#CARDAN IS HUSBAND AND FATHER MATERIAL

[ezziefae]

Part 2 THOUGHTS ON THE PRISONER"S THRONE PROLOGUE (spoilers)

I linked the prologue in part 1, click to read.

it’s absolutely horrific that Dain went this far to secure the throne. and it’s so sad to think about how Oak could’ve almost died. My poor boy.

well…a few relationships in the family have clearly not changed..

this interaction between jude and cardan is so…*chefs kiss* like wow. it pretty much summarizes their relationship. oh they’re adorable. i mean cardan turning into a snake was definitely an eventful experience for elfhame, if the folk aren’t composing songs about something else then it means that nothing eventful has beaten the snake incident. LOL

oh, speaking about biting..if had the chance to know wren i believe he would actually like her.

the topic of jude and cardan having kids will definitely play a role in this book. as of now, Oak believes Jude doesn’t want kids to make it clear that Oak will be next in line. Holly did say that we will know the answer to that question in this book. what do you guys think will happen?

LOTS OF THING TO UNPACK HERE…

in this part, leander asks oak to play with him, and oak says no. then leander accusingly say to him that Cardan PLAYS with him…

i find myself suprised to hear that, but it makes sense to Cardan’s character. Could holly be telling us that Cardan wouldn’t mind having kids of his own with Jude? could it be that jude and cardan DO want children but aren’t doing it for now to secure Oak’s line in the throne? Cardan does seems very good with Leander, despite him being the son of Locke who destroyed relationships and hurt Cardan’s loved ones. Any thoughts to that? jude and cardan could have their own reasons, maybe they don’t want kids at all, or maybe it’s too soon. But let me remind everyone that children in faerie are rare, and are treasured.

One last thing before we move on..It’s interesting to see that Cardan has told Leander stories about his father. Like what stories are even WORTH telling his KID. he was a terrible person. I’m cackling.

BINGOOOO, this is the reason why oak thinks cardan doesn’t like him!! from what it looks like, it seems like it’s a misunderstanding. But Tiernan did mention that “He knows.” So Cardan might definitely be suspicious of something.

Part 3 here!!

[she-who-fights-and-writes]

She-who-fights-and-writes Coronacation Book Rec List

I know that a lot of people are stuck at home right now in dire need of entertainment, so I decided I’d put out a book recommendations list of all the books I’m currently reading and all of my must-reads!

(Just a note that a lot of these are Fantasy because I’m a fantasy nerd haha)

Books/Series I am currently reading

1. The Folk of the Air Trilogy by Holly Black (Currently on #2, The Wicked King)

Genre: High Fantasy

Setting: The land of Faerie which is kind of historical, but in the human world it is modern day

Main cast :

Jude Duarte (white, human, cutthroat, if I saw her in a Denny’s Parking Lot at 3am I would RUN)

Cardan Greenbriar (white, faerie, the true embodiment of Bastard)

Vivienne (Jude’s half-sister, lesbian with canon gf, half-human half-faerie, I would totally try to be her friend)

Taryn Duarte (Jude’s twin sister, queen doormat, still, I would take a bullet for her she’s jUST TRYING TO FIT IN)

Rating: 5/5 Stars

These books have been on my “To Read” list for so long now and for some reason I just never got around to reading them! Hands-down, these are some of the best high fantasy books that I’ve read in a long, long while.

I finished the first book, The Cruel Prince, in just two days and rated it 5/5 stars! Even though these books are high fantasy and focus on the traditions and ways of life of faeries, somehow all of the characters seem like I could meet them in real life!

The main character actually has genuine flaws and not just “””“flaws”””” and is a Bad Bitch down with murder, and the plot had me on the edge of my seat from page one!

The summary makes it sound like it’s going to be about their romance, but it’s really mostly about a power struggle and Jude being a badass.

Goodreads summary for The Cruel Prince:

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences. As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

2. The Raven Cycle Series by Maggie Stiefvater (Currently on #1, The Raven Boys)

Genre: Present-Day/Realistic Fantasy (?)

Setting: The fictional town of Henrietta, Virginia

I haven’t gotten around to much of the book, so there’s not much I can tell you about the characters and I can’t properly give it a rating yet.

These books were also on my “To Read” list for a while; I was a huge fan of her book The Scorpio Races and have also been looking for something to quench my thirst for “private school/ghosts/magic” that I’ve been dealing with ever since I read The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo.

I’ve only JUST started The Raven Cycle yesterday, but so far I am hooked! I’m super worried because I’m TERRIBLE at juggling two series at a time but both of these are just so interesting! 

Goodreads Summary for The Raven Boys:

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.” It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive. Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

MY MUST-READ BOOK LIST

1. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Genre: Historical Fiction

Setting: 1700s Europe (England, Paris, Barcelona, Marseilles, Venice)

Main cast (I’ll try my best not to spoil anything because you find out a LOT of different stuff about these characters throughout the book):

Henry “Monty” Montague (white, bi/pansexual, attitude problem)

Percy Newton (mixed race, gay, very sweet boy, definitely got “most likely to bring home to mom” in the yearbook)

Felicity Montague (white, Monty’s little sister, headcanoned as asexual, I love her to death)

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Daring adventure, gay representation, historical setting, hilarious characters!

This book literally has it all! I would consider it one of my favorite books of all time, yet for some reason I’ve never gotten around to reading any of the sequel books! The ending is very satisfying and ties everything together, which I feel is part of the reason why I haven’t gotten around to them yet. 

Therefore, it can serve as a one-shot read or a full series if you want to dive into something good!

The humor made me laugh out loud at points and all of the characters are very real and very, very relatable, not to mention the vivid settings of 1700s Europe!

Goodreads summary:

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men. But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy. Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

2. The Ninth House By Leigh Bardugo

Genre: Horror, Fantasy 

Setting: Yale University and the town of New Haven, Present Day

Main cast:

Galaxy “Alex” Stern (Hispanic, sees dead people, very scary)

Daniel Arlington “Darlington” (white, rich, an angel who can sometimes be a dick)

Pamela Dawes (tbh I honestly don’t remember what she looks like, only that she’s a tired grad student with big nerd energy)

Detective Alan Turner (Black, takes shit from nobody, husband material)

Rating: 4/5 Stars

(NOTE: THIS IS VERY DARK ADULT FICTION AND CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT MAY BE TRIGGERING FOR SOME PEOPLE, WOULD NOT RECOMMEND FOR PEOPLE UNDER 16)

This book is a great read for someone who’s looking for a disturbing, gritty book with layers upon layers of secrets that you have to peel away as the mystery unfolds. I love the secret societies and the intricate magic systems that the book introduces, and it actually made me hungry for more books like it!

 Alex is a three-dimensional, very real character who also serves as an unreliable narrator who witholds or warps the information that she’s telling you, making the narrative all the more riveting.

The only issues that I have with it are the fact that Leigh Bardugo kind of just dumps you in the middle of it without explaining stuff first, to the point where it kind of feels like you’re reading the second installment of a series rather than the first one, so things can get a bit confusing at first.

The book also can drag and draw things out for a bit too long, but once the plot fully kicks into gear, you will not be able to put it down!

Goodreads summary:

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

3. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Setting: Earth, Space, The Moon

Main cast :

Linh Cinder (Chinese, based on Cinderella, cyborg, certified badass)

Scarlet Benoit (French, based on Little Red Riding Hood, farmer who is not afraid to shoot you)

Cress Darnel (White, based on Rapunzel, nerd, I will protect her with my life if I have to)

Kaito “Kai” (Chinese, based on Prince Charming, kind of has to run a whole country, a very kind soul, deserves a nap)

Carswell Thorne (White, based off of Rapunzel’s Prince, bastard)

Winter Hayle (Black, based off of Snow White, royalty, has super special powers)

Wolf (Race unspecified, based off of the Big Bad Wolf, charming killing machine, furry????) 

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Do you like fairy tales?

Have you ever wanted to know what fairy tales would be like if they took place in the FUTURE instead of the PAST? 

Do you like an amazing, hilarious cast paired with a super interesting plot? 

These are the books for you!

I haven’t read them in so long, but I remember how much joy I felt while devouring these pages. Definitely something you will not able to put down!

Goodreads Summary for Book #1: Cinder: 

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

4. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Genre: Fantasy

Setting: Ancient Greece

Main cast:

Patroclus (Greek, Gay, quiet pining) 

Achilles (Greek, gay, very strong, student athlete energy)

Brisies (Anatolian, clever, literally the only one in this story who has a brain cell)

Rating: 100000/5 stars

This is basically the Iliad but if historians hadn’t completely erased Patroclus and Achilles’ relationship. “Haha yeah these guys were totally bros” they say, even though I have read the Iliad and their relationship isn’t even subtle.

This book made me cry at least ten times. It’s just so beautifully written and has such a distinct vibe to it that whenever I crack it open for another time, it takes me straight back to the vacation that I read it on. (Needless to say, sobbing your eyes out can be less than helpful when you’re on the beach)

If you can only read one book on this list, it should be this one. I could talk all day about it and write novels on just how much of an incredible writer Madeline Miller is, but I feel like you’d get my drift a bit better if you actually read the book.

Goodreads Summary:

Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles' mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear. Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

Hope this list helps you through your coronacation, and please don’t be afraid to reblog or message me to tell me if you’ve read/will read any of these!

[darklesmylove]

wicked games ch 5 | jurdan

check it out on ao3 as well!

Jude's P.O.V

"Jude- holy hell, what the fuck?"

The sound of Vivi's voice shot me out of my unconscious state with a jolt, my eyes flying open to see her standing at the door to my room, mouth agape. "What?" I groused, my voice still hoarse from sleep as I propped myself up on my elbows, rubbing a hand over my eyes with a lazy swipe of fingers. She remained silent, stare wide and unblinking as slowly, she motioned to the spot next to me on the bed.

It was then I became acutely aware of a warm body wound around mine, arm slung over my waist and neck buried into my side. My eyes flickered down to the shock of raven black hair, a flash of memories quickly flooding back in an exhausting wave. A guttural noise of distaste fell from my lips.

"I told him to fucking sleep on the couch," I muttered, the comment more for myself or Vivi's benefit I didn't know. With a roughly placed hand, I shoved him off of me, making him moan softly in his sleep as he turned over onto his side, face burying into the mountain of pillows.

At least he had had the decency to keep his clothes on while we slept. Naked Cardan would have made for a far more difficult explanation.

I tossed the comforter from my body, sliding off of the bed and slowly making my way over to Vivi's side with reluctant, trudged steps. She arched a brow pointedly.

"He showed up here drunk and alone last night," I grunted, my eyes narrowing as I glanced back over to him. He was splayed out now in typically royal fashion, lips parted slightly and head tilted to the side.

"That's unexpected," Vivi commented mildly, her chin resting in her hand as she evaluated him. A moment of silence lingered. "You're not going to kill him, are you," she sighed with an air of despondence, as if resigned to having to accept that I might say yes.

My thoughts flickered to the events of the previous night, the press of my blade cutting into his throat. "No." My jaw set. "But he's going to wish he was dead."

She tilted her head to the side at that, contemplating as her smile grew. "Sounds appropriate. Just make sure you keep the screaming to a minimum, I don't want Oak getting any ideas about murder yet." I laughed lightly, sending an ache through my chest at the vibration. It felt so good to laugh, and I did so little of it since being exiled. My teeth grazed over my lower lip as she touched my shoulder lightly in a silent gesture of support before turning and walking back down the hallway.

Reluctantly, I let my eyes slowly travel back to Cardan. Somehow he was still fast asleep, not disturbed in the slightest by my movement or my conversation with Vivi.

He slept how a prince slept.

The thought left a tang of bitterness on my tongue, turning my lips. Briskly, I crossed the room with tight steps, making my way to the side of the bed and roughly shaking his shoulder. He mumbled something indiscernible, half rolling over and pawing at my arm. "Get up, now," I ordered, shoving his hand away and tearing the covers from his body. He whimpered in soft protest. His gaudy shirt had somehow fully unbuttoned during the night, the silky material hanging off of one shoulder and leaving the whole of his pale, muscular torso exposed. My mouth went dry.

Damn him.

"Cardan, you have two seconds before I throw you onto the floor," I sharply spoke. That seemed to grab his attention, his eyes cracking open a sliver.

"Good morning to you too," he grumbled, sullen and still slightly deluded from sleep.

"Yeah, good morning to you sleeping in my fucking bed," I snapped, my arms folding tightly over my chest, "I told you to sleep on the couch. Invade my privacy again and you'll be missing a finger or two when you wake up." His dark lashes finally fully fluttered open, focusing on me as his lips curved upwards just slightly.

"I seem to remember you invading my privacy once before. And before we were married, even, shame on you."

A twinge of unpleasantness turned in my mouth at the memory. The same night he had asked me to be his wife. The night before everything I had built for myself came crashing down in spectacular fashion.

"You're seemingly forgetting that I was considering slitting your throat last night, don't think that that option is off the table yet," I narrowed my eyes, jaw clenching. His smirk faded quickly back to a grim line in response, though he remained silent. Turning on my heels, I strode over to my closet, an invisible hand curling around my heart and squeezing painfully as I pulled out a cardboard box. Old clothes that once belonged my mother and father, other bits and pieces of their possessions and our old life before Faerie were stuffed clumsily inside, full to the brim. I had shoved it away to the back of my closet in the bitter hope that the saying 'out of sight, out of mind' was true, though so far it had proven to be wrong. I pulled out a plain black t-shirt with some mortal band logo and black jeans, the material bunching in my grip for a brief moment as I stared down at it.

A tight exhale.

Balling the clothing up, I promptly threw the outfit at him, hitting him square in the chest with the bundle of material. His lip curled just slightly in distaste as he eyed the plain mortal clothes. "Get up and get dressed." The bite to my words was venomous, yet still didn't seem nearly enough to convey the mess of hate and loathing and anger still brewing at the back of my throat. I raised a brow when he made no move to comply, the charcoal lining his eyes smudged in dark circles, contributing to the slightly haunted look gracing his features.

"You have five minutes." My smile was bitterly sweet. "I don't think you'll like the alternative if you're late."

***

"This wasn't the alternative option?"

Cardan looked positively revolted at our surroundings, trailing me with little enthusiasm as I strode down the sidewalk. "The alternative option was your heart being carved out of your chest by a butter knife," I hummed, unable to keep the smirk from curling at the corner of my lips as he continued to toss horrified glances at the cars zipping down the street and sullen glowers at every passerby that stared a second too long. Taking Cardan out with me for errands had been a snap decision, but the alternatives all seemed much worse at the time. Now in the presence of his stream of continuous complaints that never seemed to stop, I wasn't so sure.

"What are those?" he finally asked, eying the traffic and the obnoxious noises that came with it.

"Cars," I answered mildly.

"How do they move? Where are the horses? Why are they so loud?" he questioned in rapid succession, sounding especially perplexed along with a touch of distress. He let out an audible sigh of frustration when I ignored him, jogging forward a few steps to walk in line with me, matching my long strides with ease.

"What do you want from me, Jude?" he scowled, "You cannot drag me around your horrible mortal world and not even speak to me."

My steps didn't falter, though my hands curled into tight fists. "I'm the Queen of Elfhame, I can do whatever I want with my husband," I tossed back.

Something like surprise flickered in his eyes, he quickly fell to silence at my unexpected response. Good.

We strode through the Target parking lot, Cardan matching me step for step as we approached the sliding doors marking the entrance, a tense quiet enveloping us. I paused a few paces shy, making him jerk to a sudden halt. "Don't make a scene or I swear I will gut you in the middle of the store," I warned, pointedly tapping the knife strapped under my pants, the outline of the blade clear even through the relatively thick fabric.

"Now why would I do that, my sweet, darling Jude?" he spoke sarcastically, immediately flinching when I took a purposefully intimidating step towards him.

"Shut up and don't talk, you're giving me a headache," I groused, turning on my heels and promptly entering the building through the sliding doors. A rush of cool air conditioning made goosebumps scatter across my skin, my hand reaching up to glide over my arm in instinctive response.

"What-what is this magic?"

A quick glance over my shoulder revealed Cardan hadn't moved, staring at the door with wide, slightly fearful eyes. I would have laughed in any other context.

The High King of Elfhame, terrified by a set of doors.

"It's not magic, they can detect movement, now come on, we don't have all day," I sank into one hip, my arms folding over my chest as they began to slide shut again. The space between his brows crinkled slightly in both disapproval and concern as, slowly, he inched forward, steps small and cautious. The movement of the doors stuttered half way through closing, opening up again for him. He stepped across the threshold with a swift, terrified leap, a clear breath of relief escaping his chest as he made it through, shoulders slumping. "You're alive, congratulations," I rolled my eyes, snatching a basket from the stack by the entrance and quickly making my way towards the aisles of food.

"So what is this mortal store called? They have names, do they not?" he matched my strides with leisure, the question hinting both at disdain and the slightest measure of curiosity.

My brow furrowed. "Target." Cool air washed over my skin as we made our way down the produce aisle, brightly colored fruit spilling from every row and display, begging to be picked.

"Target? Like a target to kill?" he frowned in unease, an instinctive glance over his shoulder quickly following.

I snorted as I picked up a bundle of ripe bananas, placing them carefully in the basket dangling from my other hand. "No, Cardan, it's just a name. If I was going to have you shot I would be less obvious about it." He huffed in response, grabbing for an apple from the top of the mountain of fruit, promptly taking a generous bite of it. "Cardan, that's really not allowed," I spoke through gritted teeth, jaw clenched as he wiped the juice from his now glistening lips. The sight made my breath hitch in my chest, stuttering on instinct.

"A king can do what he wants," he lofted with an overly haughty air, proceeding to take another pointed bite.

"You're insufferable," I grumbled, steps smacking against the linoleum flooring as I turned on my heels and stalked down the rest of the row with clenched fists.

Even with him plucking at my last nerve with maddening precision, I wanted to shove him up against the wall and have my way with him. Maybe his idiocy was starting to rub off on me.

A storm cloud of brooding might as well have been thundering over my head as I wound up and down the aisles, snatching various foods we needed and throwing them into my basket with barely restrained aggression. Cardan, quite intelligently, chose to remain silent as he trailed me throughout the store.

That is, until we reached the row entirely dedicated to alcohol.

His charcoal black eyes immediately lit up, a smile beaming on his lips as he greedily drunk in the sight of bottles upon bottles of liquor stacked together. "Now this is more like it," he grinned, proceeding to begin to grab several of them without hesitation. The smirk that gradually worked its way up my lips as I regarded him almost immediately made him still, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What?"

My shoulders lifted in a mockingly innocent shrug. "Nothing. Besides the fact that you're too young to buy alcohol here. Sobriety is not going to look good on you, I can tell you that." The expression that flashed across his elegant features could only be described as one of horror.

"We can't get drunk?"

I shook my head, humming in smug delight as satisfaction coursed through my veins. "This is outrageous, I am a King and I will do what I want, no mortal is going to keep me from drinking," he glowered in a childlike manner, seemingly dangerously close to stomping his foot in indignation.

"Unless you want to be put in jail, which I wouldn't be at all opposed to seeing as then you'd be someone else's problem," I shrugged with an air of nonchalance.

His mouth twisted. "You have got to be joking, Jude. Please tell me you are utilizing your mortal aptitude for lying."

My head canted, my smirk deepening. "No, Cardan. What a shame, isn't it? Now let's go, I have everything I need." His shoulders slumped in sullen defeat, stacking the bottles back onto the shelf in slow, unenthusiastic succession.

My mind wandered in an attempt to tune out his grumbling as he trudged behind me, my lips turning in bare amusement. The thought of Cardan living in the mortal world was mildly hysterical. His mannerisms, the way he talked, the way he dressed, all starkly differentiated him from any normal human being. Whether he was wearing a crown or not, Cardan Greenbriar had an air of royalty that clung to him wherever he went. He would fit in about as well as I did. Or rather didn't.

"Jude. Jude. Jude."

The sharp tug on the sleeve of my shirt brought me back to reality with a series of blinks in rapid succession. Cardan's fingers lingered at my arm, tethering me in place as he gazed up at the make up display in pure awe. Eyeliner and mascara were stocked full on the shelves, the model in the picture adorned with a blend of green and blue sparkly eyeliner framed by dark lashes. "Look at the all the eyeliner Jude," he breathed.

"Do we really have to stop for everything that catches your eye, Cardan?" I bit out poisonously despite the warm amusement flickering in my chest at the sight of him so excited.

"But..." he trailed off, wide eyes looking back and forth from me to the display almost pleadingly. A sharp breath of frustration emptied from my lungs. I was supposed to be furious with him, not having my heart melt at the sight of him giving me puppy eyes.

Well, if I was going to kill him later, he might as well look beautiful while I was doing it.

"Fine. Pick one." My tone was coldly firm, making me proud at my level of control at not hinting at my true emotions.

His reaction was almost childlike as he clapped his hands together, releasing my arm in favor of perusing through the available selections.

One soon become a half dozen as he swiped every single color on the shelf, including one that was pure glitter. The smile he flashed me as our eyes met, his arms full of products, was dazzlingly charming.

"Do you know how expensive this stuff costs?" I raised a brow.

He rolled his eyes. "I'll pay you back in gold."

I didn't put much thought into responding to the fact that he would have to go back to Faerie to repay me, instead giving in with a soft grumble of dissent as he emptied the contents in his arms into the basket. "Now we're leaving. Nothing else," I scowled, making for the checkout line without a second glance his way.

Staying mad at Cardan Greenbriar was proving to be more difficult than I had thought.

***

The whole afternoon had passed without me being able to find the words to confront him. Ironically between the two of us, I was certainly the more cowardly. He had slumped onto the couch when we had gotten home, enduring me ignoring him in unusual silence. Then Vivi and Oak had come home, and promptly the silence became filled with Oak and Cardan's brotherly bonding, Oak quickly beginning to refer to him as Uncle Cardan.

I currently stood behind the kitchen counter, my eyes narrowed and my stare brooding as I watched them play games together on the coffee table. Vivi hovered next to me, a bemused look on her lips. "They seem to be getting along just fine, how about you?" she questioned mildly, her index finger pressed to her mouth.

My words were an almost unintelligible grumble. "He's the worst." She hummed in something like agreement, though didn't offer any verbal response as we both continued to stare in silence.

"Do you have any sixes?" Oak cheesed a wide, gap toothed grin at Cardan from behind his hand of cards. Cardan narrowed his eyes in playful suspicion as he promptly plucked a card from his stack, offering it to Oak between two fingertips.

"You must be cheating, it is impossible to be this good."

Oak giggled in response, shaking his head, "No, I'm just really good, Uncle Cardan."

My eyes tore away from them to try and subdue the sliver of warmth growing in my chest. "He comes in here and acts as if everything is all fucking okay, the nerve of his conceited ass." Vivi chuckled as I turned away, grumpily making my way over the the fridge and opening it for the sole purpose of finding the most unhealthy item of food inside. "I'm going to stab him in his sleep," I tossed over my shoulder, snatching a tub of ice cream and subsequently slamming the freezer door shut with a loud rattle.

"How about talking things out before getting all stabby?" Vivi asked, leaning against the counter and folding her arms over her chest, head tilting slightly.

"Why, so he can lie and manipulate me some more?" I snarked, snatching a spoon from the silverware drawer before digging into the untouched container of cookie dough ice cream. A quick flicker of eyes back to the living room found that Oak and Cardan's game had since been abandoned, cards scattered across the table as Oak sat atop the glass painting sparkly eyeliner onto Cardan's pale lids.

"Stop looking at Oak like you want to murder him for liking Cardan," Vivi laughed, tossing her head back with the sound.

I grumbled. "Why is he on his side, Cardan hasn't walked him to school or bought him groceries."

She evaluated me for a brief moment with glittering cat eyes. "There's no sides, Jude, there's just what you want," she toned evenly, "What happened to the Jude that wasn't afraid to go out and take what she wanted?"

My teeth found my lower lip, digging in hard.

What happened?

Cardan happened to her.

"You know what? We're going to give you two some much needed alone time," Vivi decided promptly with a wide, wicked grin.

My breath caught. "No, Vivi, don't you dare," I warned, panic creeping into my voice that was pointless to try and hide.

"Oak, let's go to the park, Cardan and Jude need some adult time!" Vivi called over her shoulder, her smirk impossible to miss as she quickly sped from the kitchen with my arm held tight in her grasp, dragging me out before subsequently grabbing Oak's coat and tossing it at him. Oak pouted, brows crinkling together in displease.

"But I'm putting sparkles on Uncle Cardan," he protested, words muffled by his bottom lip jutting out.

"You can do that later, right now we're going to the park," Vivi sternly responded, prompting him to sullenly toss down the eyeliner pen, rising from the table and trudging to her side. Against my own will, me and Cardan's eyes locked, everything else seemingly fading away to soft and muted, the only thing in crisp focus being him and the way he was looking at me.

Hunger. Exhaustion. Yearning. A painful mirror of myself.

At the sound of the front door slamming shut, my heart immediately leapt into my throat, pulse racing and breaths shallow. "Are you going to talk to me? Jude?" Cardan questioned, words dull and tired with defeat. Gradually, my stare focused on him, lounging on our worn leather couch like a throne, sparkly eyeliner and beaten black band t-shirt somehow only enhancing his beauty.

"I don't have anything to say to you, Cardan," I returned a touch too breathlessly.

His eyes hardened, a spiteful glint to them that was hauntingly familiar to the countless times that he had tormented me. It felt as if I was frozen in place, feet rooted to the floor underneath me as he stood up, walking around the couch so he was standing mere inches from my body.

"So you're going to stay here forever then, where you're nothing."

The string of words was as harsh as the crack of a hand across my face, leaving me reeling.

"Better here than with you," I spat in bitter retaliation, an instinctive reflex.

He was so close I could feel his breath on my cheek, sending a trill of fear slithering down my spine. "You're going to stay here because of your stubbornness, just to spite me? Just to deny that you care about me, or at least that you did once? You don't belong here, Jude. Both of us know it."

There was no way I could win. The realization was infuriatingly staggering.

"Where do I belong then? Tell me, King of Elfhame, if you are so all knowing and powerful," I snarled, lips curling.

He didn't hesitate. "You belong with me."

My breath hitched, surprising anger surging through my veins like wildfire.

"And why is that, Cardan? Tell me why I belong with you, you pathetic coward."

He caught my wrists, cutting off the shoving movement I was halfway through attempting. His slender fingertips scraped into my skin, his words twisted and raw.

"Because I love you."

tags: @highqueenofelfhame @daddycardan @barrowmare @lazyperfectionistteen @brittpetersen @greenbriaars @thequeenofeveything @sleepingfancies @feysandmaraudersdramatic @thomasscresswell @courtofdreamsandterrasen @nxyatr @totallyamazingasshole @starlightfound @jeanval24601 @city-of-fae

[fangirlinghard-spoilerson]

SECRETS & BETRAYALS (7)

Rated: M Wordcount: 1349 Summary: Much time has passed since Jude Duarte was exiled in the mortal world. But now she's back to Elfhame and Cardan will not like to discover her reasons for coming back. Is Jude still the Queen of Nothing? Other parts: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, (To be added) This is a The Folk of the Air’s Fanfic. The original work belongs to Holly Black.

Arion was a secret that she didn’t want to reveal to Cardan. A fairy kid who had lost her parents in a brutal way and now lived on Isabel's tutelage. A wild pooka girl undisciplined, who was great at getting secrets and awful at keeping them to herself. She was no spy material.

And, of course, Arion was her granddaughter.

Nothing could keep the girl where she didn't want to be. And it had saved her life. But it brought considerable trouble for Isabel. Or for Martha. Or for Rhiannon.

The ladyship changed her clothes. Dariyah chose a simple, yet elegant dress to her. Good enough to please Grimsen and comfortable to fight without bothering to see it slide down through her body. Thin straps, bare backs and deep necklines aren’t her favorites for a reason.

Isabel sat ahead her dressing table and let her servant's expert hands tidy her hair until the strands resembled a turbulent waterfall. Throughout the process, she looked at her face in the mirror. She no longer saw Taryn there, Isabel had no idea how her sister was at age 26. The woman in the reflection had no wrinkles yet, but she wasn’t as young as the High King remembered. She looked older than him. She asked herself what her husband had thought about that.

Cardan didn’t look older than the last day they saw each other. Less the eyes.

They had that in common, the old gaze.

Dariyah putted the hair over Isabel's shoulder. It was long enough to descend to the shoulder blades, ride up to the shoulder and then to spill down until her hip. She had forgotten to cut. Five years ago. Dariyah insisted that she forget.

The imp pinched her cheeks. “You're a challenge, girl.”

Girl, like she was a kid.

“Look for Arion. Say to her we need to talk. I want her waiting for me when I get back.” And with that comand, she left an angry imp behind.

Isabel went for the drawing room, Grimsen was waiting for her. When she entered the room, the blacksmith stood up in respect and slightly bowed to her.

The double door closed behind her back and very slowly she walked towards her armchair richly brocade with gold thread. She sat majestically. Her elbow on the arm of the chair, her face in her hand. “Shouldn’t you send me a letter before you visit me? You know, for courtesy.”

“I bring interesting news.”

For a change. Her thought was sour.

“How nice of you.” Isabel made a gesture for the couch behind the blacksmith and he sat down. “But I have no need of gifts or favors.”

He laughed as if the idea of fool her with puns had never occurred to him. But they knew better. “It’s a tribute, of course.” His eyes were alive with excitement and his smile trickly like in the first time she saw him. No good would come for his words. But didn’t listen wouldn’t help her.

She sighed. “So, ‘interesting’ you said.”

It is impossible to explain how unprepared she was for what was said next. “Madoc came to see me.” A chill went up her spine.

And now what?

Grimsen waited for her ask something, but all she did was lift one eyebrow.

“He made me promise not to tell anyone about what he requested me. And I agreed.” Then nothing more would be said on the subject. Fortunately, it wasn’t hard to imagine what Madoc was requiring. Blade or not, he wanted a weapon.

“You said ‘interesting’, but it just Madoc acting like himself.” She shrugged. “I’m not surprised.”

It’s so nice be able to lie.

“Neither are you pleased?”

“Now, you are just misleading yourself. I’m pleased enough to inform you that I have another surprise guest and - if you swear not to speak out loud, not to write or express as song anything you had saw or heard, or anything that you are about to hear or see inside this house in this day - I will be delighted to invite you to witness our conversation.”

With bright eyes and a trickly smile, he sweared.

Isabel led him to her officer through a secret passage. A goblin was handcuffed to the ground in the middle of the room with handcuffs of cold iron. In the walls, secrets. Maps, letters, fabrics, notes, empty and full flasks hanged on nails. Half of that secrets were false, manufactured for misdirection. The rest - however true they may be - aren’t much difficult to discover. But all that secrets had something in common, none of them were her secrets.

Isabel's secrets were not foolishly hung on walls or written in letters. She didn’t dare whisper them to herself. They were very dangerous. Her son true name. His father identity. What she and Cardan were. What Bran could be one day. Fairies would kill each other to know less. And they would risked to die too. Like that goblin.

“It was very clever of you to find my lands,” Isabel leaned against her desk, a monstrous structure of carved wood showing all marvel strangeness of a revel, and faced a black and cold pair of eyes . “and very stupid to dare to step on them.”

The handcuff shaken when the goblin got up. “You don’t scare me, mortal.” He couldn’t stand erect because of the cuff, but he still was taller than her.

“So” She stopped as if she needed that time to realize. “are you a fool?”

“I swore say nothing. Even if you torture me, you will not hear anything from me."

Isabel looked to Grimsen, who watched the scene at the end of the room, ignoring complement the spy between them. “That's what they keeping saying to me.”

The next goblin’s words made Grimsen laughed wickedly to her. “I don’t fear you, Katharina.” Jude was disappointed. If he had called her ‘Katharina’, that meant he didn’t serve Diarmuid. She still didn’t know how that King discovered one of her secrets.

“I gave you a Faerie name and you do not even bother using it, Rhiannon.” The words struck the goblin like lightning. He face her, with an uncertain gaze.

“I use it.” She replied to the blacksmith, but she continued sustaining the goblin’s gaze. “Just don’t in the way you had expected me to.” Grimsen had plans for her. But Jude Duarte had had her own plans.

Isabel skirted the table and took out of its first drawer the most dangerous and destructive weapon she had ever handled in her life. It had been tailor-made for Jude Duarte, but belonged to Rhiannon. It was golden and as reflective as human’s buildings made of steel and glass. It was sharp and had two points. Scary in its elegant simplicity and mortal aesthetics.

And, like a sword, that crown had a name, Promisebreaker.

She put her crown on her head. Grimsen loved see his creations in action.

“Give me your oath and you will leave this room alive” Rhiannon said. It was the voice of a queen and demanded obedience. “and ever vow you had made until now will crumble. None of your old masters will know about it. They will not feel their power over you failing. I promise you that.”

“That’s impossible.” That was better than listening to... “You are crazy.” He was lucky she had grown accustomed to the disbelief of the folk.

“This crown was made by Grimsen himself.” Rhiannon gestured toward the blacksmith. “It works.” She smiled, a creepy parody of the smile a mother would give to calm a child. “You don’t have to be scared.” But he should. “If I were lying, you will try and no word will leave your mouth.” If she did not have Promisebreaker, his old oath would prevent him to vow to her.

“Why would I swear to you, a mere mortal?” She did not bother to remind him that there were only two ways out of that room.

“I’m Rhiannon, you must have heard about me, you should know, I keep all my promises.”

Thank you all!

TFOTA TAG LIST: @lazyperfectionistteen, @afexiss, @thequeenofeveything, @nitrot150, @fangirling101, @thejiminsjamsowner

S&B TAG LIST: @ashlightgrayson, @saea

Others TFOTA/Jurdan Fanfics you may like:

Hit first. Hit Hard.

Jude said too much.

Fantasies

You said The Queen of Nothing’s excerpt? Sorry, I heard prompt.

Fox Hunting Season

[After TQoN’s synopsis, Before the March, 26 Excerpt] Taryn visited Jude in mortal world. But she returned to Faerie with a breaking down. Locke wanted a reaction, now he got one.

MAGIC

A Jurdan pillow talk.

Sinking

[After TWK] Jude returned to Elfhame. Maybe she should had taken along a squeegee.

The Dance

Cadan’s POV in Dain’s never-gonna-happen-coronation, when he dances with Jude.