✨bia✨’s Reviews > The Courting of Bristol Keats > Status Update

"This too," he said softly, "getting lost in your eyes, and never finding my way out again. This is what I wanted. I wanted you. I'm sorry I took so long to say it."
"And I'm sorry I didn't tell you that I imagined this very moment at least a hundred times."
"You can stop imagining," he whispered, then kissed her, his mouth tender, and she thought she might weep with the sweetness of it.

"Why tonight?" she finally asked. "Why dance with me now? Only because you're king and can do whatever you want?"
His hand slid lower on her back, tugging her closer. "Yes, because I am king," he answered. "And I'm trying to prove something-and I want them all to know it."

The crowd watched, breathless. "Here? Now?" she whispered. "I don't think-"
"The king of Danu wishes to dance," he answered, again, loud enough so that everyone heard. "With you. Here and now." He waited, his hand still extended.

The season, he told himself repeatedly. But the season had never done this to him before.
There are a hundred women in court who would have you.
But he didn't want them.
He wanted Bristol. Only her. In every way, he wanted her.
It was as simple and as complicated as that.

They still are the enemy. Kierus is still a traitor facing a death sentence. Tell her that if we do find him, he faces the worst punishment Danu reserves for traitors like him? That we have a thousand archers waiting for a chance to put an arrow through Maire's heart? That it's not fucking trows she spent her whole life running from, but us? You think she'd help us then? We can't afford truth."

Kierus paced the room, thinking. Of her own accord? They had lied to her They had filled her head with lies. Dread clutched his chest. His daughter was in Tyghan's hands. And now Tyghan was king.
"I need to meet with her," he told Winkip. "I need to get a message to her as soon as possible."

Tyghan suited up to join his knights.
Kierus. Bristol's father. He's here.
It was still sinking in. He should have seen it coming after Kierus turned their plan and Elphame on its head to save Maire. Their failed plan.

"What is that place?" she asked.
"The royal palace," Kasta replied.
'Tyghan lives there?"
"Of course. He's king of the Danu Nation."

He finally cleared his throat like something was caught in it. "I will help you search for him."
"You swear?"
"You have my word. I'll help you search. I can't promise more than that."
"Fair enough," she agreed. The deal was made.

are?"
"I read it in a book I got from the library last month. They're fae.
Willow and all those creatures you described? "I think they might be fae, too."
"Fae?"
"Another name for fairies. Do you think-"
Bristol shook her head. "No, Harper. What I saw were strange beings. Grotesque monsters. Not cute little things with wings—"
"But there's all kinds of fae, Bri. Some are good, some are bad.