Question I

[Jonetta]

Hugh fueled Kate's jealousy. What do you believe was his true motivation?

[Erin]

I think he wanted Kate and what better way to achieve a partnership with her than to take down her current partnership in an extremely personal way. That stuff with Lorelei hurt!

[Jonetta]

Oh, he was definitely making a move! He threw a ton of salt on an already festering wound.

[Lauren]

Hugh knew that the only way to get to Kate (whether to kill her or take her to Roland) was to put a wedge between her and Curran. The easiest way of doing this was to manipulate Kate, Curran and Lorelei.

[Jonetta]

Do you believe he wanted to kill her?

[Lauren]

Yes, I Thi k it was all a set up to get her to Europe, and to separate her from Curran to kill her for Roland. However, something changed when he met her in person. Perhaps he sees her as a kindred spirit because of their similar relationships with Voron or perhaps her abilities resonated with him. Either way, I think his agenda has changed ....

[Jonetta]

Oh, I thought you meant later. Yes, I also believed his agenda changed and lean more towards his original goal was to capture her. I'm just not sure because I don't know enough about Roland's end game.

[Lauren]

Me either. The only thing we know for sure is that Roland views Kate as a threat because of his experiences with his other children and he fears Curran's growing influence and control of the shifters. Perhaps Roland also knows something about Curran being one of the First, whatever those are...

[Jonetta]

He's the true enigma in this series and, unfortunately, my belief is once we get that perspective, it may signal the end of the series.

[Lauren]

Absolutely. The series is definitely going to end with some sort of big showdown with Roland. The fun will be in getting there....

[Erin]

I don't think I'm spoiling anything here if I say that the next book draws to a close (in some ways) some of the long reaching story arcs that we've been following. I read that about Magic Breaks before I listened to it. As a matter of fact it was the thing that pushed me to jump right into it. It is completely fascinating to see where Ilona and Gordon were heading with Hugh and Kate and Roland.

I got the sense in Magic Rises that Hugh was interested interested in Kate if you know what I mean :). Did either of you feel that way? Although I'm pretty muddled about their (Kate and Hugh) connection. They're not related are they? If so, I cleary must've misread a romantic ish interest on his part.

[Jonetta]

Oh, I very definitely thought Hugh was romancing Kate. He came right out and made a pitch!

[Erin]

Ok good. Not just me then!

[Jonetta]

Oh, heavens no!

[Laura (Kyahgirl)]

I think he was making a pitch too. However, I think he's a bit of a sociopath so I could totally see him being all lovey dovey one minute then putting a knife through her heart the next and walking away without a backward glance. ( My impressions might be a bit colored by how he behaved in the next book. )

[Jonetta]

I could definitely see Hugh doing that!

[Erin]

Me too!

[Lauren]

I agree that Hugh was definitely into Kate.

@Erin - Hugh and Kate are not biologically related. Both were students so to speak of Voron.

[Monica]

I think Hugh can't decided between wanting Kate and killing Kate, and unfortunately both seem to be connected by a very slender thread. Kate is a formidable opponent, and Hugh knows exactly what she is capable of (which many of her enemies and friends haven't a clue about) and I think this interests him for more than one reason. It attracts him to her physically and battle-y (I made up a word, let's just roll with it). But which one does he want more? Kate fighting alongside him (perhaps as his lover) or Kate dying by his sword (or whatever weapon he uses)? I think he'd get the same charge from either outcome. So yeah, sociopath to the max.

I've read on to the next book, so I'm always afraid I'll give things away. So I'll stop there for now ;)

[Jonetta]

You make a very compelling point, Monica. I like how you described his attraction (battle-y so works here). I think he'd love that moment of being her lover and fighting beside her. But then, he'd get bored again and want to kill her:)

[Monica]

Yes! I think he'd prefer to have all three options available to him: bed, allies, and then her defeat by his hand.

[Lauren]

"Battley" - excellent word and very apt!

[Lauren]

Monica wrote: "Yes! I think he'd prefer to have all three options available to him: bed, allies, and then her defeat by his hand."

Of course, he going to be so disappointed on ALL counts, lol!

[Monica]

Lauren wrote: "Of course, he going to be so disappointed on ALL counts, lol!"

True that.