Yrene✨’s Reviews > The Dawn of the Cursed Queen > Status Update

"Not just that. We are here to retrieve the last officiant in the realms that can perform the Ritual of Dhihsin."
"What?" I called, nearly tripping over my feet as I followed after him.
"Did I misspeak?" he asked, glancing back at me over his armored shoulder.
"No, it just sounds like you want to perform a ritual we can't actually do since I have no soul. We aren't super, special mates anymore, remember?"
"We are to me," he said, not missing a beat. "We can still perform it. The mark will not appear, but in all ways, you will be what you call in your world my wife."
This time, I did trip. I grabbed on to one of the half-destroyed buildings as we rounded a corner. "Wait, stop."
He did, turning to look at me.
"Are we getting married now? Here?" I asked, gesturing toward the demolished town filled with rubble and smelling like death.
"No, not here." He glanced to where I pointed, then back to me. "I have another place I found while I was away. I want to perform the ritual there."

"Sami." My heart lodged in my throat as another realization struck me. "You planned all this while you were gone?"
He looked at me as if I had grown horns. "Yes. If we cannot share the mark, I want the next best option. I want everyone who encounters us to know who we belong to. I want something that can protect you when I cannot. I thought I'd made my intentions very clear?"
"No. You did, and it's very romantic." My throat dried up at the thought and care he had put into all of this when I thought he wanted nothing more to do with me. "But ..."
"But?"
I shrugged. "It’s just in my world, couples plan weddings together. Family and friends are there, and it's a big celebration."
"It is for us as well, but our family is not with us right now. Also, given what we have learned about my resurrection and what you no longer have, I refuse to search for them or put either of us in harm's way until this is done."
I said nothing, but he caught the change in my posture.

I swear to you, you will have the most extravagant ceremony when we all can be together once more. I'll move every star for that day."
He closed the distance between us and grabbed my hands. "But right now, we don't know when or if we will have time for this again. Every time we get a brief bit of happiness, it is ripped from us. I refuse to wait anymore. I want you, all of you. I love you, all of you, and if I have to carve out time for this, for us, by the old gods and the new, I will do it."
The tension in my shoulders eased, and I took a deep breath. "Okay."
Samkiel ran a hand down the back of my armored neck before stepping back and tugging on my hand. The walk through the destroyed city was quiet aside from the sounds of our armored boots on cracked stone, and then another thought raced through my head.

"You know," I cast a glance at him as we walked hand in hand, "I don't have a dress."
He kept walking, my hand grasped firmly in his, and I struggled to keep up with his long strides. It was as if, now that he had my agreement, he was unwilling to wait any longer.
We passed more abandoned houses, following the road toward a small hill.
"Yes, you do. I bought you one."
"You did?" I couldn't help my smile or the warmth that blossomed in my chest.
"Yes, in my tradition, it is part of the ceremony. The partner who proposes has three tasks they have to complete. One, they have to find a precious gem for their intended, and it has to be rare. That is a sign of how they view their intended. Your stone can only be found at the center of one very active and nasty lava pit.
Two, they are to take care of the event itself. In doing so, they prove they are capable of taking care of their partner.
Three, they handle the attire. If their partner doesn't like what they have chosen, it is said that they do not truly love or know their intended, and the ceremony is voided."
I shook my head in pure bewilderment. "That's actually really romantic."
"It is." He squeezed my hand a fraction tighter.
Stupid tears threatened to blur my vision. I had never been loved like this, I squeezed Samkiel's hand in return, unsure if he even felt it with our gauntlets.
"So if I hate my dress, we call this whole thing off?"

Samkiel laughed. "Yes, but I am not worried in the least."
"Cocky." I bumped into him.
I was so foolish. The entire time he was gone, I had assumed the worst. The part of me still damaged thought he'd be like Kaden. Even though I knew Samkiel would never treat me as Kaden had, I still expected the absolute worst. I'd thought he had given up on us when l'a been the one threatening to pull back. I truly didn't deserve this man, but I no longer cared. He was mine, and I was keeping him.

I didn't have pretty words to offer him, and I sucked at revealing my emotions, so I did what I always did and said, "I am going to fuck you senseless."
His whole body went rigid, and he practically stumbled to a halt.
Silver lined his eyes, and I didn't need to see his full expression to know how my words had affected him. This time, it was his turn to stumble over his words.

"Well... I mean.. we technically could now. If you want? This entire place is abandoned."
I smirked beneath my helmet, dropping his hand as I walked past him, tapping his shoulder. "Ravage me after the ceremony."

😂😂

Page 461

"Wait here," he said. "Just in case."
"In case what?" I asked.
Samkiel didn't answer, but as he stepped closer to the hall, I heard running footsteps coming from my right. A battle cry tore through the air just before I was tackled from the side. I hit the ground with a clang, but the armor absorbed most of the impact. My hands rose instinctively, stopping the descent of the rusty spoon aimed at my face.

A woman with pale skin and swirling white markings on her face snarled at me, exposing conical-shaped teeth. One minute, she was staring daggers at me, and the next, Samkiel had her up on her feet. He yanked the spoon from her hand and tossed it aside.

"Everrine. Be calm." Samkiel's voice was infused with power.
Her sapphire eyes dulled, and her lower lip trembled. She tossed her arms around his neck and sobbed, the flowing white gown she wore dirty and ragged. She clung to him, speaking quickly. I was so glad Samkiel had taught me the common language, or I'd be lost.

"Samkiel," she wept, stepping back so she could look up at him. Her hands clasped the sides of his helmet, and she pulled him down, placing a kiss on each cheek.
I gripped her arm and pried her from him, ignoring her hiss as I pushed her back,

"Mine," I snapped, making sure my eyes flared a vivid red.
She took one look at me and bolted up the stairs, screaming with every step she took.
"Docile, huh?" I asked, folding my arms.
"They usually are." Samkiel rested his hand on my shoulder. "Sorry about that. I-"
"Just go get her before I burn her alive, and we have to do the ceremony ourselves."
"Yes, akrai."

🤭🥰

Good man🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

Page 463


I emerged from the portal, my lungs rejoicing with the pure, sweet air as I took what felt like my first breath. I stepped forward and felt my eyes widen, my gaze flitting all around me, trying to make sense of the incredible beauty. Mountain ranges and narrow spires towered over the valleys, their peaks piercing the dazzling blue of the sky. Forests stretched far and wide, the greens and blues of the trees interspersed with pops of red and ribbons of silvery rivers. Small floating islands cast massive shadows. Waterfalls spilled from their edges and poured into crystalline lakes, adding a shimmery mist to the air that burst into rainbows where the sun shone through.

"What is this place?" I turned toward Samkiel as he dragged the officiant through the closing gate.
"It will be the new Rashearim."
"Here?"
He nodded.
Everrine dropped to her knees the second Samkiel released her.
Raising her hands above her head, she bowed until her face was in the dirt.
"Please forgive me, oh great future queen. I pledge my life to protect you and your kingdom's secrets. Please spare me from my mistake." She continued to ramble on.

"What is she doing?" I glanced at Samkiel. "What did you say to her?"
He shrugged. "I told her you are my future queen, and I want her to perform the ceremony. I assume she feels bad for touching me, even in gratitude. She is asking for forgiveness. Oh, and she also doesn't want you to eat her.”
😂😂
I rolled my eyes and stepped forward, grabbing her arm and pulling her up and off her feet. "Please, stop. I'm not going to kill you or eat you."
She quieted, but her lower lip still trembled. "Unless you don't help us get married, then I might."
"No, no, I will. I swear it." She nodded. "My life is forever in your debt, Queen of Rashearim."
My heart thudded. "I'm not—"
"You will be," Samkiel cut off my denial, walking past us both.
I dropped Everrine on her feet, and she straightened her gown, the arms and tail trailing behind her. "I know it doesn't look like much now, but this place is the most beautiful of all the realms."
"Fitting," I murmured, standing by his side. He caught my joke, remembering how I'd told him how beautiful he was the first time I'd met him.

"I plan for this to be our home and, eventually, the epicenter of New Rashearim. Once I have my powers fully back, that is."
"And we defeat your evil sister."
"That too," he agreed.
"And your evil brothers."
"Yes."
"And also rescue your family."
He chuckled. "Yes, yes, all of that."

Unable to take my eyes off the view before us, I nodded. I could see it, what Samkiel envisioned, but I worried he thought getting his powers back would be easy, Regardless, I'd help him any way I could.
"So, this is what you wanted to show me? Our future?" I said, smiling at him.
"Yes, but this," he held out his hand, his silver armor matching mine as I put my palm in his, "this is what I wanted you to see.

He led me toward the edge of the cliff and stepped behind me. His massive arm took up my vision as he pointed to the left.
There, carved into half the mountain, sat the largest castle I had ever seen.

"What?" I tipped my head back, gazing up at him in shock.
"This was the first place I went after our fight. I needed a place to keep the one person who I love the most safe. Nowhere we have been has been good enough, and when I remembered this realm, I needed to see if it still stood. It does, and it is also abandoned. I checked the entire place. They even left the furniture."
"You left me to go house hunting and wedding planning after we'd just had a major fight?"
He shrugged. "Well, when you say it like that, I suppose it does sound a bit strange."

There he was, once again proving that he was nothing like I'd ever expected. I had been miserable those days after we fought. Miserable and crying and depressed that I had ruined the best thing that had ever happened to me, yet he was quite literally building our future.

"I would burn the world for you," I whispered, meaning every godsdamn word. "Take your helmet off."
It disappeared in a flash, and he reached for my hand, flicking my ring so mine dropped next. His smile broadened, spreading across his face before he leaned forward to kiss me. Every worry I'd had over the last few days melted as his lips touched mine, neither of us caring about the gore that still covered us: I hadn't realized how utterly scared I was that I'd come so close to losing him.

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I stepped forward, the long end of my dress snagging under my heel as I placed my hands on her shoulders.

"Samkiel is broken because of the betrayal from those closest to him. Not you, okay?"
"I should have known about the poison. They were always so sneaky and kept me out of things."
"Miska." I smiled and crouched in front of her. "He is not mad at you. I am not. You saved him. You made an antidote."
Miska nodded. "Thank you for taking care of me and not making me work until my hands bleed."
"I want you to start over. You can be something this world doesn't stamp a label on. You have a home with us, Miska.
Our family may be small right now and a little broken, but it's a family that will always stand by you."
Miska smiled and hugged me gently.

😭

Page 475


“I’ll leave you for a few more minutes, then we shall begin," he said, striding toward the door.
"Wait!" I called out far too loudly. Reggie turned, waiting patiently as if whatever I had to say was the most important thing he had to hear. "Umm..”

I handed Miska the paper, and she looked at me as if I had grown horns while Reggie watched me expectantly. My tongue darted out of my mouth, running over my lower lip. I tugged at a loose strand of my hair, but Miska reached out and swatted my hand away. I pouted at her but took a step toward Reggie, determined to do this.

"On Onuna, a bride would usually have someone give her away. Typically, it was her father, but Gabby and I always agreed that when she got married, I would walk her, you know? And I don't have anyone."
The words were so hard to say. "You have been closer than a friend to me for a while now. You're the closest thing I have to a father figure in that I-kidnapped-you-from-another-realm type way. You have been here guiding me, even on my worst days. So, Roccurem, would you walk me down the aisle?"
🥺😭😭
I met his gaze, a look I had never seen crossing his features. He smiled, joy lighting his eyes. "I did not see that coming."
My finger lifted, and I pointed at him. "Ah-ha! See, even fate doesn't know everything."
Reggie gave me a deadpan expression. "That does not change the outcome. Samkiel is not leaving you."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, dropping my hand. "So what do you say? My adopted father died with my adopted mom when Rashearim fell, and my real father sent me away, then was mind tortured and tried to kill me. So, do you want to be my stand-in daddy?”
"Never repeat those words." He rubbed his brow before dipping his head slightly. "But, yes. It would be my honor to escort you, Dianna."

I smiled so big my cheeks ached, Reggie left the room, and I turned to Miska. I took a shuddering breath and extended my hand. "Okay, hand it over."
She laughed brightly, the sound like tinkling bells, and handed me the small piece of paper.
"All right, let's memorize some words and get married."

Page 482


All I saw was Samkiel.

Everrine coughed discreetly, and we both jerked and turned toward her. We stood side by side as we had been since our first meeting. I tried and failed to hide the smile that refused to leave my face as Everrine began speaking. She held a bejeweled chalice in one hand. With the other, she drew a rune in the air before us and said something in a language I didn't know. The rune glowed for a moment before dissipating. She spoke another word and drew a different rune. It flared to life before fading.

Everrine placed the chalice down and held her hands out toward us, nodding. I glanced up at Samkiel and followed his lead as he offered her his hand, palm up. She clasped his first, drawing a blade with her free hand.
The growl that escaped my throat had her taking a step back, her eyes wide. I hadn't even realized I had moved, but I had stepped in front of Samkiel.

"It’s okay." Samkiel smiled brightly. "It's a part of the ritual."
(He loves to see her so protective of him😂😂)
"You didn't tell her?" Everrine squeaked. "Oh, praise the old gods."
Ritual?
"Blood of my blood," I said, remembering what Reggie had told me in that tunnel.
"Exactly," he said, pulling me back to his side and nodding toward Everrine. "Continue, please."
I steadied my nerves. Apparently, I was more on edge than I'd thought.

Everrine kept an eye on me as she stepped back into place and tentatively reached for Samkiel's hand. I watched as she drew the blade across his palm, silver blood rising to meet the air. The Ig'Morruthen in me thrashed and ripped at me, wanting to burn her to ash for the slight alone. But I swallowed and fisted my hands, forcing myself to remain in place. He was fine. He was not in danger. He was alive. I repeated it like a mantra, even if my body didn't believe me. I wondered if my anxieties would ever calm when it came to threats to the ones I loved after watching both him and Gabby die. Or was this an overprotective side effect to our marks being gone?

She turned to me, asking for mine next. I held out my hand, palm up. My lip twitched as she dragged the blade across it, and i felt power encircle me like a vise. My eyes lifted, and I caught Samkiel watching me intently. I wondered if it was a struggle for him to see me bleed as well.
Everrine brought our hands together, and I eagerly pressed my palm to his.

"Blood to seal," Everrine said, picking up a silky length of ribbon the color of sunlight.
"A cloth of Dhihsin to symbolize two souls merging into one," she said, tying the ribbon around our hands.
"The Dhihsin?" I whispered to Samkiel.
Samkiel smirked and lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug. "Not really, but we had to improvise. Short notice and all."
Everrine glared at us, shushing us with a look that only made us smile harder.
☺️
She stepped back and raised her hand as if to give a grand speech, but my eyes were glued to Samkiel. He looked so good. I loved how his jacket and cape curved and draped over his broad shoulders and muscled arms. Those powerful arms had carried me despite every cruel or harsh thing I had done. He lifted me when all I wanted to do was fall.
Samkiel smiled at me as if he could read my mind. This was love.
This was what it felt like. What it was supposed to feel like.

I finally understood why others would go to war for it and clash or rage at its demise. I knew ifI lost him and his love, the universe would quake at the mention of my name.

" now all who witness thee shall know the union is not to be forsaken."
She spoke to the room, but only the three of them stood near us.
"Now, she clasped her hands, "repeat after me."

"By my blood. I am made. In sickness and in health, I am by your side. Sworn to you and no others, I am forever yours. My heart remains yours for eternity and after. Forever awaits, and from today onward, you and I will be one in heart, body, and mind. These words, this oath, are engraved on my soul."

Page 484



LAUGHTER FLOODED THE LARGE ROOM AS MISKA WAS SPUN FROM Reggie to Orym and back. Her smile almost touched her ears as she twirled, and I was sure mine matched. I grasped Reggie's hands as Samkiel spun me toward him, Miska taking my spot. Another twirl, and we switched once more. I heard her say something about using the bathroom as the other two talked about food. I leaned in, back in my husband's arms once more.

"What's that face?" Samkiel asked, his finger flicking under my chin.
"This?" I scrunched my nose. "This is my happy face."
"Ah. Do you wish to know a secret?"
I nodded.
He leaned down and whispered, "I'd sell the world to see it every day."
I pulled back with a fake gasp. "The entire world?"
He nodded. "The entire thing."
"That's not very heroic of you."
He shrugged with a smirk as he spun me. "I have my moments."
😂
A small laugh left my lips as I turned back to him, clasping his hand and leaning forward, fitting my body to his. I rested my head on his chest, one arm outstretched, my hand cradled in his as we danced to a slow piano melody. A light mist swirled around our feet. I wasn't sure where it had come from, and I didn't care.
"It was almost perfect," I whispered. "I wish everyone else was here."
I felt him stiffen as if he had been thinking the same. "Me as well.”
"Cameron would have already done something absolutely mischievous, Xavier at his side. I'm sure Logan and Neverra would have asked us to dance several times, Imogen would have several guards falling at her feet, and I'd make sure she didn't go home alone."
He rested his cheek on the top of my head as we continued our slow dance. "You know them so well."
"I want another big ceremony when we're all together again," I asked, leaning back.

His eyes searched mine, but his smile didn't reach them as he said,
"Me too."
"I won't lie to you," I said, my throat bobbing. "Never again, but at first, I truly believed there was no hope for them."
"I know," he whispered. "I could always see the deflection in your eyes when I spoke of them. I also know that you'd never say it out loud because of how much I love them."
"I was wrong."
His head reared back. "What?"
"Back at the prison when we found Logan. He didn't respond when he saw me, so I brought you up top to see him. At first, I hated it because there was no reaction to you either, and I didn't want to disappoint you. But when you turned to leave, and I swear on Gabby's life, I swear I saw him blink. Just once."
Samkiel didn't say anything, but he slowed our dance.
"You did?" he asked. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"You were so sad the next morning. I just didn't want to give you false hope, but I did see it. We will get them back, Sami." My hand tightened on his arm. "I swear it."
"We will." His lips brushed my forehead as he spun me around. "Just dance with me tonight. We can talk about battle plans and schemes tomorrow."