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)
In the tunnels below Wayfair, Kieran and Cas worry about Poppy. She’s cold and doesn’t feel right to them. He and Cas are super overprotective of her—something she doesn’t need in the slightest—and Nektas calls them adorable. Kieran says he doesn’t think he’s ever been called that.
I would call him that all day if he wanted.
They find Ires and help him become himself again, finding out that Jadis is likely being kept in the Willow Plains.
When Poppy passes out and goes into stasis, he and Cas take her to a spare room, and he goes in search of some clothes. He spends most of his time with them and Delano in the chambers, watching her and waiting for her to wake up.
As Cas tells stories to Poppy, talking to her as Nektas said to do, Kieran listens in and interjects in a few places, telling Cas that what happened to him wasn’t his fault, asking if he’s going to tell Poppy the full story about Shea, and reinforcing their bond.
He’s out of the room when the Revenant attacks Casteel and comes in to find his bonded Atlantian not as he left him but as a spotted cave cat. He talks to him, tells him to remember, and can suddenly hear him in his mind. He stops him from eating Emil, sends the Atlantian on his way, and then helps Cas shift back.
They gather the bone daggers and talk about those for a bit, until the walls and floor start to crack, a symbol appears, and Poppy opens her silver eyes.
The Primal of Blood and Bone and Life and Death.
POPPY, CASTEEL, AND KIERAN
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EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ~ HIGHGROVE ANNUAL HERALD MAIL
JASPER AND KIRHA CONTOU
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As the leader of the wolven plus a Council Elder, Jasper holds positions of esteem not only within their group but also with the Atlantians as a whole. And as his wife, Kirha, is revered in her own right.
Hair: Shaggy and silver.
Eyes: Pale blue.
Body type: Tall.
Facial features: Stubble on chin. Tan skin.
Distinguishing features: Black ink on both arms swirling all the way to his shoulders.
Preternatural appearance: Impossibly large. Silver fur.
Other: Has foresight. Imprint is like rich soil and cut grass. Earthy and minty feeling.
Personality: Family-oriented.
Background: Head of the wolven. Member of the Council of Elders.
Family: Wife = Kirha. Son = Kieran. Daughters = Vonetta and new infant.
And his wife, Kirha…
Hair: Cornrows – narrow rows of small, tight braids.
Eyes: Wintery blue.
Facial features: Skin the color of dark, night-blooming roses. Broad cheekbones. Full mouth.
Other: Sometimes has a way of knowing things like her husband and son.
Personality: Warm and maternal.
Habits/Mannerisms/Strengths/Weaknesses: Likes to knit. Has a green thumb. Really hard sleeper.
Background: Wolven.
Family: Husband = Jasper. Son = Kieran. Daughters = Vonetta and new infant. Sister = Beryn.
JASPER AND KIRHA’S JOURNEY TO DATE:
JASPER
Jasper and Kirha are always somewhat lumped into my visions and knowledge of Kieran and Vonetta, but I’ll try to separate some of their more prominent appearances.
Jasper arrives in Spessa’s End during dinner two days after the rest of the group. When he meets Poppy for the first time, he has a visceral response. I can only assume it’s because of the static lightning charge most wolven get from her. When Alastir makes his thoughts known regarding his feelings about Poppy and Casteel’s engagement, and the elder wolven implies that Cas marrying Gianna would have strengthened the wolven/Atlantian relationship, Jasper warns him about overstepping.
As the group eats, and Casteel shares stories about his time with Poppy, Jasper finds it amusing that Poppy stabbed Cas after learning about his original plans for her. It prompts him to remark that Casteel clearly takes after his father regarding women and sharp objects. He then makes his stance clear by saying that if Cas chose Poppy, the rest of them can—and should—too.
In his time with Poppy, Jasper notices that she doesn’t register as others. He mentions it to her, saying she has a different but familiar scent he can’t place. When it’s noted that Poppy might be descended from the Empath Warrior bloodline, he disagrees since very few could heal with their touch.
Jasper officiates at Cas and Poppy’s wedding and remarks that Nyktos approves of it when the day turns to night. He mentions that nobody has seen anything like that since Valyn and Eloana’s wedding, and it wasn’t that overt.
When the group splits off in the Skotos, Jasper goes with Emil and Quentyn. Their group is the first to arrive at Gold Rock for their rendezvous.
Jasper arrives at the Chambers of Nyktos with the other wolven after Poppy is attacked. He’s compelled to protect her, as well, and lets out a rumble of warning when Casteel gets too close to her. When things settle a bit, Jasper shifts and offers Cas his old room at the palace to care for Poppy. When Poppy worries about the wolven’s reaction, he tells her that as long as Cas doesn’t give them a reason to act differently, the wolven will protect Cas as fiercely as they do her.