Cress ’s Reviews > Prince's Gambit > Status Update

<0i>He felt hot, then cold. He thought of Laurent’s delicate, needling talk that froze into icy rebuff if Damen pushed at it, but if he didn’t—if he matched himself to its subtle pulses and undercurrents—continued, sweetly deepening, until he could only wonder if he knew, if they both knew, what they were doing.

Oh he absolutely is in love with him.

‘Damianos,’ Touars said. ‘Prince-killer.’
It was the last thing he said. Damen pulled the sword out. He took a step back.
Of what Jord, for the second time that day, was seeing.
‘Does he know?’ said Jord.

Fuck! shit.

Each word was precise. ‘That is how Akielons win wars, isn’t it? Why fight the whole army, when you can just cut off the head?’

I swear he knows!!! I think he might've known all along!! It just makes no sense that he doesn't know.

‘I need you to captain the men. Take the command from Jord. It’s yours. It should have been you,’ said Laurent, ‘from the start.’ ... ‘I have spent a month playing battle games with you over a map. Your strategy in the field is better than mine. Is it better than that of the border lords of my country? Advise me, Captain.’

Damnnn

‘I don’t betray my family. I’m not like you,’ said Aimeric. ‘You hate your uncle. You had unnatural feelings for your brother.’
‘At thirteen?’

Exactly at 13??? And who is the crazy person who would want to love a pedophile??? 🤬

‘I have your oath that you will see this border skirmish through to its end? Then you have mine: stay with me until this thing is done, and I will take off the cuffs and the collar. I will release you willingly. We can face each other as free men. Whatever is to fall out between us can do so then.’

HOLY SHIT LAURENT!!!!

‘But I think the rudiments are easy to master. If you like.’
He applied a gentle pressure with his thumbs. He said, ‘You brought me ice, last night.’
‘This,’ said Laurent, ‘is a little more—’ It was a word of sharp points: ‘—intimate,’ he said, ‘than ice.’
‘Too intimate?’ Damen said. Slowly, he was kneading Laurent’s shoulders.

OMG OMG OMG

That was their Prince for you, a twisty, vicious fiend who you should never, ever cross, unless you wanted your gullet handed to you on a platter. Why, he once rode a horse to death just to beat Torveld of Patras to the mark.

The Regent is gonna haaaaate this 🤣

His voice had the same quality as his gaze. ‘This is close quarters.’
‘Close enough to see your eyelashes,’ said Damen. ‘It’s lucky you do not have the size to breed great warriors.’ And then he stopped himself. ...
‘My size,’ said Laurent, ‘is the usual. I am not made in miniature. It’s a problem of scale, standing next to you.’

Ughhh I loveee their interaction!!!

Laurent answered in a hard, unyielding voice, ‘The slave lies in no bed but mine.’
‘You couple with men, in the Veretian style?’ said Halvik. ‘Then he will be taken and prepared for you; he will be given good cuts of meat, and hakesh, so that when he mounts you, his endurance will bring you great pleasure. You see? This is Vaskian hospitality.’

Ew i hatee when they say mount, it sounds so animal.