#and also you all seem to be only capable of describing thin men as fanciful princelings

[githvyrik]

tired of talking abt men who aren’t conventionally attractive with other ppl and I’m forced to find out they exclusively like willowy twinks who could blow out the window like a napkin and when I try to bring up fat men they all give me a pity “oh yeah sure” and move on

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Hers to Tame by Rhenna Morgan

NOLA Knights #2

Smiling as I think about this book. Kir was a hunk of a guy and his care and tenderness with Cassie, the woman that was to be “his” was heart warming. Cassie was an intelligent reporter who met Kir months before but stayed away when she heard rumors he was Russian Mafiya. The connection was too strong to keep them apart forever, though. I love this author’s books and loved this one, too!

What I liked:

* Cassie: focused on her work, a capable reporter but really wished she could be a photographer instead.

* Kir: my oh my...what a guy! Dapper dresser, lethal but loving. He is a man you would want at your side through thick and thin.

* The “family” - such a loving group and there for one another

* Frieda: a better mother figure to Cassie than her own mother

* Getting to see the group from the Haven series

* The writing, story and series – love these books!

* Knowing that Bonnie’s story is next and looking forward to reading it soon

What I didn’t like:

* The baddie – deserved to be caught and punished

* Knowing that I will have to wait till the next book is finished

Did I like this book? Definitely

Would I read more of this series? Without a doubt

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Carina Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

BLURB

As an avtoritet for the most powerful crime syndicate in New Orleans, Kir Vasilek doesn’t act without purpose, doesn’t speak without thought and never, ever loses his cool. The lives of his brothers, his family, depend on it. But then Cassie McClintock strolls back into his life, and staying cool is next to impossible. Cassie was the one who got away—and Kir is willing to break all his own rules to keep it from happening ever again.

It’s one thing to report on the Russian mafia; it’s quite another to sleep with one of them, especially one as dangerous, and as sinfully sexy, as Kir Vasilek. Even though the information he once provided helped make her career—and the memory of his touch still keeps her up at night—Cassie knows too much about his world to go down that path.

But when Kir reaches out for help after a rival family comes for one of his own, Cassie doesn’t want to say no, either to investigating a gruesome murder or to the heat that pulls her right back into his arms…and his heart. Taming Kir—and helping to save the family she’s come to call her own—is not the story she thought she’d write, but it’s the one she’s determined will get a happy ending.

Hers to Tame is the highly anticipated follow-up to His to Defend. And don’t miss Roman’s story in Mine to Keep, coming soon from Rhenna Morgan and Carina Press.

Buy Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1335962646

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hers-to-tame-rhenna-morgan/1133500058

iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/hers-to-tame/id1479851710

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/hers-to-tame

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Rhenna_Morgan_Hers_to_Tame?id=-yGvDwAAQBAJ

T itle: Hers to Tame

Author: Rhenna Morgan

Series: NOLA Knights, #2

Length: approx. 85,000 words

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Imprint: Carina Press

eBook On-Sale: March 16, 2020

eBook ISBN & Price: 9781488054167, $3.99 USD

MMP On-Sale: March 31, 2020

MMP ISBN & Price: 9781335962645, $8.99 USD

Book Description: Book two of NOLA Knights, the heart-stoppingly sexy spin-off series by Men of Haven author Rhenna Morgan

EXCERPT

“Please take this in the spirit it’s intended, but you work for a man who’s suspected of leading a growing crime family. I don’t think me telling you where I live is a good idea.”

“1023 South Franklin Avenue.”

Cassie stopped so hard she wobbled slightly in her heels. “How did you… I mean, I only just moved in there.”

His smile softened and his words were offered with gentle deliberateness. “I’m a very thorough man, Cassie. You can’t possibly think I wouldn’t learn everything I could about a person before I shared important information with them.”

Very thorough.

Frighteningly so.

She shook the foreboding off and resumed her trek to the station, albeit on slightly less stable legs. “All the more reason for us to meet someplace public.”

“All right. Then I’ll pick you up and take you somewhere.”

“Not necessary.” She checked both ways on the street and hurried across. “Just tell me where you want to talk, and I’ll meet you there.”

“I’m afraid my retrieving you and escorting you is nonnegotiable.”

She frowned at him, but kept going. “You’ve got a lot of points you won’t negotiate. Tell me why this one’s one of them.”

“Because while I’m very much interested in hearing what you have to share, I’m not interested in anyone else hearing. The best way to ensure our privacy is to make sure no one else knows where we’re going—including you.”

She stopped just six feet from the station’s front door. “You don’t trust me?”

“Should I?”

Hmm. He did kind of have a point. And given how she’d stiffed him after their second date, he still might be wondering if she’d simply used him. “Fine. Pick me up at my place tomorrow at eight. But don’t pick any place fancy. A coffee shop, or someplace simple. And not Starbucks either. It’s criminal what they charge for coffee.”

His mouth twitched as if it were all he could do to keep a wisecrack trapped behind his lips. “You seem determined to expose me to establishments with limited standards.” He nodded, the picture of gentility and confidence. “I’ll endeavor to pick a location that suits your expectations.” He held out his hand, palm up. “Until tomorrow, then.”

He had great hands. Not too smooth like someone trapped in an office, but a man’s hands. Slightly calloused, with long fingers and blunt fingertips. Of all the things she’d replayed from their time together, his touch had been the most frequent. Which was exactly why she’d be smart to avoid any and all physical contact with him going forward.

Glutton for punishment and well-mannered Texas girl that she was, she slipped her palm against his.

Oh, yeah.

Still amazing.

Electric and warm. Supercharged and bristling with promise.

And that was just her hand.

“Thank you again for the dinner. It wasn’t necessary, but I appreciate it all the same.” Hating the breathiness in her voice, she tried to release her hand.

Kir held it tight, the pad of his thumb subtly moving over the tender spot between her thumb and her forefinger. As if he were remembering other, more in­timate places he’d touched her. “I assure you. The pleasure was all mine.”

He gently released her, turned without the least amount of hesitation, and strolled toward the parking lot like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Watching him was something to relish. An indulgence she didn’t even realize she’d taken until he

stepped off the sidewalk and turned to open the door to his car.

Great. And now he’s busted you ogling him.

She swung one of the double glass doors open and strode into the arctic reception area.

“Girl, that dude was hot,” Bonnie said before Cassie’s eyes could adjust from the blinding sunshine outside. “He your boyfriend?”

“Oh, no.” She set the paper bag on the counter and shook her head. “Just a contact that helped me out on a few stories a while back.”

And ruined me for other men, but why quibble over details?

Bonnie took the bag and opened it, but the look on her face and her answering chuckle said she didn’t buy a word Cassie’d said. “Uh-huh. Looked to me like he was plotting how to peel you out of your professional getup.”

Yeah, it’d felt like that, too. But she wasn’t going to think about that now. Or ever, if she could help it. “Nope. Just talking business.” She waved toward the bag and headed back toward the newsroom.

“Good business, or bad business?”

Cassie swung the door to the hallway open and cast Bonnie one last look. “I haven’t decided yet. Could have been the lottery, or the biggest wrong turn of my life.”

Copyright © 2020 by Rhenna Morgan

AUTHOR BIO

A native Oklahoman, Rhenna Morgan is a certified romance junkie. Whether it’s contemporary, paranormal, or fantasy you’re after, Rhenna’s stories pack romantic escape full of new, exciting worlds, and strong, intuitive men who fight to keep the women they want. For advance release news and exclusive content, sign up for her newsletter at http://RhennaMorgan.com. You'll also find all of her social links there, along with her smoking hot inspiration boards.

Social Media Links

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8596977.Rhenna_Morgan

Q&A with Rhenna Morgan

Your latest release, HERS TO TAME, is the second book in the NOLA Knights series. What three words best describe HERS TO TAME?

Steamy, possessive, and colorful.

The NOLA Knights series is a spinoff from your Men of Haven series. Where did the inspiration for NOLA Knights come from?

A fellow writer friend of mine shared an article she’d read about what it was like to date Russian men. The more I read about their possessive—almost hunter/prey—approach to dating, the more I wanted to write a hero that embodied those characteristics. I was writing TEMPTED & TAKEN from Men of Haven at the time, and before I knew it, Sergei was on the page! I knew as soon as I “saw” him that I wanted to write a series for him and his men.

What is Cassie’s most surprising quality?

Many of my heroines have gotten themselves into some tricky situations—which makes it mighty handy for my possessive alpha heroes to step in and help. What’s different about Cassie’s story is that it’s less “life or death” and more of a work and ethics conundrum. I really like that aspect of her story because I think it’s more relatable to women who read my books.

What quality do you love most about your Kir?

I love his intelligence and refinement. (Though, Cassie does manage to strip a lot of his calm, cool collectedness rather quickly.) Where many of my heroes are edgy and on the darker side, Kir is smooth and classy. A businessman, if you will, who doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty when the time comes.

What would you like readers to take away from reading Cassie and Kir’s story?

As always for me, it’s the underpinning messages from the story that I hope touch people the most. Cassie��s always been the odd duck in her family. The misfit. Kir’s issue is the inability to trust women. Through the course of their story, they each address their individual hang ups and find healing. And of course, they do it within the confines of a family built by choice.

Writing about the Russian mafia (bratva) must have resulted in some interesting research for the NOLA Knights series. What’s the most interesting or surprising thing you’ve learned so far?

It’s the origins of the bratva that most captivated me and anchored the type of family Sergei would set out to build when he moved to New Orleans. Bratva first appeared during imperial times when the Tsar held everything. Those who were bratva (or brothers) were very anti-government, stealing and giving back to those who had little. A spin on the Robin Hood theme, if you will. That’s when I realized I wanted Sergei to base his actions on helping those under his care rather than forcing his way into a neighborhood.

Both HIS TO DEFEND (NOLA Knights, #1) and HERS TO TAME, have a bit of a Cinderella twist to them. What is it about Cinderella’s story that makes it so fun to use in your contemporary romances?

I love fairytales and I love happily ever after. I think the reason a Cinderella element always finds its way into my stories is because life is really hard. And, at the end of a rough or demanding day, I want to read about magical endings.

The NOLA Knights series features a trio of Alpha males conquering New Orleans. What do you love most about writing Alpha males?

My absolute favorite thing about all of my heroes is that, while they might be demanding, possessive and (sometimes) a little gruff, every single one of them have a tender spot for their women. For them, they are vulnerable and driven to keep them safe.

Your love for New Orleans shines in the NOLA Knights series! If you could go to New Orleans this weekend, what’s the first thing you would do or place you would visit?

Oh, that’s easy. Find a place with some fantastic Cajun food and stuff myself with gumbo, red beans and rice, and etouffee!

MINE TO KEEP, the next NOLA Knights book comes out later this year. What can readers expect from Roman’s story?

Oh, man. I just turned this one into my editor and I abso-freaking-lutely LOVE how it turned out. (Which is kind of funny, because the first third of the book, I wasn’t 100% sure if the characters were showing on the page the way I saw them in my head.)

Roman is gruff. A man of as few words as possible and deadly. Having seen Sergei and Kir find love, he believes it exists, but he doesn’t believe any woman would be able to accept him with the things he’s done in his past.

Bonnie is salt of the earth. A girl born into a den of liars, cheats, and thieves. To say that she knows what it means to eek by and live paycheck-to-paycheck is an understatement. But she’s determined, honest, and VERY spunky.

What happens when the two of them meet is absolute magic. A rags to riches Cinderella story with so much heart it makes me sigh a bit just thinking about it. I honestly cannot wait for everyone to meet them.

[darrilshrugged]

The Thin Man & The Ranger - Ch. 2

I enjoyed writing that first bit of the Vex/Percy - 1930′s murder mystery mashup that I kept going.

I had plotted out some of the fun scenes, and then realized that I actually had to put in some explanation of the plot. So this is a lot of exposition, but sets up some story, and has a few little moment to toss in.

It’s just a lot of fun to write again and play with these characters, about whom I care so much.

Enjoy if you wish, or not.

It is also posted here, if you like.

The bar where they met Lyra was in the flashier part of the Duskmeadow, among several similar establishments that created a more festive environment than one would expect for an area associated with Vax's Matron of Ravens. They slid through the crowd of lively patrons to join Lyra at a table near an open window, which allowed the cooler outside air to balance the humid warmth of the crowded establishment.

 Lyra appeared even more agitated than before, rubbing at an area of the table that must have been stained or sticky. Whatever substance she was attempting to get rid of had begun to stain cuffs of the cloak she wore over her earlier outfit; the cream wool becoming a gummy brown. She continued to fidget as they sat down. They exchanged greetings again, and ordered a round of whiskeys from a prompt dwarf attendant.

 "I've been thinking since we met before, and I feel really, really, bad for assuming you were here for me, and dumping all my problems on you. You probably have other important things to do here and while I'm happy to see you, and catch up on what you've been doing - you don't have to help with finding Uncle Randy and proving that he couldn't kill anyone. It's not your concern and I shouldn't have assumed - "

 Vex stopped the rolling boulder of words with an raised open hand. "Lyra, we told you we would try to help. We are here already. Tell us what's happening, and if we can be helpful, we'll do what we can." Percy nodded as well, and Lyra took in a deep breath, a sip of her newly-arrived drink and filled them in on the situation.

 It seems that Uncle Randy, as a trade representative to Vasselheim from Emon, had taken a leave of absence from his post a few weeks back, leaving notes for her, his only relative in the city, as well as some business associates, that he would be visiting several other settlements around Issylra, to help reset terms of trade agreements to those more favorable for the rebuilding capital of Tal'dorei.

 "Is his leaving the city and traveling on his own unusual?" Percy asked as he rolled his glass in his hands, active fingers indicating his active mind.

 "Yes and no. He hasn't traveled much these past few years, since coming to Vasselheim, but before that, he was a very successful traveling merchant."

 "Sounds like a very patient and practical negotiator." Vex remarked, with a hint of admiration.

 Lyra shrugged, her cloak falling off her shoulders and draping onto the floor, wet with mud and spilled drinks. "He does have a bit of a reputation for driving a hard bargain with other traders, and being less than friendly sometimes. I mean - I love him, and I'm sure he loves me, though he never says it - but I don't think he has many friends amongst the other trade guild members here. . ." She took another large gulp of her drink and coughed around her next words "or maybe friends at all. He can be a little temper-y".

"That's totally understandable, dear. Now this dead woman, is it possible she did something to  make him lose his temper?"

“No! No. At least, I don't think so. No" Lyra had sat back, straighter now than she had been in quite a few minutes as she told them about her uncle. Vex leaned in with a more concerned tone.

"Don't get defensive, Lyra. We have to ask questions if we're going to help."

Lyra looked between their faces, Vex's open and leaned forward towards her. Percy, who nodded, and tracked his eyes to meet hers, as scanned the rest of establishment, arrayed past her shoulder. "Yes," he said, meeting her look, "Who was this woman to your uncle. A subordinate, you said?"

Lyra coughed out a laugh, a somehow unpleasant sound from the usually pleasant and upbeat, if unsure, wizard. "I don't know if Wilfrieda Wolff was every subordinate to any man, at least not for very long."

She told them, over another round of drinks, about the dwarven woman who her uncle referred to as an assistant. From the sound of things, and Lyra's own unsubtle inferences, Wilfrieda Wolff was many things: A wily negotiator, a personal assistant, a book-keeper for the guild, and possibly Uncle Randy's lover.

Lyra's descriptions and anecdotes about the woman, made it abundantly clear that she held a mix of dislike and grudging appreciation for "Ms. Wolff" as she called her. Harsh feeling or drink turning the title in to an emphatic, buzzing "Mizzz Wolff". Her depiction left them with the impression of a heady woman, skilled at working with all types of people, and relentless in pursuit of an objective. 

She was also more than free with intimating that Wilfreda, while not what she would have called classically attractive, possessed an inviting and sensual nature that she had seen used on more than her Uncle. "She has - had- this effect on people, especially men. Not magical, I'm sure, but it might as well have been sometimes. I didn't really like her -  mostly how she seemed to have a close relationship with Uncle Randy, and I feel a little bad about that I guess - but she did what she had to in order to get what she needed done, and I guess I liked it sometimes that she was this small women outfoxing overconfident men?"

Both women at the table tacked their eyes to the man sitting with them, who finished another long sip of his drink. "Don't you look at me. I have long known well enough to be respectful toward, or terrified of, very capable women."

He felt his wife's hand give three quick squeezes to his own under the table. A private signal of theirs, of wordless affection and reassurance. "If this Wolff woman was as assured as she you make her sound, than possibly she had made enemies?"

Lyra's brows closed together in thought for a moment. "I'd more than bet that she made some people mad in negotiations, or making cuts at the trade guild warehouses when work was slow, but she always seemed to keep things from getting too personal, even when she was charming the actual pants off of that elf merchant that visited from Kraghammer - wait! She did have some things that got personal!"

She went on to tell them about a rough-dressed man that she had seen with Wilfrieda a couple of times near the Quad Roads area of the city. She had seen this man, a stocky human with wide, heavy features, grab Wilfrieda around the shoulders, talk with her intensely, and walk with her to the former location of the Velvet Cabaret, now an establishment with a less-than-stellar reputation in the Duskmeadow. Another time, just last week, according to Lyra, she had seen Wilfrieda and the man, and Wilfrieda had dismissed him by shoving a satchel into his chest and walking away. 

Lyra denied several times that she had been following Wilfrieda, though it appeared that she sometimes did. When Wilfrieda had left the man this last time she had almost run headlong into her, and that Wilfrieda had seemed less composed than normal, although she didn't have an opinion as to the other woman's mood - she may have been scared or angry.

Lyra was continuing on that she suspected this man may be a criminal of some sort, and the Wilfrieda may have had a lawless history of her own, when things began to happen around them, all at once.

Percy had been keeping his eyes on the general area, paying special attention to the busy bar and those milling about nearby. He was aware of a dark-skinned man in most of the uniform of a Bastion of the Quad Roads approaching the table. The man's gloves and helm were absent, revealing a weak jaw with a prominent knot on the left side, as if it had been badly broken and healed poorly. It made his already ugly features even more uneven.

 By the time he had made his weaving approach to them, Percy and Vex had already tensed for action; feet pulled back and flat under their chairs, ready to move. Vex's left hand slipped from her husband's toward the dagger in her boot, as his right flowed to the butt of the pistol in the cross-draw holster on his left hip. The off-duty Bastion placed one hand on Lyra's shoulder, more to steady himself than threaten the woman, and he stared across at Vex'ahlia and Percival, his eyes darkly lidded.

 "I know you." He slurred, tongue either heavy with drink, or positioned oddly in his rearranged jaw. "You're friends of that criminal Goliath, the blonde fancy lad and the red-haired monster that did this to me." He gestured generally at his face. "You're gonna take me to 'em, or you'll answer questions in the oubliette".

 He had barely finished his drunken threat when a meaty hand fell on his own shoulder, making him the middle part of an odd chain, with a startled Lyra the bottom. The Bastion tried to step back and turn his head, but found a large body pressed against his, and whined in discomfort from what was obviously increasing pressure on his shoulder.

 ''Hello there, Tjarks. You using your off-duty time bothering these friends of my mate Phillip?'' The half-orc pit-fighter gave a tusky smile to those at the table and began steering the quickly sobering bastion back into the crowd of patrons. He called  back them over his shoulder as he shoved the interloper toward the front door. ''You can put your steel away, this one will bother you no more, and next round's on me.''

 Vex and Percy sheathed their respective weapons, which Lyra finally noticed with some dismay. Kern returned shortly after, followed by another round of drinks. After exchanging niceties and getting an update on the successes of their friends Pike and Grog at the Crucible, they asked Lyra to describe her mystery man that she had seen with Wilfrieda Wolff. Kern thought over his drink a minute, then asked for a more detailed description of the man's clothes and mannerisms before excusing himself to "Ask a few people worth asking".

 "How do you know him?" Lyra asked, confused and more than little intoxicated. 

 "He's fought Grog in the Crucible the first time we came to the city. They fought a second time, and maybe flirted some". Vex answered without looking at her, watching along with Percy as Kern circulated around the end of the bar, talking to a few men and women hunched over drinks. 

 Percy scoffed. "Grog bit most of his lip off and pummeled his groin repeatedly, if I recall."

"That's how Grog flirts, darling."

"Remind me never to flirt with Grog."

"If you start, I may be the one pummeling your groin."

Percy slipped his hand back into hers. "I love you too, dearest."

By the time Kern came back to them, a few minutes later, Lyra had hit her tipping point, and had gone from tipsy to drunk. She looked as she was trying to follow the conversation, then dropped her head to the sticky table. Kern told Percy and Vex that the description matched a somewhat-known small-time hustler known as Relli. He was known to fence stolen goods, and sometimes go in on a blackmail scheme, but from what Kern had gathered, wasn't much of a danger, unless cornered or truly desperate.

Kern said that he would continue to ask around for them, if they wanted, and they accepted, letting them know the location of the inn where they were staying, and if they could not be found, to leave a message for them or for Lyra at the Slayer's Take guildhall. They parted with handshakes all around, except for Lyra, who Percy half-walked, half-carried to the Take, and left in the care of the attendant on duty.

The Lord and Lady of Whitestone then strolled slowly back to their rooms, full of love and drink. Neither wanted to admit to the other the hint of guilt they felt; that working on a problem like this together was as much, if not more, fun than any quiet honeymoon they could imagine.

[failes-xtra-bits]

Prince's Gambit - Ch. 4 Review

Laurent, just turned twenty (Sometimes I forget how young he is. With the way his mind works, his wit, the way he plots and schemes etc, it’s easy to think he’s a bit older.)

With Govart out the way, Laurent is in control. Jord is the new captain and Laurent is taking Damen’s advice. Together they plan strategies and drills. Since a lot of the chapter is about drills, and setting up camp, I will skip the details there. As for Laurent, we are seeing more of his talents. He is not, as the Regent suggests, just a spoilt petty Prince who avoids border duty. He may not be well liked, but he can certainly fight, command and lead his men.

He had listened to everything Damen had said last night. He had listened to a great deal more than that. As he spoke, there emerged nuggets that he could only have obtained from the servants and armourers and soldiers to whom, over the last three days, he had also been listening. (As readers we see that Laurent does more that just make bitchy remarks. He is actually very good at listening and picking up on information.)

Truthfully, Damen had not expected Laurent to take part in the drills himself, but he did, setting the pace. (Again, we see he is capable and has real talents.)

Reining his horse alongside Damen’s, Laurent said, ‘You have your two extra weeks. Let’s see what we can do with them.’ (He says ‘we’, which is interesting. It shows how they’re starting to work together as a team towards a common goal.)

Aimeric completely wears himself out after the drills.

‘Wait,’ said Aimeric. ‘You really think Jord has seen it?’ And then he flushed as though he had given something away. (At first I just assumed he fancied Jord but obviously now we know he had other motives to get close to Jord.)

We see more of Jord’s character, how he is a good man and is warming to Damen.

When they were done, Laurent dismissed Jord and sat in the brazier warmth of the tent gazing leisurely at Damen…

Laurent said, ‘What do you think of Jord?’

‘I like him,’ said Damen. ‘You should be pleased with him. He was the right choice for Captain.’

There was an unhurried pause. Aside from the sounds Damen made when he picked up a vambrace, the tent was quiet.

‘No,’ said Laurent. ‘You were.’

‘What?’ said Damen. He gave Laurent a startled look and was even more surprised to find that Laurent was gazing back at him steadily. ‘There isn’t a man here who’d accept orders from an Akielon.’

‘I know that. It’s one of two reasons I chose Jord. The men would have resisted you at first, you’d have had to prove yourself. Even with the extra fortnight, there wasn’t enough time to play all of that out. It frustrates me that I cannot put you to best use.’…

‘That’s the last thing I expected you to say,’ he admitted, a little wryly.

‘Did you think I was too proud to see it? I can assure you, the pride I have invested in beating my uncle far outweighs the feelings I hold on any other account.’

‘You just surprised me,’ said Damen. ‘Sometimes I think I understand you, and at other times I can’t make you out at all.’

‘Believe me, that sentiment is mutual.’

‘You said two reasons,’ said Damen. ‘What was the other?’

‘The men think you bend me over inside the tent,’ said Laurent. He said it in the same calm way he said everything. Damen fumbled the vambrace. (XD) ‘It would erode my authority. My carefully cultivated authority. Now I have really surprised you. Perhaps if you were not a foot taller, or quite so broad across the shoulders.’

‘It’s considerably less than a foot,’ said Damen.

‘Is it?’ said Laurent. ‘It feels like more when you argue with me on points of honour.’

‘I want you to know,’ said Damen, carefully, ‘that I haven’t done anything to encourage the idea that I—that you and I—’

‘If I thought you had, I’d have had you tied to a post and flogged until your front matched your back.’ (So there is a LOT in this part of dialog and OMG PLEASE CAN WE DISCUSS THIS WHOLE SECTION. There is way too many things I’d like to say for me to mention them now) …

Just some quotes about Laurent I wanted to include:

Laurent wasn’t loved. Laurent wasn’t liked. Even among his own men, who would follow him off a cliff, there was the unequivocal consensus that Laurent was, as Orlant had once described him, a cast iron bitch (Shout out XD), that it was a very bad idea to get on his bad side, and that as for his good side, he didn’t have one.

a thin thread of respect was growing. It was apparent why his uncle had kept Laurent away from the reins of power: he was good at leading.

And there was something in him that was enjoying the process of bringing these hard men under his control.

Laurent didn’t order him put on the post.

Laurent flayed him, verbally.

It was not like his exchanges with Govart. It was cool, explicit, appalling, and it reduced a grown man in front of the troop as utterly as his sword thrust had done.

The men got back to work after that.

Damen heard one of them say, in a tone of awed admiration, ‘That boy has got the filthiest mouth I’ve ever heard.’

Jord beckons Damen over to join him by the fire and he offers Damen (bad) wine. It’s obvious Jord is watching Aimeric.

‘You know,’ said Damen, ‘he’s going to let someone eventually. Better all round if it’s you.’ (As usual Damen doesn't get any hint of deception from Aimeric. However, we know Laurent has a mind for deception, I wonder if he had his suspicions.)

As usual, Jord thinks Damen and Laurent are sleeping together.

‘As far as anyone knows,’ said Jord. ‘If he didn’t have a mouth on him like a harlot in a guardsroom, I’d think he was a virgin.’

Damen was silent. He drained his mug, frowning a little. He wasn’t interested in these endless speculations. He didn’t care who Laurent took to bed. (Don’t lie Damen, you know you’re a little curious XD)

Aimeric comes over.

‘Why don’t you join us,’ said Damen, putting his mug down and carefully not looking at Jord. (It’s funny that Damen is acting like Jord’s wingman, because later in the book Jord returns the favour by being a cockblock XD)

Aimeric asks about the drills and training, probably digging for information. He then flirts with Jord and Damen makes an excuse to leave.

Damen goes to see Laurent.

‘It was an impressive fight.’ (About his fight with Govart)

‘Yes, I know,’ said Laurent.

He didn’t smile when he said things like that. He sat relaxed, with the cup now dangling from his long fingers, and gazed back at Damen steadily.

‘You must have spent a lot of time in training,’ said Damen, and to his surprise Laurent answered him seriously.

‘I was never a fighter,’ said Laurent. ‘That was Auguste. But after Marlas, I was obsessed with . . .’ Laurent stopped. Damen could see the moment when Laurent decided to continue. It was deliberate, his eyes meeting Damen’s, his tone subtly changed.

‘Damianos of Akielos (It was at this point when I first read the books, I was certain Laurent knew Damen’s real identity.) was commanding troops at seventeen. At nineteen, he rode onto the field, cut a path through our finest men, and took my brother ’s life. They say—they said—he was the best fighter in Akielos. I thought, if I was going to kill someone like that, I would have to be very, very good.’

Damen was silent after that.

The next evening, Damen speaks to Paschal about Auguste.

Paschal said, ‘I would say that everything that was instinctive in the older is not so in the younger… He was the golden star,’ said Paschal…

‘Laurent seems to hold him brighter in his mind than the image of his own father.’

‘You have to understand. Auguste was made to be the pride of any father. It’s not that there was any bad blood between Laurent and the King. More like . . . the King doted on Auguste, but didn’t spare much time for his younger son. In many ways the King was a simple man. Excellence on the field was something he could understand. Laurent was good with his mind, good at thinking, good at working his way through puzzles. Auguste was straightforward: a champion, the heir, born to rule. You can imagine how Laurent felt about him.’

‘He resented him,’ said Damen.

Paschal gave him a strange look. ‘No, he loved him. He hero-worshipped him, the way that intellectual boys sometimes do, with older boys who excel physically. It went both ways with those two. They were devoted to one another. Auguste was the protector. He would do anything for his little brother.’

Damen thought privately that princes needed seasoning not protection. Laurent in particular.

He had seen Laurent open his mouth and strip paint from the walls. He had seen Laurent lift a knife and in cold blood slit open a man’s throat without so much as a flicker of his golden lashes. Laurent didn’t need to be protected from anything. (And just like every other opinion Damen has about Laurent, he will change his mind about this too XD. – He is baby. Protecc him!)