#iskra Yellowlegs

[what-about-elvenis]

This will be my second poll. Elain with villains crack ships.

[readingabookmostofthetimes]

Finally Manon is fighting Iskra. I was starting to getting irritated by Iskra

[rowaelinsdaughter]

KEEP MY HEART CHAPTER II

a/n;; chapter 2 is here!!! hope you like this as much as im doing.

WARNING;; spoilers for heir of fire, manon and ayla are possessive over each other (i love this)

ayla hated the ferian gap.

 there was something wicked, cruel, rotten there. and she hated the amount of people reunited there. well, the amount of witches there. the blackbeak coven was the last one to arrive, and as a result, they were given the smallest rooms. not that she complained about that, she was going to sleep with manon, but the matron had made it clear that she wasn't going to ride a wyvern. it was too dangerous for her to participate, she had claimed, because the matron didn't want her to die. her precious treasure.

she had watched as manon gave three blows to her second due to a fight with a yellowleg sentinel. one to the gut, one to the ribs and the final one to the face. asterin hadn’t screamed or pleaded for manon to stop, and now, at breakfast, her second gave her a fierce grin. a small smile appeared in ayla’s face, and she felt manon’s hand grab her tight. a warning, but she took the hand placed in her tight, careful that no one notices it. 

she was wearing a dress. one that manon had bought her and had claimed it was her favorite. long sleeves that helped hide her hands, a cut on the skirt that showed her leg, a corset and high boots. she had entered the room with manon’s hand around her waist, making clear to the witches gathered there that ayla was manon’s, and the scent lingered with manon’s made clear that manon was ayla’s. no one would dare to look at her with the white demon at her side. 

but someone was watching her. 

she studied the room and found her… iskra yellowlegs. the leader of the centinel that had fought with asterin. her eyes narrowed as iskra looked at her from head to toes. assessing her next prey. manon noticed her body was tense. “what’s happening?” she whispered so anyone couldn’t hear. she didn’t answer. so manon followed the direction of her eyes and found her. she gripped the table. crack. the table was breaking under her strength. iskra gave manon a defiant smile. come on, come for me. 

she was going to kill her. ayla gripped her arm before she could stand. “manon stop. it's going to be worse if you start a fight with her”

manon looked at her, her eyes a burning gold that promised blood. ayla took her hand. “please, manon”

one, two, three, four… a minute passed until she relaxed enough to talk. “if she tries something to you or even breath near you, i kill her”

ayla rolled her eyes “you know i can defend myself, do you?”

“i know, but i don't like her”

“me neither manon. me neither”

✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮

even though ayla wasn't going to ride a wyvern, she had to follow manon wherever she went, so she and the thirteen could keep an eye on her. direct order from the matron.  

again, manon’s hand was on her waist as yellowlegs and blackbeaks stepped aside for them to pass. fifty witches were gathered at the hole in the side of the mountain. the matron was at the entrance of the bridge, the blueblood and yellowlegs matrons at her side. 

manon walked towards her grandmother leaving ayla with the thirteen. each heiress was at the side of her matrons. petrah, the heir of the blueblood, and iskra, the yellowlegs heir, was grinning at manon as she approached her grandmother. 

“now that we’re assembled,” the blueblood matron—cresseida—said, “shall we show you what we’ve been brought here to do?”

mother blackbeak waved a hand to the bridge, black robes billowing in the icy wind. “we walk into the sky, witches.” 

they were led to an atrium in the northern fang, where five men were waiting. each heir was behind their respective matron, protecting them. a men started to explain what they were going to do and what they were doing there. 

ayla was getting bored when the iron gate lifted. and in front of them, a wyvern appeared. a beast. she watched as everyone held their breath. “titus is one of our best,” the man said. he started to explain the characteristics of titus.  

and she watched as manon and titus shared a smile.

all rights reserved to ©rowaelinsdaughter. no tranlations allowed. no copy theme. don not copy my work.

tagging;; @thehighladywrites @danikamariewrites @hellwantfuckme

[blodgmonster]

Part....three(???) of my Kingdom of Ash reread commentary. Life got in the way again. It's taken me way too long to read this book.

-- I fucking LOVE Farasha. Ill tempered black mare named butterfly kicking Valg ass and taking names. "'I have need of you, fierce-heart.' She met Farasha's dark, raging eyes. 'I have need of you.' Her voice broke. 'Please.' And gods above, that horse stilled. Blinked." FARASHA, I LOVE YOU ❤️ Hellas's horse helping Anneith blessed Elide find Hellas blessed Lorcan.

-- "His name on her lips had been a summons he could never deny, even when death held him so gently" Yessssss.

-- "Lorcan brushed his mouth over her damp cheek, ignoring the roaring pain in his body. The horse galloped and galloped, as if she might outrace death itself. 'I love you,' he whispered in Elide's ear. 'I have loved you from the moment you picked up that axe to slay the ilken.' Her tears flowed past him in the wind. 'And I will be with you...' His voice broke, but he made himself say the words, the truth in his heart. 'I will be with you always.'"

"'No.' There were no tears in her voice. Nothing but solid, unwavering steel. 'No', she said again. The voice of the Lady of Perranth. Lorcan tried to move his arm, but her grip would not be dislodged. If he tumbled off the horse, she would go with him. Together. They would either outrun this or die together."

--"Maeve's death blow. Spent here to save the army that might mean Terrasen's salvation. To spare the lives on the plain." To save Elide and Lorcan and my girl Farasha.

-- a little bit dumb to take the keys to Morath. What if Dorain failed and Erawan got his hands on all three of them?

- YOOOO THE MYCENIANS!!! Good timing!

-- Lysandra and Rolfe could be a fun ship.

-- Lorcan and Elide FINALLY confessing their love for each other, well...Lorcan said it earlier but now Elide is too. I LOVE them together.

-- The Crochans answering their queens call!!!!!!!

-- oh Dorian hid the keys. Not as dumb as we thought. Though if he died in there how would anyone else have found the keys to make the Lock? So a little bit dumb.

-- Maeve's powers are waaaay too similar to Rhys' to be a coincidence

-- "There is only one witch who will be my queen." Dorian is where it's AT.

-- Elide telling her uncle that she will never think of him again is VERY Ever After coded and I'm here for it.

-- Manon, the Thirteen, and the Crochans coming through in the clutch!!!

-- "So Lorcan did." Controversial opinion time! So many people whine that she skips this sex scene and I do get it. But also, not EVERYTHING needs to be explicit. As much as I love Silver Flames there were times when I found myself flipping through the umpteenth sex scene. Like, ugh. Another one, we get it, Nesta and Cassian fuck nasty. It would honestly be a little bit weird if she completely halted the plot of the khaganate army racing against time to get to Orynth for a sex scene. "'Show me everything.' So Lorcan did" is evocative and I kind of love it.

-- Fuck Iskra Yellowlegs. Manon screaming and pleading for Abraxos. The love she has for him is SO DEEP.

-- PETRAH BLUEBLOOD! I FORGOT! VENGEANCE!!!!!!!!!!! FOR KEELIE!!!!!!

-- the witch tower is back up. Oh no. Oh no Oh nonononono no no no no I'm not ready no. No. No.

-- "Live, Manon" ...."Bring our people home."

-- "and it was not darkness, but light — light bright and pure as the sun on snow, that erupted from Asterin. Light as Asterin made the Yielding. As the Thirteen, their broken bodies scattered around the tower in a near-circle made the Yielding as well."

I fucking can't. It's too much. I love the Thirteen so much. Part 4 coming soon, as soon as I stop crying.

[385bookreviews]

1.72.6 Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas

SPOILERS

Pages: 689

Time Read: 11 hours and 22 minutes

Overall Rating: ★★★★★ Storyline: ★★★★★ Dialogue: ★★★★★ Characters: ★★★★★

Genre: YA Fantasy

TWs for the book: Violence, blood, war, s*xual content, torture, death, murder, injury, gore, fire, grief, physical abuse, confinement, vomit, kidnapping, body horror, slavery, death of a parent, emotional abuse, abandonment, child death, cursing, misogyny/sexism, colonization, genocide, toxic relationship, ableism, animal cruelty, animal death, s*xual assault/r*pe (not on page), discussions of pregnancy, gaslighting, classism, panic attacks, su*c*dal thoughts, su*c*de attempt

POV: Third Person

Time Period/Location: Terrasen, Adarlan, Skull's Bay, and Eyllwe on the fictional continent of Erilea

First Line: Elide Lochan's breath scorched her throat with every gasping inhale as she limped up the steep forest hill.

Aelin, Aedion, Rowan, Lysandra, Fleetfoot, and Evangeline have finally arrived in Terrasen after a week or two of travel from Adarlan. She arranges a meeting with Lord Darrow, Lord Murtaugh, and Murtaugh's grandson, Ren. They are supposed to meet them in the woods, but the lords demand they come to an inn. When they arrive, Ren and Murtaugh, responsible for Chaol's kidnapping in Crown of Midnight, are shocked to learn that Aelin is Celaena. Lord Darrow is harsh and judgemental, and gives her a decree signed by all of the lords of Terrasen saying she is only a princess and that she is not to be queen unless they see fit. She is discouraged, but as they are leaving the inn, they receive news that the witches are flying to sack Rifthold. She sends Rowan to fly back to rescue Dorian, gives Evangeline and Fleetfoot to Lord Murtaugh to look after, and her, Aedion, and Lysandra make their way to Ilium, a port city in Terrasen that used to be ruled by fierce pirates called the Mycenians.

Meanwhile, Elide travels through the woods on her own to try and get to Terrasen, forging for berries and drinking from streams. She realizes she is being followed. Lorcan senses the Wyrdkey she carries and follows her around, thinking she is Valg. He realizes she is not when she is suddenly hunted down by ilken, terrifying eight foot beasts that were bred by Erawan. Lorcan kills three and Elide evades another, and they manage to make it away. They make a deal to travel together, Lorcan offering protection for Elide's knowledge of Morath. Pretending to be married they join up with a traveling circus to get past the Adarlanian soldiers guarding the river.

At Morath, Erawan reveals his true form, no longer masquerading as Duke Perrington. He orders Manon and the Thirteen, along with Yellowlegs witches led by Iskra, to sack Rifthold. Manon tries to get there before the Yellowlegs, but arrives right as Dorian is about to be attacked by a member of Iskra's coven. Manon kills her, and tells Dorian to flee. Rowan arrives and kills four more witches and tries to kill Manon until Dorian stops him. Rowan and Dorian escape and head for Skull's Bay, and Iskra accuses Manon of being a witch killer. She lies and says that the sentinel attacked her first, but Iskra doesn't believe her and runs back to Morath. When Manon arrives, she is put on trial. The Matrons ultimately decide that while Manon will live, Asterin must be brutally put to death. At the execution, Manon asks for the right to kill her, but she instead swings her sword at her grandmother. The Thirteen flee, and the Matron reveals that Manon is the last Crochan Queen, her father being a Crochan Prince and her mother being an Ironteeth witch, and that her she killed both of them upon discovering the truth. Manon takes a near fatal wound to the stomach, and then drops off the cliff and is caught by Abraxos. She manages to kill the witches that chase her, and then passes out and wakes up in Oakwald Forest. She is attacked by a shapeshifter turned monster by Erawan, calling itself a Bloodhound, and she escapes again and tells Abraxos to take her somewhere safe.

Aelin, Aedion, and Lysandra arrive in Ilium to find it occupied by Adarlanian soldiers, the temple there being used as their barracks. She makes a dramatic appearance, giving some of the soldiers the chance to flee, and then the three of them kill the rest. They go to the temple and Aelin meets with King Brannon's ghost. He tells her to go to the Stone Marshes of Eyllwe to find a Lock that can bind the Wyrdkeys back to the Wyrdgate. The trio are then attacked by Erawan, possessing the body of the Chief Overseer of Endovier that tortured Aelin. She manages to kill him, but not after being taunted by Erawan. They then sail for Skull's Bay.

Dorian and Rowan arrive in Skull's Bay two weeks before the rest of their companions. Upon arriving, they go to meet with Rolfe, who insists upon staying neutral, but also find Gavriel and Fenrys in his company. They say that they were sent by Maeve to hunt and kill Lorcan. Rowan bargains that he will tell them where Lorcan is so long as they help them until then. They hesitate but Rowan tells Gavriel that he has a son, and so they agree. Rowan begins to train Dorian in magic. After two weeks, they go again to meet with Rolfe, and find Aelin, once again acting as Celaena, in his office. She then reveals that she is Aelin, and tries to bargain with Rolfe to get him on her side. He is angry and refuses. After some scheming, Aelin comes up with a plan and sends out a ripple of power that the Valg in the Dead Islands detect. They come with ships and sea-wyverns to attack Skull's Bay. Aelin offers her and her courts' help in exchange for Rolfe's allegiance and him gathering the remaining Mycenians to fight for her. She also says she will make him a lord of Terrasen and give his people back Ilium. He reluctantly agrees. Lysandra turns into a sea dragon and fulfills the Mycenian prophecy that once a sea dragon returns again, so shall the Mycenians. Aelin and Rowan combine their powers to wipe out the Valg ships, but Aelin wears the Wyrdkey, and is possessed by Deanna. Deanna gives them a riddle and tries to destroy Skull's Bay with her silver fire, but Rowan jumps in front of Aelin and she redirects her blow to the ships. She still ends up taking out most of Rolfe's ship, some of his men, and the entire Valg fleet save three boats. Lysandra takes out the two sea-wyverns, but is attacked by three more fully grown ones. She barely is able to kill them, with the help of Dorian and Aedion, and also sinks the remaining three ships. Aedion promises a wounded Lysandra that he is going to marry her one day. After the battle, Aelin then summons Elena, who tells her again that she needs to find the Lock.

Lorcan and Elide continue traveling together, but are attacked again by the ilken. At the next town over, their traveling companions sell them out to the Adarlanian guards, and they are forced to take a boat and flee. Lorcan discovers that Aelin has tricked him and he didn't actually have Wyrdkey this whole time, and he tells Elide that he will be bringing her to Aelin after all, and reveals that Aelin and Celaena are the same person. After a long ways of travel, they stop in another town, and Lorcan leaves Elide alone to buy clothes. Elide is attacked by ilken and her uncle Vernon, and they attempt to take her back to Morath. Thinking that Manon is dead and Lorcan has abandoned her, she attempts to kill herself, but Lorcan knocks her knife out of her hand and attacks. She and Lorcan kill the ilken, but her uncle Vernon escapes. Elide finally reveals what she is carrying with her, and Lorcan explains about the Wyrdkeys. They continue to head south to Eyllwe.

Aelin and her court travel on boats to the Stone Marshes to find the Lock. On the way, they see the coast of Eyllwe burning, and the townspeople blame Aelin for it. Abraxos finds their boat and they fetch an unconscious Manon out of the ocean and begin healing her wound. Once she is conscious, Dorian and Manon grow closer, and Aelin attacks Manon for leaving Elide alone in Oakwald Forest. Aelin makes a connection between something Fenrys said and Baba Yellowlegs' prophecy, and throws up. Rowan wants to know what's wrong but she only talks to Lysandra about it. Dorian advocates for Manon's freedom on the ship, and when they go to release her, they are attacked by a Bloodhound pretending to be Fenrys. She tells Manon that Asterin and her Thirteen are dead, and then Dorian kills her. The ship is attacked by ilken, and they fight them off, Manon assisting. They worry as Erawan now knows their location. They eventually make it to the Stone Marshes. Manon sends Abraxos to lie low and the court makes its way into the marshes. After three days of travel, they find the temple containing a chest that supposedly holds the Lock. Just then they begin to feel a magical warning signal from Lorcan, who, along with Elide, has noticed an army of 500 flying ilken heading straight towards them. They set up a trap, but Aelin obliterates them with her flame, and the others pick off the rest. When Lorcan comes into sight, Fenrys and Gavriel immediately attack him. Elide jumps in front of Lorcan, causing Fenrys to accidentally wound her arm. Gavriel heals her, and then Rowan declares that Lorcan and Elide are under their royal protection, which delays the blood oath command for them to kill him. Elide has a tearful reunion with Aedion, Aelin, and Manon, and she offers Aelin the second Wyrdkey. They then go back to the temple to open the chest, and find not a Lock but a witch mirror. They carry it back through the Marshes to the beach, and encounter a hooded woman with soldiers at her back. Everyone goes on alert, and Lorcan sends out a pulse of power to signal Maeve to come so that way Elide will be saved if there is trouble. Aelin goes down to talk with the stranger, who reveals herself to be Ansel of Briarcliff, Queen of the Western Wastes, Aelin's old friend turned enemy from when she trained with the Silent Assassins of the Red Desert. Ansel owed Aelin a life debt, and she gathered her forces and conquered Melisande, taking it away from Erawan's control, all for Aelin. They ready to leave for Terrasen, but are cornered by Maeve's armada.

They give them a day to decide whether to surrender or fight. That night, Rowan flies to all of the ships in Maeve's armada bearing the Whitethorn crest and begs them to switch sides. A few hours before the dawn of the day of the battle, Dorian solves Deanna's riddle and the mystery of the witch mirror. Aelin and Manon join hands and step into the mirror. Aedion is enraged at Dorian for suggesting such a thing, and Rowan is left to command the fleet against Maeve.

Inside the mirror, Manon and Aelin are shown what really happened when Elena and Gavin fought Erawan all those years ago. Elena stole the Eye of Elena, the true Lock, from her father Brannon and used it to seal Erawan in a tomb. The gods then appear before her, angry at her for using the Lock. Brannon had made a deal with them to use the Lock to send the gods back to their home world, and they would take Erawan with them. But by wasting all of the Lock's power on Erawan's tomb, Elena ruined their chance and doomed her own bloodline. The gods tell her that her bloodline will pay the price she couldn't and ultimately one would have to give their own life to reforge the Lock and seal away the keys, sending the gods and the Valg out of the world. She agrees, and agrees to set clues and hints for that future descendant to help lead them into doing it. They are then shown Nehemia coming to the Stone Marshes, thinking the prophecies and clues were for her. Elena appears before her and tells her that it must either be Dorian or Aelin that does it, and that Nehemia must help by going to Rifthold and preparing one or both of them, but that she will forfeit her own life in doing so. Nehemia agrees. Aelin is enraged at Elena even though she had already figured out that she would have to die to reseal the Wyrdkeys. Elena shows her what really happened the night her parents were killed and she fell in the river. She almost drowned but was pulled out by Elena put in a physical form by the gods. Aelin died from the cold but Elena revived her, and the gods told Elena to take Aelin then, as a child, to reforge the Lock. But Elena wanted Aelin to at least have a chance to live her life before she died and instead compelled Arobynn Hamel to come and find her. The gods were angry with her for this and as her punishment Elena cannot enter the afterlife and she will simply cease to exist the moment the keys are put back.

The battle between the courts' forces and Maeve's wages on. Lysandra is able to take out some boats in sea dragon form, but against Fae warriors they are ultimately losing. But then the Whitethorn ships turn on Maeve's armada and begin assisting them. Abraxos flies back with the Thirteen, ultimately turning the tide of the battle and causing the remaining force to flee.

Manon and Aelin are sucked out of the mirror and teleported to the beach where Elide had been sent by Lorcan for safety. Her guards are all dead, and Maeve has her held prisoner. She cuts Gavriel off from the blood oath, and reveals Lorcan's betrayal, as well as how Aelin walked perfectly into her years long schemes. She also reveals that Rowan is her mate, and that she used her magic to trick him into thinking Lyria was his mate, and then had her killed in order to get him to take the blood oath. She then demands that Aelin surrender or Elide will be tortured. Aelin surrenders, and Cairn whips her brutally. They seal her into an iron box and sail away, right before Rowan, Aedion, Dorian, Lysandra, and the Thirteen arrive. Elide and Manon reveal everything to Rowan and the others, and Rowan reveals that they had a secret marriage, making him the King of Terrasen. Lysandra then reveals that she and Aelin already made a plan for her disappearance/death in which Lysandra would pretend to be Aelin for the rest of her life and Aedion would father her children so Terrasen would have heirs. Lorcan is immensely remorseful, and Elide and Aedion are enraged. Just then Ansel and Rowan's cousin Enda arrive, along with Galan Ashryver, Prince of Wendlyn, and all of his naval forces, and the Silent Assassins of the Red Desert. They realize that Aelin called in every life debt owed to her to raise an army, and Lysandra shifts to become her to maintain the ruse that she is still leading her own forces. Dorian leaves with Manon, Elide, and the Thirteen to find the Crochans, and Rowan, Lorcan, and Gavriel head off to begin the hunt for Aelin.

Aelin Ashryver Galathynius (Celaena Sardothien/Aelin of the Wildfire/Fireheart): Aelin has shown a lot of growth in this series, but we still get to see her mistakes. Even though she is learning to trust her court and delegate more, she still takes on a lot of secrets and schemes on her own, which leads to the attack from Maeve in the first place because Lorcan got scared for Elide and summoned her. While she accepts her role as the sacrificial lamb of her bloodline, we still see it scare her, and I'm glad she didn't just stoically accept her death.

Aedion Ashryver (The Wolf of the North): While I am personally not a huge fan of Aedion overall, Aelin and Lysandra's plan to use him to produce heirs was really messed up and he had every right to be angry with them about that. It also doesn't make sense because according to shapeshifter rules (Feyre's pregnancy in A Court of Silver Flames for example) if Lysandra and Rowan made kids while Lysandra was in Aelin's form, the kids would look like a mix of Rowan and Aelin, so Aedion is completely unnecessary. That would have really sucked for Rowan but getting him involved in that way wasn't even needed. The kids wouldn't even look like Lysandra's usual form either because Lysandra's form isn't how she was at birth and she can't go back to her original look because she doesn't remember.

Storyline: I once again loved seeing old characters come back into the fold and watching Aelin's schemes fall into place. Everything feels connected and purposeful and there are reasonable explanations for everything. Nothing is just left up to fate (looking at you House of Flame and Shadow) and things come together either by Maeve, Erawan, Aelin, or the gods' scheming and planning.

Representation: Aedion is bisexual, Rowan's cousin Enda is mentioned as being gay, and Lord Darrow was the former King of Terrasen's consort. Representation for POC is once again lacking. Elide is crippled due to her ankle being deformed from a break that was never healed.

Summary: This is my second favorite book in the Throne of Glass series, right after Queen of Shadow. All of the plot line were entertaining the whole time and everything is intentional and flawlessly comes together.

Quotes: "The world... will be saved and remade by the dreamers..."-Aelin (p.248) "I love you. There is no limit to what I can give to you, no time I need. Even when this world is a forgotten whisper of dust between the stars, I will love you."-Rowan (p.350) "It is not such a hard thing, is it--to die for your friends."-Dorian (p.594)

[manonslayme]

Iskra, Manon and Petrah’s dragon au designs

I changed Petrah’s and Iskra’s color schemes a bit but mostly it’s the same

[obsession-queen]

Friendly reminder that because asterin was loyal and fought by manons side fiercely she was put to death. Friendly reminder that the night before and morning of her execution asterin was whipped, beaten and chained and bloodied up by iskra yellow legs. Friendly reminder that the only mercy Manon could think to give to her second at the time was death by her own hands. Friendly reminder that Manon was going to kill her cousin because iskra was a f**king b*tch and made it so the matrons punished manon with the death of her second for the death of iskras second. Friendly reminder that because Manon decided to follow her heart and be something other than what her grandmother made her into she was gutted by jagged, rusted iron nails

Have a nice day 😁

[elidesperranth]

Iskra Yellowlegs: Welcome to the "Fuck Manon" support group, where we gather to say "Fuck You" to that pathetic excuse of a witch.

Iskra: But first, a few words from our newest member.

Dorian, sweating: So I may have misunderstood—

[throneofglassravingsandreviews]

List of people Manon has choked

Kaltain Rompier

Chaol Westfall

Asterin Blackbeak

Iskra Yellowlegs

Roland Havilliard

Am I missing any?

[cassianandfenrysaremyboyos]

Abraxos: I am the strongest and fiercest of wyverns, the...

Iskra's wyvern: lol you're not even a real wyvern you're a tiny flower sniffing lizard

Abraxos:...

Later

Abraxos: And then he said I wasn't a real wyvern...

Manon: Of course you're a real wyvern! You are my big brave wyvern!

Manon:...

Manon:... I swear to the mother I'm going to kill that punk ass wyvern and it's rider

[aedicn]

FANCASTS ⇾  tog girls ll.

“All she knew was that whatever and whoever climbed out of that abyss of despair and grief would not be the same person who had plummeted in.”

[dappercolour]

HEAD CANNON THAT THIS WAS PETRAH NO ONE CAN TELL ME ANY DIFFERENT

[rowaelinsdaughter]

KEEP MY HEART CHAPTER III

*no author note this time*

WARNING;; spoiler for heir of fire, a little bit of smut, ayla being the bad bitch she is, bl00d (but a little)

due to her fae blood, ayla couldn't eat raw meat like the other witches, but she could drink blood, so the meals prepared at the omega were the only things she could eat. waiting for the meal in the line with her bowl, flanked by manon and asterin, the last one, protecting both. the hall was a mess. every day a fight happened, and there wasn’t a day where manon wasn’t touching her, making clear to the witches gathered there that they would be dead if she was hurt, especially iskra. 

the last blueblood finally left and ayla watched as her bowl was filled with soup. she heard a voice to her left and she didn’t need to turn around to know who she was. apparently, iskra loved to make manon angry.  

“rules are rules” iskra said. asterin let a warning snarl. “no eating the rabble” she added. 

“ah. i was wondering why no one’s bothered to eat you,” manon said. 

iskra looked at ayla and manon snarled. “hello ayla.” iskra said. ayla didn’t dare to look at her, she passed iskra and went to manon, as her bowl was also filled.

“i hear your thirteen are taking to the air today”

“what business is it of yours?” 

“well, i was wondering where you were going to leave your little witch” at that manon flashed her iron teeth at iskra. 

“you know, you would be the last person on this planet i would be with. so go away iskra if you don't want all your teeth gone” ayla warned. 

and iskra went on. “there’s talk of skipping our training rotation so we can see the legendary thirteen take to the skies for the first time in a decade.”

manon clicked her tongue in pretend thought. “i also heard there’s talk that the yellowlegs need all the help they can get in the sparring room. but i suppose any army needs its supply drivers.” ayla and asterin let a low laugh that made iskras brown eyes flashed. 

they left iskra in the line, her eyes burning with anger. they reached the table where the rest of the thirteen were waiting, and ayla made sure iskra was watching them as her arms hugged manon’s neck, bringing her down to kiss her. her teeth gripped manon’s lip, drawing blood from it and licked it with her tongue. their tongues were dancing a waltz. when they broke up, manon’s lips were straight to her neck, leaving marks wherever she could. 

✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮✮

they didn’t finish the meal. they couldn’t finish it after their kiss session, and they left the thirteen at the hall, a knowing smile on asterin's face. manon didn't look for a room or a closet, as she pushed her to a wall and kissed her again. her hands wandered through her waist, her back, her ass, every part of her, and ayla thought she was going to melt right there. a low moan escaped her lips as manon lifted her skirt, gripping her tights in the process and moving aside her already soaking underwear. she had made her come twice with her hands.

and now she watched as manon was getting ready to fly. ayla noticed how her legs shaked a little bit, her neck had marks everywhere, the same as manon. she was nervous for her but didn’t show it. the matron was beside her viewing, assessing, controlling. iskra’s coven filled either side of the platform. 

ayla watched a man give instructions to manon, the thirteen ready behind her. manon studied the open gap, the six faces on either side and finally she looked at ayla, holding longer on her and she pulled down the bond, sending her strength and love. manon turned ahead. “we are the thirteen, from now until the darkness cailms us” she said quietly, “let’s remind them why”.

a moment later manon and the thirteen were flying, and ayla kept that image in the back of her mind.

all rights reserved to ©rowaelinsdaughter. no tranlations allowed. no copy theme. don not copy my work.

tagging;; @danikamariewrites @thehighladywrites @hellwantfuckme @shadowdaddies @vanserrasswife @throneofsapphics

[aelinfeyreisa]

Why is a Yellowlegs witch trying to sell me bikinis? 😂

[manon-and-the-thirteen]

An under appreciated moment from Kingdom of Ash is Petrah Blueblood’s revenge on Iskra Yellowlegs

“For Keelie”

[cleopatraas]

Byrne: Part Four

A/N: This is my favorite chapter I’ve written so far. 

I, II, III

He had spent at least twenty minutes scrubbing Ciel’s blue blood off his palm. It stained his skin, like a permanent taunt. Byrne eventually gave up, but at least the blood was gone. He ran his hands through his hair, staring at the long scar on his cheek.

It ran from his temple, down the side of his face, continuing down his neck. Byrne swallowed and it stood stark white against his tanned skin. He looked away from the mirror and walked out back in Abraxi’s room.

“Get out!” The witch screeched. Byrne raised his eyebrows and hesitantly lifted his hands over his eyes. There was a pause and a snort before Byrne grumbled, pulling his hands down. She wasn’t even bare. Though she was standing in front of him now. Byrne smiled at her shortness again.

“You look…” Byrne trailed off and he lifted his hands when Abraxi angled the her dagger at his abdomen. He sighed and took the necessary amount of steps back, until she lowered her dagger.

“I was going to say you look-” “I don’t care,” Abraxi said flatly. She slid her blade in her thigh holster, turning away from him. Byrne swallowed heavily and he nodded to himself, a small sigh escaping past his lips. 

He bowed his head slightly and settled himself in his chair again, watching her. The dark purple dress looked exquisite on her. The straps were thin and it pooled around her feet. Her back was entirely bare. He pursed his lips and leaned back, watching as she looked at herself in the mirror. “Your hair looks better down,” Byrne commented off-handedly, as he tried to give her a small smile.

She scowled and his smile fell immediately. Instead her pursed his lips. Abraxi turned her face up slightly and Byrne pulled his shoulders in, setting his face to neutral. “Why were you in my bathroom? How did you get there?”

“Nothing here is yours, Abraxi. I’m just renting the place out for you,” Byrne shrugged, holding his tongue. He slowly leaned back in his chair, his legs stretching out. His shadows rose from his shoulders and his ravens appeared again.

“What are they? Pets?” Abraxi looked at her hair in the mirror again and she scowled at her reflection. A small tick worked in her cheek and he wondered if she was thinking about her hair. He chuckled and leaned forward.

“No. They’re not my pets. I can normally summon them, but they like to appear whenever they choose,” Byrne paused and he narrowed his eyes, as if he were trying to convince himself to shut up. “Shadows are apart of me. It’s like an extension”

“Like my father?”

Byrne snarled and he held back his spat. “I’m nothing like your cursed father,” Byrne shot up and he gripped the side of the drawer, trying to calm down. His shadows rolled down his arm and Abraxi stepped back slightly. The witchling slowly took the pins out of her hair, letting it fall down her back.

Byrne swallowed slowly and he sighed. He rubbed his jaw and cracked his neck “Come with me,” Byrne tried to ask. He awkwardly held out his hand, giving her a painful smile that looked more like he was about to eat her.

Abraxi bared her teeth and snapped at him before walking straight past and out the door. “Or not,” Byrne sighed and he followed her. He paused slightly and closed the door, rubbing the long, thin scar on half of his face. He closed his eyes before he started to walk again.

He touched her left or her right arm gently, signalling for her to turn. Each time she flinched, so he pulled back and just pointed. Byrne looked down at his hands and he saw the shadows swirling.

“What the hell are Yellowlegs doing here?” Abraxi asked. Byrne looked up and he shrugged at the witches with yellow bands wrapped around their foreheads. He knew all of them by name, having met them once or twice in his lifetime. Or a hundred times.

His back grew a little straighter and he walked faster. “They’re here for hope” He grabbed her elbow gently and ignored Abraxi’s efforts to try to yank away. Byrne stopped at the large oak doors and he bowed his head, receiving head bows in return.

“Is that a person?” Abraxi prodded him. He snorted at the back of his throat and shook his head. Abraxi glared at him, and he tried his best to ignore her. 

“Iskra has arrived,” One of the Yellowlegs said. Byrne gave her a tight smile and she opened the door, along with her sister. He lead Abraxi into the throne room and he let her go immediately. He knew she hated his touch, they all did.

“Ciel!” Abraxi screamed, picking up her skirts and running towards her brother. Byrne paused and he turned around, watching as she launched herself into the witch’s chest. He could heard Ciel’s moans from here and he watched with a raised eyebrow as Abraxi gave him a once over.

“Rajni,” She sobbed and slowly walked over to her sister. Byrne turned his head and he walked away. Aradia stood by his throne and they both narrowed their eyes at the same time. Byrne snarled and Aradia stubbornly fell to one knee. That wouldn’t be the last of it. God, he could practically sense her happiness at his anger.

And the darn witch knew why he was angry.

“What the hell is wrong with you!” Abraxi screamed at him. Byrne flinched as if it were a physical blow and he looked back at the witchling. He gave a long shrug and a cruel smile before he walked to Aradia.

“Where is Iskra?” Aradia gave him a cold smile and Byrne lifted up his hand. Aradia choked and blood poured from her nostrils. Abraxi gasped but he ignored it, grabbing his step-mother’s chin tightly. “I will deal with you in a moment, but I wish to greet my sister” He snarled, leveling his canines at her throat.

“Byrne, let her go,” The multi-Heir paused and he let his step-mother go. He turned around and grinned at Iskra Yellowlegs, standing in the doorway. Iskra grinned back and she walked over to him, giving him a short but satisfactory hug. “Is everyone here?” She held his face gently, stroking his longest scar.

Byrne nodded and he petted her hair from a short moment, before pulling away. He locked eyes with Abraxi and he pursed his lips. “Abraxi, please step away from my guests”

“Like hell I will,” Abraxi snarled. She narrowed her eyes, blocking Ciel with her body. Byrne sighed and he clenched his fists as Aradia laughed. A little longer. He just had to control himself for a little longer.

Byrne held his hand up as Iskra moved forward, effectively stopping his older sister against her will. “Just give her a moment,” His sister bared her long iron teeth, but she nodded before settling herself down on the arm of his throne.

“What has he done to you,” Abraxi whispered. She looked at Ciel and she nearly screamed when she saw the brand on his shoulder. Her brother hissed and he tried to pull away, blue blood streaming down his chest.

“B-Burned...wyrdmarks. What about you?” Ciel tried for a lazy grin but he grimaced in pain. Abraxi looked at her friends, her family, and she saw wyrdmarks burned into all their skin. Brands. He had branded them. She covered her mouth and looked back at Byrne.

“Finish the Lion,” Byrne said without any hint of the emotion Abraxi was used to in his voice. Abraxi wondered why she ever received any of his kindness. If what was even considered that. Maybe it was all a game. A giant chess board.

Why was he doing this?

“No!” Lyria screamed, tears slowly streaming through the blood on her face. Byrne looked away as Aradia stood up. He slowly walked onto the dais and sat on his throne.

“Aradia,” Byrne said casually, leaning back. Iskra ran her hand down Byrne’s arm and Byrne pushed her hand off impatiently. Iskra rolled her eyes, running her fingers down her braided hair. “I found out something interesting. My ravens still carry news from across the sea you know”

Aradia paused. Lyria screamed, even as her mouth betrayed her, her lips staying shut. She thrashed and Byrne twisted his fingers and she immediately stopped moving. Her light hair was matted with blood and she watched helpless as Aradia slowly began to burn Wyrdmarks into Gavriel’s chest, causing the Lion to arch and bellow.

Aradia raised her eyebrows at Byrne before focusing back on her work. The way she did it with ease was sickening and bile rose from Artemis’s mouth. She closed her eyes, whimpering as she heard her grandfather scream in pain.

Byrne drunk in his noises of pain. “And what is it you’ve heard?” She turned away from Gavriel, as his flesh slowly popping. The smell reached Byrne’s nostrils and he held back his chokes.

“You’ve hurt a child. More than one if I could hazard guess. And you’ve experimented on pregnant,” Byrne clenched the arms of his chair and his shadows exploded around him like a dark cloud as he breathed his final word, the room going deadly silent, “women”

Iskra froze along with everyone else. Shadows swam across the floor and up the walls. Byrne glared at his step-mother, his breathing getting shallower and shallower. Aradia had the nerve to grin.

“Is there a problem, Byrne?” She snarled at his name, her iron teeth scraping against her bottom lip. 

“Stop burning the Lion,” Byrne said tightly. Abraxi shuddered and she hugged herself, trying to guard both her siblings still. Lyria’s face had taken on a red color and she looked to be calming down because of his order. As if he cared. This wasn’t for her.

“Stop burning him” Byrne said again, tendrils of darkness curling around everyone. The scent was driving him over the edge, no matter how hard he tried to anchor himself. His canines elongated and his eyes burned darker, an empty bit of shadows. Abraxi gave off a short scream. 

“What are you,” Abraxi winced, backing away. Byrne flinched at that, wondering how terrible his canines truly looked. He began to walk towards his step-mother. Aradia stumbled away from Gavriel and the burning smell slowly faded away.

“Haven’t you been listening?” Byrne said between clenched teeth. “I’m a monster” He snarled, teeth clenched tightly as if he were holding back. Abraxi realized he was holding back. Even then the room still shook and Abraxi fell down to her knees, staring up in horror at the thing in front of her. Almost...demonic.

“This is what I am and it’s not my fault,” Byrne stared at her for a moment. He analyzed the fear and he shook his head, closing his eyes and gripping the back of his neck. “It’s not my fault,” He whispered quietly, before they were all devoured in darkness.