A Soul of Ash and Blood

“I would really appreciate not having to do the whole dying and coming back to life thing at the moment. Or having to regrow limbs. That shit sucks. Growing skin and bone isn’t fun. It’s painful, in case anyone is wondering.”

“No one knows about any of that—what I used to do to escape everything. Except for Kieran. He knows. He had no choice with the bond.”

“You can’t change what happened in there. Just like you can’t change the fact that the courtyard used to give you peace. You just replace your last memory—a bad one—with a new one—a good one. And you keep doing that until the initial one no longer outweighs the replacement.”

“The Queen will be most pleased with your devotion, Hawke. I’m sure she’ll reward you greatly for your service to the Crown.”

“But the night on the Rise, when the Craven attacked, I realized then that Kieran and I really had underestimated you.”

“That strange feeling I’d felt when we were beneath the willow? The sensation of rightness? It was a part of my soul recognizing yours. Heartmate. That’s what I felt falling into place. I had no idea that was what I was feeling then.”

“Like I said before, I don’t give a fuck that you’re the Maiden. I would think you would’ve realized that by now.”

“The next time, do as I order, not as you see fit. We need the Maiden unscathed when I take her. Disobey me again, and it will be your head That goes for everyone.”

“I told you the truth, Princess. I’m intrigued by you, and it’s fairly rare anyone intrigues me.”

“I should’ve known something was up with the Duchess when she had no problem with me being in your chambers, but things always seem different in hindsight, don’t they? I couldn’t even consider then that they knew who I was and not only allowed me to take you but practically helped facilitate it.”

“Only the bad can be influenced, Princess.”

“She’s survived some horrible shit and has the scars and strength to prove it. She’s brave, Kieran. Passionate. Hungry for life and experience. She’s fierce, even a little vicious when provoked. Or a lot vicious. You were right when you said we’d underestimated her. She’s nothing like we expected.”

“From the first time in the Red Pearl to this moment, what I felt was real. It was always real because I…I’d fallen in love with you long before I realized it. I was on the edge before we even left Masadonia, and I began falling when we arrived in New Haven. By the time we made it to Spessa’s End, I knew I was in love with you.”

“But I was about to begin learning just how wrong I was about you. Because I was about to finally meet you, and you…You were about to meet who I used to be.”

“Sorry. I didn’t realize we were back to pretending we hadn’t done all those other inappropriate things. Not that I’m surprised. After all, you’re a pure, untainted, and untouched Maiden. The Chosen. Who’s saving herself for a Royal husband,” I went on. “Who, by the way, will not be pure, untainted, or untouched—”

“I prefer the name Casteel or Cas,” I stated. “If you don’t want to call me that, you can call me Prince Casteel Da’Neer, the second son of King Valyn Da’Neer, brother of Prince Malik Da’Neer, but do not call me the Dark One. That is not my name.”

“Talk to her. That’s what Nyktos did when she was in stasis. I don’t know if she heard him, but I think it helped. I know it helped him.”

“We are of two worlds. He is only of one, and it’s far too easy, even for a god and a Primal, to lose themselves if they stay in their animal form for too long.”