A Soul of Ash and Blood

“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—”

“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.”

“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.”

“The loss of a parent or a family member lingers long after they’re gone, the pain lessening but never fading. Years later, you’ll still find yourself thinking that you’d do anything to get them back.”

“I know exactly who she is. Not what she is. Maybe you’ve forgotten that she’s not just a godsdamn inanimate object whose only purpose is to serve a kingdom, but I haven’t.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever told you about that. It wasn’t that I was hiding it from you. I just didn’t want you to feel embarrassed. I also figured you’d probably stab me if you ever learned I had been in your bedchamber while you slept. More than once.”

“Only the bad can be influenced, Princess.”

“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.”

“Nektas. He is one big motherfucking draken.”

“I know you want to do something irresponsible and reckless, but you can’t kill him.”

“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.”

“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.”

“I’d gladly serve any monstrous being if it meant you were safe. I can’t fault him for that. I really can’t. But…I don’t know how I can forgive him for what he planned to do to you. He may not have harmed you with his own hands, but his actions left their marks on you.”

“Death is like an old friend who pays a visit, sometimes when it’s least expected and other times when you’re waiting for her. It’s neither the first nor the last time she’ll pay a visit, but that doesn’t make any death less harsh or unforgiving.”

“We all know what is ultimately at risk here. Not just what we’ve carved out in New Haven, but our lives. Our futures. Our children’s futures. And if we’ve got to bleed for that, we will.”

“Well, now you know that I will never stand by and watch someone hit you or any person for no reason other than they feel they can.”

“Oh, so now you claim ownership of that title? Bear all the responsibilities of such? Good. About damn time. Your parents and Atlantia will rejoice. Alastir will likely come in his pants from happiness, and blah, blah, what-the-fuck-ever, but you aren’t just going to go in there as his Prince. You will be going in there as the Prince of Atlantia—the Prince who governs us all.”