “You’re killing me.” Isla didn’t breathe.
Grim better win the love triangle
“I know you are more than capable of protecting yourself,” he said, head bent low, breath against her nearly bare shoulder. “But should you ever need me, touch this. And I will come for you.”
He won full stop i love him
The man’s expression didn’t falter. “I want the Wildling.” Before Isla could make a move, Oro’s hand was at the man’s neck. And it was coated in flames. They danced in the man’s eyes as he calmly said, “I want the Wildling to visit me. Once this is all over.” He glanced at her. “She will come willingly, I assure you.”
“What’s your favorite part of Lightlark?” He scratched the side of his head, just below his crown. “There’s this secluded stretch of beach on Sun Isle, along a cliff . . . with giant coals in the water that sizzle when the sea hits them.” He lifted his gaze, eyes on the ceiling. “The sea is a strange shade there . . . dark green. The color of your eyes.”
Oro had been using her—up until she had become useless. Just as Celeste had warned.
Oh this bitch but i dont believe it
Oro’s smile was pure mirth. “I’ll let you in on a secret that might explain my decision,” he said loudly, for all to hear. He turned to look straight at her. “Isla Crown doesn’t have powers.” The world froze. Then shattered.
He did not. Sir. Bro. Stop. Nah. Kys
But before any of the rulers could make a move on her, Grim took her hand and they were gone.
My baby i love grim
Of course. Grim knew her secret now. Did he think less of her? She took a step back. Did he regret potentially revealing his flair to save her? She felt ashamed. Weak. Foolish. “I knew,” he said gently. A second. Another. “Knew what?” He stepped closer. Until he was right in front of her. He pressed two fingers to her chest. Pushed. She shivered. “I knew that you aren’t bound by the curses. And that you’ve never wielded power.” Isla’s entire world blurred, tilted. He knew. “What?” She imagined her emotions were a tidal wave of feeling, fear and shame and surprise and anguish dueling each
...more
Oh my god.
“Grim . . .” she said, voice unsteady. “What’s wrong with me?” A ruler born without power was an oyster without its pearl. Grim’s eyes flashed with anger. “Nothing, absolutely nothing, is wrong with you, heart,” he said. Then he took her into his arms. She stayed there, trembling.
ARGYYYHHHHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSS GIGGING RN KICKING MY FEET WE WON EEEEEEEK HE CALLED HER HEARTTT
He surprised her by smiling. He placed his hand carefully against her cheek. “If anyone makes a move to harm you, I will ruin them and their entire realm.” His fingers trailed down her face, past her throat, then tugged gently on the pendant at the end of her necklace. “Pull this,” he said. “And I’ll be there.” Isla believed him. She believed only him.
Ily
looked surprised. Relieved. “Heart,” he said quickly, forgetting the last part of his name for her again. Was she no longer “Hearteater,” now that he didn’t have to pretend not to know her secret? Grim took long strides toward her, never once breaking her gaze, and, before she could say a word, he swept her into his arms.
Isla gasped as she sat up, blinking away the bits of dream like the scraps of dress that Grim had . . . She swallowed. Just a dream. Just another— Dream.
Oh FFS
No, not just a message. A response. She remembered the words she and Celeste had painted after the attempt on her life at the harbor: Try harder. Written across the wooden cabinets that housed shelves of bubbling drink were the words Hard enough? And below the words, Juniper was dead.
Nah this bitch man
Bed. She looked around, wildly. She wasn’t in her room. She was in his.
Oh ffs man arghhh urghh
They were so very close. She turned to Oro and found him watching her. His expression was resolute, hard as the slabs of ice at their sides. He nodded once, as if able to read her thoughts.
Aww but now i kinda love oro urgh i hate triangles
He did not answer. He only pressed his hand against her heart. She shuddered, his fingers cold, a rush going through her. “Your heart,” he said, frowning. He shook his head. “It does not only belong to you.” Isla didn’t know what that meant.
Yo thats kibda.....
“Heart,” he said. He took a step closer. “Your dreams, the ones you asked me about . . . are not dreams.” “What?” “They’re memories.” Memories. Him standing before her in full armor. Her legs wrapped around him. His lips on her neck, on her collarbones, on the sides of her knees. The dreams she’d had for weeks, the ones that had made it hard to look Grim in the eye.
Ec fucking xuse me huh wgat the helly hell
understood. The difference was Isla had been willing to give up everything for him. When, the entire time, he had used her as a pawn. She spat in Grim’s direction.
Urgh grim i trusted u
“Why?” she ground out. Poppy looked pale. “We did it for you. The Starling ruler gave us a choice—kill your mother and her lover so that their power would be transferred to you in time for the next Centennial and raise you to be able to seduce the king one day . . . or she would kill the entire
Omfg everyone betrayed her
When she reached the top, Isla hauled herself over the edge, onto solid stone, panting. Her hair was a wild mess in front of her. Through it, she saw Oro release his fist. And the vine around her waist went limp. Oro was wielding Isla’s power. And she could see in Grim’s face that he knew what that meant.
That was the moment I knew I loved you, he had said. When that arrow went through your heart, and it might as well have gone through mine.
Same with aelin when asterin shot rowan
