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)
When I saw that proclamation in my visions, I cheered her on. Poppy can be a bit naïve at times—all of this is new to her, after all. But when push comes to shove, she is one of the bravest people I have ever had the pleasure of viewing or meeting.
Kieran accompanies Poppy to Iliseeum once more to summon the draken and almost gets his arm bitten off. Nektas reveals that Ires is Poppy’s father, and they all learn about Jadis.
Back in the mortal realm, the back and forth between Reaver and Kieran continues—they bicker like adolescent siblings, I swear. When Jalara appears and tries to rile Poppy, she counters with her statement that he is the message to the Blood Queen. Kieran launches from the shadows and grabs hold of the King’s arm with his teeth as Poppy beheads him.
On their way to Massene, one of the wolven—Arden—becomes visibly agitated, and Kieran rides ahead to see what upset him so much. He’s unable to hide his horror at what he sees on the walls surrounding Massene, and it bleeds over to Poppy. When she sees the bodies on the wall, Kieran calms her as best he can.
Once they breach the Rise, they dispatch most of the Rise Guards before dawn arrives and the Ascended return. When the rest surrender, they question them, asking what was done to those on the Rise. The one who answers states that he wasn’t sure he saw what he did—that the Ascended were monsters—and Kieran confirms that it was all real before ordering them to be taken to the barracks and guarded but not harmed.
None of the guards outside Cauldra Manor surrender, and death reigns. On the hunt for the Ascended, Kieran finds the manor’s underground chambers, which are similar to those in New Haven. Once inside, they see that the cells are full of Craven. They surmise that the vamprys let them out from time to time just to terrorize the locals and keep up their ruse of the gods’ displeasure when edicts are not followed.
Twenty-eight days after Cas’s surrender, everyone is exhausted from barely sleeping, and Poppy is having trouble controlling her power. Kieran has been able to bring her back from the brink but getting her to take care of herself in general has been a challenge. When she fights him on things, he reminds her that he’s doing what she and Cas asked him to do—he’s advising.
Kieran chooses to sleep next to Poppy in his wolven form, as much as a comfort to him as it is to her. They’re both missing a vital piece of themselves, and they may be the only other people in the realm who can understand the pain of that. But he would never sleep next to her in his human form without Cas present. It’s a sign of respect.
Vessa, a crone referred to as the widow, is allowed to remain in the manor. The creepy woman who speaks in rhymes tries to stab Poppy, and Kieran comes into the library just after it happens. He refuses to go near her, though, believing her to be a spirit. A laruea. When it becomes obvious that Vessa’s madness stems from her belief in the prophecy, he warns Poppy that she should not be walking around alone. They don’t know who else might believe it or how far their fanaticism could go.
Kieran arrives with Emil, Perry, and a package meant for Poppy. He shields his emotions as much as he can—he knows nothing good can come of whatever’s in the box—and informs her that only her blood can open it. When Poppy goes to bleed for it, he reminds her to be careful and states that anything could be in a locked gift sent by the Queen.
Once they all see what’s inside—Casteel’s pointer finger with his wedding ring—Kieran slams the box closed, attempting to shield Poppy as much as possible. When she threatens the Queen, he says he would love nothing more than to do everything Poppy stated she wants to do, but they can’t. He fights the Primal notam, attempting to disobey her order for them to help her exact her revenge, and tries to reason with her. He explains that if she does what she wants in the heat of the moment, she will kill innocents—something she won’t be able to live with later—and nobody will ever see her as more than a thing of rage and pure, uncontrollable power.
Once she’s calm again, Kieran gives her Cas’s wedding ring. She orders that the finger be burned, but not by him. He then tells her about the note that was inside: an apology from the Queen for the pain she knew she’d cause Poppy.
Isbeth really is a piece of work.
When they discuss going to Carsodonia, Kieran tells her there’s no way she’s going alone and that she can appoint someone as Crown Regent to look after things while they are both gone. He also reminds her that Cas is a part of him and will need him there just as much as he needs her. She agrees but tells Kieran that she wants Reaver to come, too. Nektas wants Ires back, and Reaver can help that happen.