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)
I’ve never been able to pin down whether or not Alastir knew that Malec was actually a god and not merely a deity or if he knew about Ires and Millicent.
Alastir tells Poppy about the prophecy and reveals that they’ve met before—the night her parents were killed. He thought she looked familiar when he met her in New Haven—something in the eyes—and had a nagging feeling but didn’t know for certain she was the one until she told him her parents’ names. He admits that he was there to help them flee Solis and claims that he didn’t strike her parents down but that he would have killed them both and her if given the chance. He goes on to say that the Dark One killed her parents, and that darkness outside his influence was there that night. When Cora and Leo told him about Poppy and who she descended from—the Blood Queen—he knew he had to do something, so…he let that darkness in, in the form of Malik.
Then, Alastir reveals all sorts of secrets: that he can no longer shift, that he plans to give Poppy to the Ascended, and that while he doesn’t want to harm Casteel, he will if he gets in his way. He adds that he doesn’t think that Cas’s plan is enough. Alastir and Valyn want the Ascended to pay, and so long as Poppy is alive, the throne is hers by birthright. He says he would rather go to war than have the likes of her unleashed on his people.
When Cas and the others come to rescue Poppy, they take Alastir into custody from the crypts, as well. Cas uses compulsion on him to learn the names of everyone involved and to find where they passed her off to the Ascended. While tucked away, a handful of Atlantians and mortals try to free Alastir but are also captured. Later, Casteel retrieves Alastir from the crypts under the Temple. Believing that Poppy is dead, Alastir is at first relieved when Casteel reveals that he won’t kill him, and then shocked to see Poppy. He tells her that what he started won’t end with his death. She tells him that she’ll never think of him again, cuts his throat, and then lets the wolven cannibalize him.
After his death, we learn that Alastir knew that Ileana was Isbeth and that he was the one who killed Isbeth and Malec’s child.
KIERAN CONTOU
Click here to see a full-size image of Kieran by Romanna Boch.
I have had my eye on Kieran for some time, but then again, he’s pretty easy on the eyes. I even dallied with his aunt and her bonded Elemental Atlantian once upon a blue moon…
Hair: Dark and trimmed close to the skull.
Eyes: Striking pale blue like a winter sky.
Body type: Lean.
Facial features: Warm beige skin. Sharply angled face. Goes from coldly handsome to strikingly attractive when he smiles.
Distinguishing features: Slight accent. Faded claw marks across his chest. A healed puncture wound near his waist.
Other: Fine dusting of hair on his chest. Over two hundred years old.
Personality: Snarky and sarcastic. A bit anal. Not the hugging type. Not modest. About as transparent as a brick wall. Go-to expression is bored with a hint of amusement.
Habits/Mannerisms/Strengths/Weaknesses: Moves with the grace of a dancer when he fights. Often sleeps in wolven form and kicks but rests easiest as the sun rises. Loves biscuits…well, food in all forms. Doesn’t like crowded cities. Excellent at making alcoholic drinks. His loyalty to his family and those he loves goes beyond any bond, including the Primal notam.
Preternatural traits: Fawn/sand/tawny-colored in his wolven form. Slight foresight—has feelings that tend to come true. Nearly as tall as a man, even on all fours. Imprint is like cedar: rich, earthy, and woodsy. Blood smells like the woods, earthy and rich.
Background: Bonded to Casteel since birth. Lost a great love—Elashya—who was born with a wasting disease.
Family: Mother = Kirha Contou. Father = Jasper Contou. Sisters = Vonetta, and a new baby sister, name still unknown. Aunt = Beryn.
This loyal, protective, funny, and fierce wolven is the perfect balance for Casteel and Poppy. He would do anything for them, and they for him.
KIERAN’S JOURNEY TO DATE:
Born as the first child to Jasper and Kirha Contou, Kieran was bonded to Prince Casteel at birth. The two shared a crib more often than not, took their first steps together, and sat at the same table most nights, even refusing to eat the same vegetables. They were inseparable. As they grew older, they were rarely apart, even though they sometimes appeared to hate each other, often coming to blows over minor things—as siblings are wont to do.
Kieran once had a great love, Elashya, who was born with the same wasting disease her grandmother had. It didn’t reveal itself for more than a hundred years, but when it did manifest, it was virulent, shut the body down, and killed her within days. He will always harbor sadness for the loss.