alex > Recent Status Updates

”He hesitated and then nodded, once. That thing he was doing with his mouth—he was definitely smiling down at her. A little begrudgingly, but still. “My pleasure, Olive.”

yay for having real conversations now!

“I changed my mind,” I gasp, hands on my knees. “If you’re still offering your bed, I’ll take it.”

He arches an eyebrow at the exact same moment I realize what I just said.

loving the rom com vibes in this so far

”So,” he said, “when are you going to start trying to persuade me to beseech Tamlin to find a way to free you from the Treaty’s rules?”

and I oop, busted

”But then he averted his gaze, and all that came out was “It would help you out.” He hesitated for a moment. “And I have my reasons.”

why are we hesitating 👀

”Olive was twenty-three and alone in the world. She didn’t want weekends, or a decent salary. She wanted to go back in time. She wanted to be less lonely.”

real

I started this a few days ago and wow, I did not expect to love this so much! it IS an accidental pregnancy romance which I know gets a bad rep, but I feel like the banter and slow burn buildup plus angsty moments in this are my cup of tea!!

Holden never has left me alone—on the team or otherwise. I might’ve joked or pretended to be annoyed, but the boy I’d been for most my life, alone and terrified of being left behind, wanted so desperately for this to be real. For him to be my friend. And he is. Maybe I can trust in that.

stop, I love Toren and Holden’s friendship

The words come out of me too easily, and Paloma doesn’t even flinch. She pulls me back into her arms, against her chest with a tight hug that pushes my breath out.

Paloma and Lily have my heart 🥺

“A date. Is it a date?”

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “I mean I think so.”

“Oh.” Her cheeks color as she nods. “I’ve never been on one before. Not, like, a real one.”

I know, I want to say. And I’m sorry, Lil. Instead, I smile and admit, “Yeah. Me neither.”

Something I’ve said makes her almost giddy as she finally reaches out to take a bite of the cinnamon roll.

🥹🥹

Seeing Lily so riled up always turns me on, but seeing her this terrifying in defense of me? Knowing how things are between us, and she still defends me? A warmth presses through me. Fuck, am I blushing? I am. It’s embarrassing. And yet, I don’t care.

it’s okay to blush, Toren, sweetie

“It’s no wonder no one wants you around. I heard it was a robbery too? That you’d planned the whole thing when you met her? Fucking the little rich girl to get into her house and clean it out?” He laughs but my entire body tightens. What the fuck? This isn’t public. It’s sealed information . . . How the hell does McKill know anything?

so confused right now

“My favorite girl,” he says coyly, sliding his palms flat on the tabletop. “How are you today, Ro?”

Ro, girl I missed you 🥺🥺

I might know more than Lily herself does, about the tragic LaBlanc history. The bright affluent family who went dark after the wealthy matriarch committed suicide. The rumors that her five-year-old daughter went missing in the aftermath, wandering away from the house when there had been no one to watch over her.

wth this is so tragic

My heart squeezes slightly. I want to say I could be your friend—if you want to be mine. But the anxiety over even hinting at my own desperation is enough to have me slumping again with defeat.

aw i love how we get to see Lily’s side of the friendship with Paloma start

”Hey,” Holden says, a tinge softer now. “I don’t want to push you okay? But you can talk to me when you’re ready.”

I’m really liking Holden and Toren’s friendship

A wave of worry unleashes, tamping down the anger that was fueling me. I step toward her. My hand is gentle as I raise it and tuck back her hair. Her fingers grip my wrist, but she lets me do it, my calluses harsh against the sweetened softness of her skin.

ugh I LIVE for the quiet, tender moments like this

“I know you are, Lillian.” He clears his throat. “You are my daughter. And I am going to do what’s best for you. But I put my entire life on pause for the last year and a half trying to help you and nothing has changed. So, we’re going to do this my way now. Do you understand?”

god, Lily’s dad sucks

My dad’s voice reverberates clearly in my mind. “He asked for a restraining order against you, Lillian. Do you not understand what that means?”

wait what?? I’m so confused??

”if it’s uncomfortable,” she’d said, “just tell me. We can get a different one. I— Well, I wish I had more time to make this a better space for you.”

Her words felt like a joke. I’d never had my own room before, but she didn’t need to know that.

I know it’s still early but I like the dynamic that Toren has with Coach Harris and Sahara, it’s like their own little family

I am the sky and the power of every storm that has ever been. I am infinite.

y’all this is so epic, like what???

”Quit telling Sgaeyl about my sleep habits,” I grumble at Tairn.

“I’m not dignifying that demand with a response.”

“Andarna is my favorite.”

Tairn snorts.

lol I love these two

”You never considered that it was you I couldn’t stay away from?”

I crook my right arm and jab it into Xaden’s biceps. He doesn’t mean that. Not when he’s still adamant that kissing me was a mistake. And if he does…I’m not going there.

“Now, now, you’ll give our little communication secret away if you can’t keep from being so…violent.”

Xaden, how did we become so cheeky

”I finished this for you,” Liam says, handing me a figurine as we climb the wide spiral staircase to the third floor.

It’s Tairn. He’s even mastered his snarl. “This is…incredible. Thank you.”

“Thanks.” Liam gives me a grin, flashing his dimple. “I wanted to carve Andarna first, but I’m not around her as much, you know?”

stop making me love you, Liam 🥺🥺

”Rhi? Liam asks, panic evident in his voice. “Is Sorrengail in there with you? Because—“

Rhiannon opens the door, and Liam stumbles inside, catching his balance before his gaze sweeps the room, finding mine.

“There you are! I went to the bathroom, and you disappeared!”

ugh I love Liam

Then again, most everyone in this room can stay on their dragon.

“So can you.”

“Don’t you have better things to do with your day than listen in on my self-loathing?”

“Not particularly. Now pay attention.”

I love when Violet and Tairn sass each other

“We’re all riders. It was part of the deal. We’re allowed to live, allowed a chance to prove our loyalty, but only if we make it through the Riders Quadrant.” He stares at me in bewilderment. “You don’t know?”

that’s actually so messed up though, like they’re just hoping all of them die before they make it to the quadrant

”I’m fine.” I’m not

His focus snaps back to my eyes. “Never lie to me.” He says it with such ferocity, bit out through gritted teeth, that I can’t help but nod in promise.

“It hurts,” I admit.

“Let me see.”

NO BC WHY AM I GETTING BUTTERFLIES

His fingers are warm under my chin as he tilts my head up so our gazes collide. Wait…is that a hint of panic swirling in his?

AH no bc I’m so here for this, angst plus rescuing hits everyone in the feels