Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Emil then asks about Valyn and Ires, and Cas realizes he hasn’t even thought about those in Padonia. He says to send word to his father but to leave out the bits about Poppy, and tells him Nektas took Ires home to Iliseeum.
Remembering what Nektas said about talking to her, he thinks about the first time he saw her and decides to tell her what it was like in Masadonia before they officially met. Starting with his time on the Rise.
Poppy sleeps for hours. During that time Cas bathes her, washing the dirt and blood of battle away. He tells her that Vikter is part of the Fates in a way and that perhaps being a viktor, he sensed Cas’s true motives as Hawke. He reminds Poppy that it could have been Vikter who died that night in the garden and not Rylan Keal and admits that he had preconceived notions about her since he hadn’t known her yet. But he says that everything changed when they met.
Cas holds Poppy to his chest, telling her he had trouble processing everything that happened during his captivity, Shea, what happened after, and admits to using sex, drugs, and drinking to dull the pain. Then he started using the pain—literal pain—as a way to escape. The only thing that made him realize how bad things got was when he noticed how much he was taking from Kieran.
Kieran tells him it was okay that he used their bond to gain strength, and it’s also okay to forget things, as long as he remembers later. He also asks about Shea and wonders if Cas will ever tell her.
We know that she knows that he killed Shea with his bare hands after her betrayal. What more could there be?
His response to Kieran is that Poppy needs to be awake to hear that story and learn all of it.
I want to learn all of it!
Cas talks to Poppy about Malik being kept and what the Lord in the meat packing plant said, realizing that he wasn’t wrong given the game Malik was playing, and how Vikter didn’t let on what happened during her lessons with the Duke because he didn’t want to embarrass her.
Cas really wants to try to find her in dreams but isn’t sure it’ll work since this isn’t normal sleep, it’s stasis.
He thinks about the Red Pearl and how brave he thought she was, then mentions the night on the Rise when the Craven attacked. He says that’s when everything began to change, and she started to become Poppy for him.
Kieran and Cas talk about the day Britta came to Hawke’s quarters and he hopes Poppy doesn’t remember that bit when she wakes. They discuss whether she looks any better and conclude that she does.
Kieran tells Cas that things are calm in the city. A Descenter warned Emil about the tunnels the vamprys use to travel during the day, and Hisa is taking a group down to take care of it. Kieran admits that it’s hard not being with them, but Cas reminds him that he’s needed right where he is.
Cas asks about Malik, and Kieran says that Valyn and company were delayed in Padonia but they would arrive soon. He tells Cas to rest, and Cas turns it back on him and asks him if he’s rested. They determine where they left off in the story they were telling Poppy…
He talks to Poppy about my diary as Delano hangs out at the foot of the bed where he’s pretty much camped out since day one, and Kieran takes some time in the bathing chamber. He switches gears to the Duke and tells her he made the asshole suffer.
Bringing up the sense of rightness they both felt under the willow the night of the Rite, he says it was their souls recognizing each other.
Cas asks about Millie, which Kieran finds a strange segue, but they discuss her being different than normal Revs. Then they talk about the Rite and how things got out of hand that night. Casteel says he still feels responsible.
Suddenly, Emil asks someone what they’re doing from the hall. Delano wakes and growls, and Kieran takes up a defensive position. Millie blows in and kindly asks them not to kill her. Cas comments that Naill must have found her and Malik just as his brother walks up, looking beat.
The Revenant asks what’s going on with Poppy and says she never wanted Poppy dead. Malik insists she won’t hurt Poppy, so Casteel asks Millie why she ran. She tells them she got scared when she saw the Consort in Poppy’s eyes.
Kieran shifts and says he’ll stay if Millie wants to visit with Poppy.
Cas goes into the hall with Malik and asks Emil and Naill to give them a moment. He asks his brother what happened, and Malik tells Cas they were in a fight with some Revenants. He got most of the troublesome ones but there are more out there. When Cas inquires how they were able to kill Revs, he divulges that draken blood can kill Revenants and tells them Millie found a stash.