✨ Tattered Wings ✨ Kaz✖️OC.

Blood in the water

This book is a mix up of the S&B trilogy, SOC  duology & KOS duology as well. When I first started I didn't know what I was even upto, but now—I feel like I'm getting a hang of it.

And since the world is in turmoil ever since 2020 🥺 let's all be kinder to one another & pray for a better tomorrow :)

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There were murmurs in the palace, Tolya had become her shadow. Even at the terrace where she'd found peace and quietness back then—wasn't the same anymore. She knew that the Empress wasn't dumb enough to try to assassinate her inside the palace grounds but they couldn't take any chances.

Aeolian thought of that horrifying moment when the Tavgharad burnt themselves, for the Empress. They didn't scream. And even if they were scared, they didn't show. She'd have done the same if she was a Tavgharad, she thought she understood death but she wasn't sure anymore.

Nikolai saved her, she owed him a blood debt.

That night, when she and Nikolai walked down the lake together.

"I want to kiss you," he said. "But I won't. Not until you're thinking of me instead of trying to forget him."

Nikolai had tried again. When he had gifted her an early wedding present. A pair of tamed giraffes. In the Grand Taban Palace of Ahmrat Jen, they had all kinds of animals and birds but there weren't any giraffes. Aeolian had seen the animal in her travels from afar but she'd never been so close to it and she never thought she'd own them one day.

She was very pleased with the gift and Nikolai had seen it in her smile when she'd thanked him.

"I could promise to make you forget him." He'd offered.

"I'm not sure that's possible." She murmured.

"You do realize you're playing havoc with my pride." He said slowly.

"Your confidence seems perfectly intact." She mumbled.

"Think about it," he said, as he lead her away from the animals. "We are both used to being the center of attention wherever we go. You and I make a perfect pair."

She laughed. "You know damn well I like you, Nik."

"Such a tepid sentiment." He huffed.

"I don't hear you making declarations of love." She squinted.

"Would they help?" He raised a brow.

"No." She retorted.

"Flattery? Flowers? A fleet of ships?" He said.

She gave him a shove. "No."

Nikolai had been parading her around, he wanted them to be seen together as a power couple as the future of Ravka. Aeolian had agreed to the terms of this marriage as well, but she wasn't sure if she'll be able to continue for a year without getting attached.

Nikolai cleared his throat. "I know I said that we could have a marriage in name only, but if we...if we had a child, and you decide to leave...I hope I can visit you and the baby..."