#this post is about the goblin emperor

[captainkirkk]

Social media fics are fun, but future historical accounts and opinions about our characters (especially if our main characters are kings or important societal figures) about how influential and much-loved said characters become?? That shit makes me go feral every time

[lordofnowhere-art]

every once in a while I think about how Celehar is basically like a noir detective

[francesderwent]

things I am learning about myself: I am a much better wife when I’m reading a book I don’t care for very much

[eggcats]

I love Thara Celehar so much??? This motherfucker takes on (AND DEFEATS) a creature so powerful and obscure that not only has no one else ever survived it, people think they're myths. AND HE HAS TO AUDACITY TO BE LIKE "I JUST GOT LUCKY" AND NOT THINK IT'S WORTH MENTIONING THAT THAT'S WHY HE LOST HIS POWERS????

HE GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO HELP PEOPLE AND WHEN THEY'RE LIKE "THANK YOU SO MUCH" HE'S JUST LIKE "That's just my job" MOTHERFUCKER NO IT ISN'T!!!!

YOU GAVE A FUNERAL TO SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD ONE, PEOPLE COME TO YOU WITH OFF-THE-WALL THEORIES AND YOU'RE LIKE "SURE I'LL LOOK INTO THAT" AND THEN YOU FUCKING CRACK A SERIAL KILLER CASE NO ONE EVEN KNEW EXISTED!!!

AND YOU'RE SURPRISED PEOPLE LIKE YOU??? THIS DUDE CAME SPECIFICALLY TO YOU EVEN WHEN HE KNEW YOU COULDN'T TALK TO HIS WIFE'S BODY BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS YOU DO YOUR DAMNEDEST INVESTIGATING HE WAS LIKE "I THINK IT'S MURDER BUT IF YOU CONCLUDE IT'S NOT I'LL BELIEVE YOU" BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS YOU WON'T STOP UNTIL THE TRUTH COMES OUT

and you have the AUDACITY to say "it's just my job" and act surprised when people like you. motherfucker.

[coquelicoq]

[bolts upright in the shower] i need to reorganize my bookshelves

[calastrophe]

thara and his cousin

[ID: Two digital illustrations of characters from The Goblin Emperor. 1) Full-color shaded drawing of Thara Celehar from the chest up at a 3/4 view with a pale, dull green background. He has pointed ears, pale skin, curly white hair, prominent dark circles, and a neutral expression. His hair is braided with a few pins visible. He is wearing a dark gray frock coat with gray embroidery, a faintly pinstriped dull blue vest, a white collared shirt, and a light blue cravat with a brass ring, which matches his brass earrings. 2) Flat-color drawing of Csoru Drazharan and Thara from the chest up on a pale, dull blue background, at a 3/4 view and facing the viewer respectively. Csoru has pointed ears, pale skin, curly white hair, and a neutral expression, and very vivid dark blue eyes. Her hair is done up into three buns with braids wrapped around and side bangs, and adorned with gold, magenta, and green beads, tashin sticks, and a hair comb, which match her elaborate set of earrings. She is wearing a frogged magenta jacket with gold embroidery and puffy sleeves. Thara looks the same as in the previous picture, though his vest is no longer striped and he has some wisps of hair escaping his braid, and the way his hair frames his face is different. End ID.]

[kazz-brekker]

when elves in fantasy media have ridiculously large ears >>>>>

[hermitknut]

Title: The Michen Emperor

No Archive Warnings Apply  // Mature

Tags: Implied/Referenced Child Abuse; Injury to Child; threat to child; everyone will be okay I'm just putting them through the wringer; Found Family; Alternate Universe; the details of the content aren't far off canon-typical; but it may be more distressing due to Maia's age; so please tread carefully re the additional tags

Summary:

When Varenechibel IV and his three eldest sons are killed in an airship crash, the eyes of the court turn to the only surviving heir: the nine-year-old Maia Drazhar. Facing down the near-hopeless precedent of child emperors, however, is not something he will have to do alone.

Please note that, due to the structure of the fic, all tags apply to all chapters.

~

So I've been putting off posting this for. About four hundred years. It's not entirely finished, but tbh it's more finished than most of any of my multi-chapters usually are when I start posting, so hopefully I'll be able to get the whole thing up in fairly reasonable time.

It both is and is not darker than Stairs and Tower Stones - strictly speaking, some of the content in those two is at least as dark as this. But this one drops you in it right at the start and doesn't have nearly as much softness to balance it out, so it will feel different.

It's nice to be posting again :)

H

[calaathmaza]

My brain instantly went "thariana grande" when I read your post lmao. As for prompts how about them slow dancing? Or they finally get photograped together? Or thara wearing one of iana's shirts and it looks comically oversized on him?

bang bang into tha rooooom

ID: a simple sketch comic of iäna pel thenhior and thara celehar from the cemeteries of amalo series. iäna is a goblin-elven man with pointed ears, piled locs, and a long face. in the first panel he's smiling and saying "i'm home, love!" a door visible behind him. in the next panel on the other side of the room thara is seen from behind. he is an elf with pointed ears and a short braid. he's wearing what looks like a too-big nightgown. some furniture is visible behind him. he turns around, arms swinging out by his sides, and written on the front of the gown is "iäna shirt." in the next panel, iäna blushes with an adoring expression, hands coming up to his face, "omg <3" written next to him. the final panel cuts back to thara in the same pose, who says, "what." end ID

[captainkirkk]

Obsessed with stories about the shackles of duty, how presumed power can be both a privilege and a cage and takes a great vulnerability and sacrifice of freedom. Makes me go feral every time.

[syrinq]

i haven't felt that "people of x fandom are interpreting character y wrong or reducing them to such a surface level" to a strong degree until like

well

now with baldur's gate 3

[squidplatoon]

Anyways I’ve been listening to “the Goblin Emperor” in bits and pieces the past couple weeks and while I am enjoying it

<insert usual comments about culture and fantasy racism and monarchy blah blah blah, the author’s intent is directly pure idealistic interpretation of “what if this exact type of person became emperor unexpectedly” and its not bad>

They really did mean it when they said not a lot happens in this book. (& thats fine!! Its just fantasy court intrigue!!)

[stuckinpermafrost]

absolutely obsessed with The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison holy SHIT

do I remember who half the minor characters are? no, the names are pretty confusing! but that’s okay because I am obsessed with the story and the setting and all the main characters <3 I love a book where the protagonist is just NICE!

[fandomtrumpshate]

Unlisted Fandom Challenge 2025— on your marks, get set, GO!

Not that you need any encouragement — we've got almost as many write-in fandoms now (not even THREE DAYS into signups) as we did in total last year! There are currently 158 write-in fandoms. 158.

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Ready? Okay then:

6 Jeff Satur - Music Videos 4 Control (Remedy Game) 4 Zhen Hun / Guardian (drama and novel) 3 Cabin Pressure 3 Dungeon Meshi 3 Fire Emblem Awakening 3 Fire Emblem Fates 3 Roswell New Mexico 3 Schitt's Creek 3 The Goblin Emperor Series - Katherine Addison 3 Transformers 3 Zhen Hun / Guardian (drama) RPF 2 Animorphs 2 BBC Ghosts 2 Biggles Series — W. E. Johns 2 Binan Koukou Chikyuu Boueibu (Cute High Earth Defense Club) franchise 2 Cherry Magic 2 Dangan Ronpa 2 Dead Boy Detectives RPF 2 Detective Conan 2 Dungeons and Daddies (Podcast) 2 Five Nights at Freddy's - All Media 2 Inception 2 Iron widow 2 Kingdom Hearts 2 Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury 2 Sailor Moon 2 The Blue Wolves of Mibu 2 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (TV series) 2 The Poppy War 2 Tiger & Bunny 2 Tower of God 2 Voltron: Legendary Defender 2 What We Do In The Shadows 2 ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 / JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken / JoJo's Bizarre Adventure 1 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) 1 Alien Stage 1 Among Us 1 Arctic Monkeys/The Last shadow Puppets 1 Avatar: Legend of Korra 1 Baseball RPF 1 BBC’s Musketeers 1 Beyond Evil 1 Black Doves 1 Boygenius (Band)(RPF) 1 Bridgerton (TV) 1 Brokeback Mountain 1 Bullet train 1 Canji Baojun De Zhangxin Yu Chong (The disabled tyrant's pet palm fish) 1 Cassette Beasts 1 Castle 1 Challengers 1 Charmed (1998) 1 Conclave (2024) 1 Danger Force (TV) 1 Dead by Daylight 1 Descendants 1 Destiny 2 1 Digimon 1 Dimension 20 1 Dishonored 1 Dishonored 1 1 Downton Abbey 1 Dr. Stone 1 Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey 1 Emma - Jane Austen 1 Fangs of Fortune 1 Flight Rising 1 Formula 2/3 RPF 1 Ghosts (BBC or American) 1 Grantchester (TV) 1 Gravity Falls 1 Grimm 1 Happy Ending (Thailand TV 2025) 1 Hatoful Boyfriend 1 Haven (TV) 1 Helluva Boss 1 Henry Danger (TV) 1 High School Musical (Movies) 1 Hikaru no Go 1 HLVRAI - Half-life VR But the AI is Self-Aware 1 In Stars And Time 1 IndyCar RPF 1 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 1 Jeeves and Wooster 1 Jet Lag The Game RPF 1 Kane and Feels 1 Kraven the Hunter 1 Kuroko no Basuke / Kuroko's Basketball 1 Law & Order 1 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 1 Lies of P 1 Live A Live 1 Lord Seventh/Qi Ye 1 Lovecraft Mythos 1 Lucifer (tv) 1 Mass Effect 1, 2 or 3 1 Mononoke (2007 series and 2024 movie) 1 MotoGP RPF 1 My Time at Sandrock 1 NBA RPF 1 Nirvana in Fire (琅琊榜) 1 Norah Grant Bruce's Billabong books 1 Oh No! Here Comes Trouble 1 Omniscient Reader 1 Once Upon A Time 1 Order of the Stick 1 Outlast games 1 Over the Garden Wall 1 Pacific Rim 1 Pathologic 1 Persuasion - Jane Austen 1 Pirates of the Caribbean 1 Power Rangers (2017 movie) 1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen 1 Princess Tutu 1 Prodigal Son 1 Puella Magi Madoka Magica 1 Quantum Break 1 Resident Alien 1 Resident Evil 1 S.C.I Mystery 1 S.W.A.T. (2017 show) 1 She-Ra Netflix 1 Shipwrecked Comedy 1 Slow Horses 1 Sonic the Hedgehog (Games) 1 South Park 1 Spinning Silver (Novik) 1 Squid Game 1 Starkid Musicals (no hp) 1 Stephen King's It 1 Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical 1 Super Sentai 1 The A Team (either the 2010 movie or the 1980s series) 1 The Coffin of Andy and Leyley 1 The OC 1 The Pairing - Casey McQuiston 1 The Paradise of Thorns 1 The Umbrella Academy 1 the vampire diaries universe 1 The Venture Maidens 1 The West Wing 1 The X-Files 1 Thousand Autumns 1 Tron 1 Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles 1 Turning 1 Universal Century Gundam 1 Valdemar Series by Mercedes Lackey 1 video games by Arkane Studios 1 Voltron 1 Wander Over Yonder 1 Watcher Entertainment/BuzzFeed Unsolved RPF 1 White Collar 1 Wind Breaker 1 Wonka 1 Word of Honor 1 X-Files

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If you're thinking of signing up and want to write in your fandom, we encourage you to make a promo post to grab the attention of others in your fandom so they come sign up, too. If you've already written in your fandom and want to see the number of signups grow ... we encourage you to create a fandom promo as well! We have an image generator you can use to add bling to your promo, or browse the 'fth promo reblog 2024' tag for inspiration.

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[oooocleo]

how do you find good recommendations (other than maybe booktube ig) bc i never really heard of the goblin emperor until i saw you post about it and decided to read it because of you (im not even past the first act but it's so freaking good) just wanted to know since im co-hosting a book-club w/ a friend and want to expand my taste in books

it’s a struggle… when I started reading again I was very lucky to get recommendations from a friend that were Very up my alley (the goblin emperor, white is for witching, the nghi vo novellas, le Guin books)

booktube wise I haven’t found an exact match for my taste (a lot are less critical than I am or only read 1 genre for ex.), but it can help to Learn Of The Existence of books 🤨 I tend to do my own research after, looking at the blurb and genre tags, tho that doesn’t always guarantee I’ll actually like it

Some books I find out about via my patreon discord bc we have a bookclub channel there (we’re reading kaikeyi currently!), so it’s ultimately kind of a word of mouth thing 🧍 when it comes to more classic books it’s just ones that are well known (your carmillas, your dorian greys, your frankensteins)

i can try to rec some books if you tell me your general taste/what ur kinda looking for in a book altho the 2024 list is all I’ve read in Years skdjfjnv (uni)

[the-greatest-magic-of-all]

Oh, Brave and Loyal Knight

○ fandom: fantasy high

○ main pairing: fabriz (fabian x riz)

○ characters: fabian | riz | penelope | dayne

○ genre/warnings: king + knight au

○ tags: King Arthur Vibes | But also The Goblin Emperor Motifs | King Fabian | Knight Riz | Court Politics | Mostly Fluff

○ word count: 2,654

→ summary: It's a lovely morning in Fallinel, and Riz is a horrible (yet loyal) knight.

○ note: based on a post by @/plumerii.

part 2 | part 3 | part 4

“Dude, your brave and loyal knight fucking bit me.”

King Fabian Seacaster pursed his lips as his gaze lazily drifted from Mr. Blayde’s bloodied hand to where the aforementioned loyal knight, Sir Riz, stood, licking the last of the young man's blood from his lips. Doing his best to hide a smirk, particularly at how the brief bout of pain had made Mr. Dayne Blayde's Solsian use of “Dude” slip through his halfway decent Elvish.

Fabian’s sure that in any other situation, his fianceé, Lady Everpetal, would admonish him for it. However, she was too busy glaring daggers at Fabian and his knight as she shielded Mr. Blayde’s thoroughly punctured hand with her own. Haughtily huffing so hard that they managed to echo in the vastness of the throne room as she did so.

By the third huff, Fabian decided that he’d made them squirm long enough to finally deign Mr. Blayde with a response. Especially with the way some of his other guards were eyeing him. Sighing, he sat back on his towering, ornate throne, caught the young merchant’s eye, and asked, “Well? Did you do something to provoke him?”

Indignation erupted on both Mr. Blayde's and Lady Everpetal’s faces. Blayde could only gape at Fabian, momentarily struck speechless, while Lady Everpetal’s pale complexion reddened as she cried out, “Did he—you can’t be—that little—”

“Oh, stop with the sputtering, your Ladyship. It’s beneath you. Here, look,” Fabian said, holding up a bejewelled hand. Tilting his head toward his knight, who caught his blasé look and returned it with one filled with mischief. “Sir Riz, why did you bite the good merchant’s hand?”

Making a point to deliberately lick the blood off his teeth before speaking, Sir Riz cleared his throat and said, “Mr. Blayde took a tone with his majesty that I didn’t like. Alluding to threats to your rightful reign that he is too cowardly to say plainly.” He turned his head toward an aghast Lady Everpetal with his ears pinned back and a sneer on his lips, hissing out, “Be happy that I chose his hand and not his eye.”

Sir Riz had wanted to say worse; Fabian could tell. Worse about the merchant punching above his status and far worse about the Lady with monarchal ambitions. Yet, he held his tongue, not wanting to show those cards lest the Everpetals wise up to their ruler knowing of their unabashed treachery and become more challenging to hinder.

Fabian’s quick ascension to the throne of Fallinel after the Elven Oracle (and best friend) had gifted him Fandrangour had left him in a position in want of allies and with a plethora of enemies. Yet, thankfully, his inner circle of confidantes had formed swiftly in the days preceding his coronation. And no one was more loyal to him than Riz Gukgak of Solace. A former detective Fabian had met during one of his many adventures across Spyre. Over the years of knowing each other, both had saved the other countless times and had grown closer than either of them had originally planned to. So, when the Court of Stars had backed him into a corner, demanding the ancient position of the King’s Nohecharei (a knight sworn to die than allow harm to befall the King) be filled, Fabian knew of the only person in the multiverse that he trusted enough to take up the mantle.

“I see. Sir Riz, refrain from biting next time. Use a dagger, far more sanitary.” Fabian said to his knight with a firmness that tried to mask the amusement at the situation underneath. In return, Riz bowed deeply and gave a quiet affirmative. Satisfied, Fabian turned back to the couple before him. Paying no mind to the steam coming out of Lady Everpetal’s ears, he told the dumbfounded Mr. Blayde, “One of the healers in the palace infirmary will see to your hand. I’d hurry before it gets infected. Now—”

“Your Majesty!” Leaving her fiancé behind, Lady Everpetal lifted the skirt of her flowy, green gown to rush closer to Fabian. Stopped only by a warning hiss from Sir Riz. She only spared Riz a single glare before softening her countenance to something sickeningly sweet as she turned to the King and said, “The Everpetals have been loyal to the Crown and the Court of Stars for eons.”

Don’t roll your eyes. Don’t roll your eyes. Kings don’t roll their eyes, Fabian!

“Yes, you’ve made that notion quite clear, my Lady,” Fabian said, arching one of his well-kept brows at her. “How that fact seems relevant enough to remind me every time we meet astounds me.”

“I only mean that, as my fiancé, Mr. Blayde should receive the same dignities as any else of my esteemed and ancient House,” Lady Everpetal said. Her expression strained to keep pleasant. Making it hard to tell whether her narrowed eyes were because of the raised cheeks of her smile or the fury burning within. Nevertheless, she let out a tittering laugh as she went on to spit out with barely concealed rage, “The fact that you're about to let that little—”

Fabian shot up on his throne. His hands gripped the armrests, threatening to scratch the golden embellishments, as he hissed, “Watch your tongue, Everpetal.”

“—knight—” She **quickly pivoted like the expert courtier she was, yet was still picking up steam.*“—*Of yours get away with injuring a soon-to-be member of your court i-is unconscionable!”

“Lady Everpetal—”

“Don't **you understand that you are throwing out centuries of noble tradition for a Goblin who was a peasant not a year ago?”

“Penelo—”

“Why must the Court of Stars have their way of life thrown to the wind all because of the arcane technicality that was your royal inheir—”

Fabian hadn’t realized how close Lady Everpetal was getting to him until Sir Riz swiftly imposed himself between them and slammed the tip of his Sword of Shadows into the marble of the dias.

CLANG!

The sound of sleek, sharp metal against stone echoed out into the great hall and drew everyone's eyes onto him—something his wasn’t want to do. Yet still, Sir Riz stood solidly, back straight, shoulders squared, and a tight grip on his blade. From behind, Fabian couldn’t tell what expression was on his beloved knight's face, but by the way, even Lady Everpetal had gone ashen and stumbled back toward Mr. Blayde; it was chilling.

“Yes or no?” Sir Riz began, his tone firm and fierce as the bright lights of the throne room dimmed at the sound of his voice ringing out. The newfound shadows clung to the knight’s blade, swirling around his hands and feet. “Does his Majesty not wield Fandrangour, The Sword of Elven Kings, Lady Everpetal?” He asked with a snarl. Mr. Blayde flinched. “Does the crown, enchanted only to let the true ruler of Fallinel wear it, not sit happily upon his head?” Lady Everpetal winced. “Did the Elven Oracle herself not foree his reign?” The shadows grew darker, grew in number, and grew in size as Sir Riz, despite his tiny form, also seemed to grow. His commanding presence filled the chamber as his voice, vexed and indignant, raised to almost a shout. “Does the Court of Stars move against him? Do you dare commit high treason?”

Sir Riz’s final question hung in the air for a few long moments.

No one dared even to breathe as perhaps the tentative peace Fallinel had might unravel before their eyes in the following moments. Fabian could feel every guard that lined the hall tense. None more pulled taut than Sir Riz, his tail still and his hackles still raised.

Mr. Blayde looked at a loss for words (then again, what else was new), while Lady Everpetal looked like she knew exactly what she wanted to say but kept her tongue still so as to respond to an accusation of high treason thoughtlessly.

Neither party dared to make another move, whether on the offence or defence. A moment so fragile a wrong single word might break it. Luckily, Fabian always considered himself a deft touch.

Fabian’s soft chuckles broke the silence of the throne room as he pushed himself to stand, gaining the hall’s attention in one easy movement. With a gentle hand on Sir Riz’s shoulder, the shadows receded, and the room's brightness returned as Fabian said, “Settle yourself, Sir Riz.” After a couple of extra moments, Sir Riz did what he was told and turned to acknowledge Fabian with a bow. Giving him a tiny, reassuring smile, Fabian looked out at the pair in front of him, his smile turning intimidating as he continued, “I’m certain that Lady Everpetal did not come here to list her grievances with my rightful reign before contesting me for the throne in an official capacity.”

Fabian certainly wasn’t in the mood for the trials and duels that come with the arduous process that was the Court of Stars’ official channels for contesting the ruling monarch for the Fallinese throne. And he’s sure Lady Everpetal wasn’t either.

Yes, yes, he was granting her a way to slither out of treason.

A way that would, he had no doubt, allow her to go back to plotting to overthrow him in secret. But it also got her to leave him alone for the next couple of days, or maybe, Gods willing, weeks. And that prospect of peace and quiet allured him deeply.

For her credit, Lady Everpetal took it immediately. Her too-sweet smile was back on her fair face as she bowed and said, “Of course not. Apologies, your majesty, for my outburst.”

“We all have our bad days, my Lady,” Fabian said back, ignoring the scoff that fell from Sir Riz’s lips. “Now, I do believe I’m quite finished taking audiences for the rest of the morning. Lady Everpetal, take your fianceé to the palace infirmary and see yourselves back to your fiefdom. Sir Durden, make sure they find their way there swiftly. Good day.”

And with that, Fabian swept out of the throne room, his silvery Elven robes fluttering behind him as he went. His steps were quick and filled with purpose, even if that purpose was to get back to the King’s—to his tower and collapse in a heap of rich, silky fabric and heavy opal and sapphire jewellery. He didn’t hear Sir Riz’s footfalls behind him in the same way he heard the clicks the heels of his own boots made, but then again, Fabian never did.

Riz was a damn good Rogue; moving silently through the halls of the palace was so second nature to him that he often unintentionally startled other members of the Court of Stars—even other spies. Fabian had heard many complaints about the phenomenon and fielded even more demands that Riz wear a bell. He waved them all off, noting that his nohecharei had never managed to frighten him. Leaving out the many times Riz had scared him at the beginning of their friendship and the years it took to hone his ability to notice Riz’s faint tells.

So, Fabian walked, head forward and held high, not needing footsteps to know that Riz was only a couple of steps behind. The way his claws tapped the hilt of his blade and the faint swish of his tail was enough.

It wasn’t until Fabian had reached his chambers within his tower—the Alcethmeret—and fell onto one of his couches that he got a good look at Sir Riz again. Turning to see him standing by the grand double doors, a soft smile on his face, he took a moment to enjoy the view.

Standing as tall as he could, a few inches shy of four feet, Riz’s slim frame was wrapped in only the finest dark leather armour over tawny brown robes. Far from the starched shirts and vests he wore in Solace. Sword of Shadows on his back. Arquebus at his hip. Fabian’s personal sigil embroidered onto his armour right over his heart. Same as the one he used to seal his letters and appeared on banners throughout the country. He’d never admit it, but the possessive part of him always preened at the sight of it. Physical proof of Riz’s connection to him. One that would protect him from all harm that might’ve befallen him as a lone Goblin in this den of High Elves.

His seal.

His knight.

His Goblin.

“You just had to bite him, didn’t you?” Fabian asked with a drawl and a wide smile.

Riz shrugged, his grin growing to match. “You told me I could bite whoever I wanted if you or the throne were in jeopardy.”

Fabian couldn’t help but roll his eyes, letting his head fall back onto the antique couch’s pillow. And apparently, he was the drama queen. “I wasn't in danger, The Ball.”

“If you allowed a foreign merchant to be so brazenly disrespectful—which Blayde was, threatening to stifle Solsian imports if you did not bend to his fianceé’s wishes—then the rest of the Court would start acting up.” “Besides, I thought you didn't mind my bites.”

Fabian’s head shot back up. Locking gazes with Riz, whose canny, amber eyes held a spark of defiant teasing. Narrowing his eye, Fabian crooked a finger at him and said, “Come hither, oh, Brave and Loyal Knight.”

Riz obeyed, striding from the door to bend a knee and kneel before him. Fabian immediately took advantage of their closeness to cup Riz’s cheek, running his thumb across a field of deep evergreen freckles. Riz's slitted pupils dilated at his touch, a catlike pur emanating from the ferocious knight as he leaned into it.

They stayed like this for a few long and peaceful minutes. There were no words between them, only sighs and grunts as Riz guided Fabian’s fingers to run through his greenblack curls. All was well until the palace clock tower rang, shattering their little personal bubble and bringing Fabian back to reality.

Still playing with the soft hairs at the back of Riz’s neck, Fabian pouted and quietly said, “Blayde and Everpetal are going to continue to be a problem.”

In a flash, Riz’s pupils go razor-thin once more. “I’ll handle them.”

Fabian's sure he would, but—“Word of her outburst will reach the ears of the other Houses and the rest of the country soon enough.”

“No other House will publically align with House Everpetal so soon after Penelope's stunt today,” Riz said with absolute certainty. “Neither will the rest of your subjects.”

“The Court of Stars could be moving against me,” Fabian shot back, feeling anything but certain about what their future held. “A coup could be on the way sooner than we think.”

“It’s not.”

“How are you sure?”

“Because,” Riz said slowly as he pulled away from Fabian’s hand so that he could take it in both of his. “I’ll squash its embers before it can catch,” he continued, staring into Fabian’s eye with the same conviction he had on the day he took his oath as a nohecharei. “Don’t worry about any of that. I’ve got your back, Fabes.”

“What would I do without you?” Fabian asked, his voice cracking and his chest full of warm, soft feelings as a sense of breathlessness overtook him. He knew the answer was collapse under all the weight and pressure of the life he never thought he’d have to live, though Riz would never say that.

Instead, Riz feigned thinking for a moment before he answered, “Die in a ditch thanks to a sabotaged carriage.” Fabian gasped in fake outrage. How so very dare he! Yet before he could complain, Riz pressed a kiss to Fabian’s ringed knuckles as he let out a laugh. “Not on my watch, though, my King.”

No, Fabian thought to himself, never on his Brave and Loyal knight’s watch.