Prince of the Sorrows (Rowan Blood, #1)

by Kellen Graves

he held out his hand, washed clean of mud though there was still some clay under his nails. Cylvan frowned, but extended an open palm, gifted with the small cluster of quartz points. Cylvan made an initial face of disgust, before it melted into restrained curiosity, eyes lifting back to Saffron in question. “I got these… for you,” Saffron said, but didn’t look at him, just gazing apprehensively into the dim library ahead.

HE GAVE HIM PRETTY ROCKS

stop being so mean, you stubborn bird!” “Stop calling me a bird!” Cylvan shouted, but Saffron snatched the feather quill and tucked it into the prince’s hair, running away when Cylvan snarled at him.

I cannot with this fever brained bb

Saffron feigned applause when Cylvan flipped his hair back with an embarrassed smile. He cleared his throat and continued as Saffron stretched up to help unwind some strands from his horns.

“The end being—shuttering the veil. Erm, as much as they were able,” Saffron clarified, and Cylvan nodded, before plucking one of the remaining apple slices and nudging it between Saffron’s lips. Saffron accepted, taking a bite while lost in thought.

Are you joking me with these two???

Cylvan sat forward until their faces were only a foot apart. Saffron smiled at the curious look in his eyes. “How do they compare to Naoise and Derdriu?” “Hmm,” Saffron considered with emphasis. “I don’t know… I quite like the intrigue of Hades and Persephone’s love, but I think I prefer the consensual romance of Naoise and Derdriu from the beginning.” “Fair enough,” Cylvan smiled. “I quite liked that about them, too.”

“Cylvan!” he exclaimed, like he finally knew what he wanted to say. Cylvan gazed at him, unable to resist his own smile as Saffron grinned. “I think you’re incredible!” The words appeared to catch Cylvan off guard. He just looked at Saffron with sincerity, before laughing. “Only for you.” “Then I will consider myself lucky!”

Ffs 😩

“What…” Cylvan started, making Saffron flinch when his fingers gently brushed along his sore cheek. Saffron just kept his eyes down, biting his lip as Cylvan’s voice turned venomous. “Who did this to you?”

Whoomp there it is.

“Tell me who did this,” he repeated tightly, “so that I may tear them apart with my own hands.”

“You’re not allowed in the woods anymore! No ladders, no trees! Nothing!”

“What are you thinking?” the prince poked Saffron in the cheek, before nestling some food Saffron barely tasted into his mouth. “Chew before you swallow.” “They’re… beautiful,” Saffron said with his mouth full, suddenly overcome with every emotion a human could feel. “They’re just so… beautiful.” “... Are you crying?” Saffron sniffed. “Y-yeah,” he said, right as tears dripped down his cheeks. “I think I suddenly understand how nymphs kill humans so easily,” Cylvan muttered, using a thumb to gently wipe the line of tears from Saffron’s cheek closest to him.

His chin quivered more when he realized gazing at Cylvan made his stomach do the same little flips as when he watched the nymphs.

Cylvan regularly tucked things to eat in his mouth, chuckling every time Saffron barely acknowledged him. Peeled oranges, plums, bite-sized pieces of sandwich, a sip of mimosa, toast. When the taste of cake with whipped cream and strawberries touched Saffron’s lips, he finally sat up with sparkling eyes, and Cylvan laughed more before handing the rest of the cake over.

Cylvan’s eyes flickered back open, and Saffron realized his mistake. He nearly apologized, but Cylvan just let out another long sigh and closed his eyes again, reaching out his arms and wrapping them around the small of Saffron’s back. Locking Saffron down, so that he might never leave from being Cylvan’s safe place to rest.

Saffron huffed in growing frustration. He busied himself with digging little flowers from his ripped grass and sticking them through the hollow spots in Cylvan’s horns. Cylvan, meanwhile, closed his eyes again, drifting away into peaceful loveliness as Saffron’s insides swarmed like bees. He wondered if Cylvan could hear them.

Jeepers.

“Well… it’s… like a pixie caring for a raven, isn’t it?” Saffron smiled softly. “Someone insignificant like me, thinking I can do anything at all for someone as big and grand and free as you are. But, I guess… perhaps, while the pixie cannot help with raven-sized problems… it can at least share the little treasures it steals, because it knows the raven likes shiny things, too…”

Oh my godddd 🥺

“Perhaps the raven cares for the pixie as well, but worries its squawking and sharp talons and… reputation will scare it away. What then?” “I would… tell the raven that pixies aren’t afraid of anything, really… They’re small enough that not even rowan or iron can hurt them. And… once the pixie saw past the beak and claws, it would see how pretty the raven’s feathers are. And how its ability to fly is actually very fun on nice days…”

“You are more than just a pixie,” he went on. “If I am indeed a raven—then you are the treasure I wish to spend all my days appreciating.”

“I… I’ll stay with you, Cylvan. For as long as you need me. As your beantighe, or your pet, or your friend, or your lover, whatever you need—I’ll stay with you, to always be there when Taran treats you unkindly.”

“Saffron,” Cylvan said, pressing his fingers to the ring for a moment. “In all ways of safety, protection, and companionship, for as long as you wish it… I swear to patronize you until we both shall die.”

“Stay with me, Saffron,” he beseeched once more. “As my treasure. As my one, simple peace, so that I may always know there is at least one person who cares for me.”

“It’s a kelpie,” Letty whispered, and Saffron nearly fainted. Everything he’d been worried about moments before melted away, shoving out of Hollow’s arms and scrambling to greet the undine, her horse, asking if he could touch it, crying out in delight when the dark animal pressed a slippery, velvety snout into his palm.

I mean same

An agonized scream tore through the floorboards, vicious gusts of wind ripping through the suite below and whistling through the cracks beneath where Saffron lay. He clamped hands over his mouth, stifling his own miserable sobs as Cylvan wept and begged until there was nothing left but shuddering grief to fill the walls of Danann House.