Nadia Rouison > Recent Status Updates

“Shed made sure it said everything her brother and sister needed to know […] Mother is dead. Im on my way to Vallenia. Its time to reclaim our kingdom. […] Kiva Meridan. Born as Kiva Corentine. The Rebel Queen may have perished at Zalindov but her daughter was alice and well, free of Zalindov after ten long years. The Rebel Princess was finally ready to rise.”

I KNEW IT I KNEW IT

“And wed live with you at the castle?” Jaren nodded. 😼

Page 397- Mots sacrifice:
“Kivas heart clutched at his words. Not at gis threat but because he hadnt said anything about going with them. “Mot…” “get out ‘ere Kiva luv” Mot said his gaze softening as he looked her way then settled on Tipp in her arms. “Give ‘im a good life yeah? Yeh both deserve to find ‘appiness.”
😭😭💔

“Not prince Jaren?” Kiva asked. “No just Jaren.” “What about your highness?” He pulled a face. “Definitely not.” ”your grace?” ”im not a duke.” ”your excellency?” ”not a lord.” “Your majesty?” “Please stop.”

“Jaren couldn’t just harness air and fire. He could also control earth and water. All four elements.” Most powerful Vallentis since the OG queen?

“Then why didnt you leave?” His blue-gold gaze locked on hers. “Because i found a reason to stay.” “Youre a fool” she said her voice barely a whisper.

“Either way her heart was beating almost out of her chest at his proximity at how good it felt to be in his arms even while she warred over everything she knew about him about herself. […] melting into him and closing her eyes […]”

“Jaren wasnt a prisoner—he was a Vallentis. And not just any Vallentis. Hes quite taken with you. […] shed been talking about her brother—her real brother—who had been wearing a dirty tunic and standing in the crowd. […] the real Prince Deverick—it was Jaren.”

“Naaris gaze was steady on hers. “Im Jaren’s Golden Shield. […] highest position of honor for s guard.”

I KNEW IT JARENS A PRINCE

“The prisoners were being poisoned. No not js poisoned. Executed. It was deliberate. And it came from the top. From Warden Rooke himself.”

“A few weeks ago she never would have had the courage to even ask but somehow Naari had become one of the people Kiva trusted the most in the world.”

“Jaren didnt have an amulet. Jaren didnt need an amulet. Because Jaren had elemental magic.” (After he saves her at the third Ordeal)

“But she also had no idea how to reverse that, how to put a stopper in the friendship that was somehow forming between them. Worse she didnt know if she wanted to.” Naari and Kiva

“Naari chuckled “someones been cooped up for too long.” […] “i was perfectly fine yesterday.” The guards reply was dry. “Yes you were the picture of health when you got out of bed snd fell flat on your face.”

“Kiva threw over her shoulder as she walked away not allowing him to see her smile. Naari caught it through her amber eyes sparkling as she took the ladle from Jaren and told him “Why dont you help Kiva” Matchmaker Naari 😭

“shed slept wrapped in him his warmth and strength surrounding her all night keeping her safe and protected in her own Jaren cocoon. The memories brought warm to Kivas cheeks.”

“They were doomed to fail before they even started. And yet despite what her mind was telling her despite all the rules she had carefully maintained for years when he inched forward Kiva didnt stop him. […] “Kiva” he whispered his breath touching her lips. A shiver ran down her spine her eyes drifting shut as one of his hands trailed through her hair before coming to a rest at the base of her neck.”

“But then her legs gave out. […] And Jaren. It was the last who reached her first and before Kiva knew what was happening he swept her into his arms”

“So for every person i carved, I…I cut myself too. […] she still couldn’t look at him afraid of what she might see on his face […] But then he was moving […] until his lips brushed her forehead in a whisper soft kiss. “Thank you for trusting me Kiva.” […] Warmth pooled in her core and a host of butterflies took flight in her stomach as they stared at one another barely a breath apart.”

“The moment Naaris touch was gone Kiva wanted it back. There was nothing steadying her anymore nothing keeping her from falling. “Slow breaths.” Naari whispered too soft for Rooke to hear with him already at the door. “And stay low.”

Naari helping her even though shes not supposed to 🥹🥹

“I wanted to see you before your Ordeal.” Jaren said.

“Naari doesnt seem like most prison guards.” Jaren said stating the obvious. “Shes clearly fond of you.” […] the guard did seem to genuinely care about her

“Naari grabbed Kivas arm and ushered her forward. To onlookers her actions would seem pushy. What they didnt see was how gentle her touch was and the encouraging squeeze of her finger” 🥹

“Kiva walked on shaking legs towards Naari who reached for her but stopped when Kiva visibly recoiled. Naaris hand fell in the air her eyes filled with enough concern that Kiva couldnt look at her […] “but the warden?” “I lied” Naari said. “Rooke isnt waiting for you.” Kiva nearly broke down […] “thank you.”

Naari and Kivas unspoken love for eachother 🥹

“Naari told me what happened.” […] “im fine” […] “Its all right not to be.” Kiva swallowed. […] She didn’t resist when Jaren lay down on the pallet and turned her to face him, pulling her into his arms. […] burrowing deeper into his chest as he held her close […] she drifted off wrapped in Jaren’s embrace, feeling safe and protected for the first time in years.
P.214
her friends worry 😭

“I value everything you say Kiva”

“But…if youll let me, id like to be standing beside you as you fight them.” […] butterflies swarmed in her stomach, bolts of electricity tinged her flesh. […] no matter how her heart was beating, no matter how he was looking at her right now, waiting for her response, she couldn’t make any exceptions (let him in)”

Jaren argued. “They’re mean, untrue slandering said by disrespectful bullies, and you dont deserve to be treated like that.” When he revealed that he was injured because he got into a fight to defend her honor 😼

“Jaren sucked in a startled breath and Kivas eyes jumped up to meet his. They were so close her fingertip on his lip.”

“The guard laughed so hard that she had to wipe tears from her eyes. “Reminds me never to get on your bad side.” Naari said still chuckling.”

“And so the healer and the guard worked side by side into the night, the balance of power between them blurring— and perhaps as Kiva was beginning to realize, fading completely.”

New friendship?!

“Naari however looked about a second away from shaking an explanation out of him.”

Is Jaren royalty and Naari is his designated guard when he was punished to Zalindov?

Could Kiva be the real rebel queen? With healing powers?

“You have the prettiest eyes ive ever seen. Like Sunlight on the sea.” His mouth has curled at the edges and hed leaned closer.

Jaren looked at the guard. “You should go with her.” Hes worried at her 😭

“You can hardly judge that based on only thirty three days of knowing him.” […] Naaris eyes sparkled. “So youve been counting the days?” […] Naari grinned (page 156)

“The young boy leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.”

“You told me Tipp could leave Zalindov if he had a guardian on the outside to collect him” she said. “If i survive the Trials and go free I’ll be his guardian. He’ll leave with me.”

Tipp and Kivas bond 🥰

“Scrunch your nose at me all you want but you’re going straight back to bed.” He told her. True to his threat he wrapped his arm around her again and gently eased her to her feet.”

“He placed his hand over her free one, the calluses on his palm rough against her flesh, yet oddly comforting.”

“A squeeze of his hand made her realize he was still holding hers”

Jaren being so worried abt Kiva 😭

“At the sight of tears in his eyes, she instantly deflated.” Tipp and Kiva (found family❤️)


Jaren and Kiva 🥹:

“She looked at him realizing how close his face was to hers his blue gold eyes right there, and firmly told herself shed never live it down if she blushed while in his arms.”

“She wouldnt let herself be comforted by his touch, no matter how safe, how protected, she felt in his arms.”

“What are you doing here?” […] relief flooding his features. “Why do you always ask me that?” “maybe because I’m constantly surprised to see youre still alive.” 🥹🥹🥹

The princess went on. “You have the spirit of a survivor, and i can’t help respecting that. I’m any other circumstances i think you and i might have grown close. Become friends Even.” After giving Kiva an amulet to help her survive the next trial.

“Hes quite taken with you, you know […]” the prince has a crush on Kiva so he saved her in the first trial

“I still think you have a death wish”

Kiva is a young girl that got kidnapped and sentenced to jail. 10 years later she is working as the prisons main healer with her helps a young bot w a stutter. In the first few chapters she meets a new guard with amber eyes who seems to be treating her well (not punishing her for little things) and a new prisoner named Jaren who she has a little crush on.

“And though it had taken slow, painful time, I knew who i was without him. I was more than the girl, the King and the monster of Blunder’s dark, twisted tale. I was its author.”

🥹