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Once things settle down, Kieran goes to talk to Poppy about the Joining. He first jokes that no one would turn down joining with a King and a Primal. When she goes to reassure him, he tells her not to make it weird but is unable to stop his feelings from showing. He tells her that he’s not doing it because of their titles or lineage but because he loves them both. When Poppy asks him what kind of love, he tells her it’s the kind that allowed him to promise he’d kill her if needed.

After a journey fraught with hurdles, Kieran waits for Poppy and Cas in the Wisteria Woods and jokes that he thought they’d fallen asleep. When Poppy asks about the other wolven surrounding them, he tells her that it’s a great honor for them to oversee such a tradition. Before they begin the Joining, he reminds Poppy that he and Cas expect nothing of her but he is unable to control his body’s natural responses. Moving behind Poppy, he apologizes and says that he’s trying to behave but it’s hard because she’s beautiful.

It was such a beautiful, pure moment, it almost brought tears to my eyes. But him controlling his behavior wasn’t the only thing that was hard. Talk about manhoods worth journaling about…

During the exchange, Kieran tries to keep it light by teasing Poppy as he always does. Afterward, they cuddle together, and he notices that the mark on his arm is gone, though none of them are sure if the curse went with it. Things after the Joining change, but all for the better. They share a bond that cannot be broken. Kieran also feels his attraction for Poppy growing, but he knows it’s different than what Cas feels for her, and is tied up with what he feels for Cas, as well.

Once they reach the Bone Temple, Kieran remarks that the armies have never come this far west before. After Cas teases him about thinking about having sex with Poppy in her armor just like he is, they give Poppy the same pep talk they did in Evaemon.

Once they deliver Malec to Isbeth, Callum uses a milky-white blade to lift the curse from Kieran’s arm, and then Kieran stabs him in the heart with bloodstone. Millie tells him to cut off his head next time if he wants him to stay down longer. After Poppy heals Kieran’s cut, he assures her that he’s fine and turns his attention to Isbeth, shocked when she plunges her dagger into her heartmate’s chest.

Poppy screams at Kieran and Cas to get the dagger out of Malec, but chaos ensues. Many are killed, and Cas and Kieran take down the Revenant who killed Emil. In the midst of everything, he can’t help but be awed at the changes Poppy undergoes, but the awe soon turns to something else as the shockwave she lets loose almost takes him and everyone else out. Luckily, Cas shields him.

Once everything dies down, he coaxes Poppy back to consciousness and confirms that she has fangs, telling her that Cas will have to help her through that bit since it’s not something in his wheelhouse.

He comforts her when she sees that all their friends are once again alive and whole, and he and Cas tell her that she brought everyone back to life. Nektas is quick to correct them, saying that it was actually the Consort working through Poppy that did it. As more is said, Kieran inquires what Nyktos is, if he’s not the Primal of Life and Death. And wonders aloud why he would honor the Consort remaining unknown.

Despite what’s ahead of them, finding and dealing with Callum is at the top of Kieran’s priority list. But they have much more important things to worry about. Kolis is free, and who knows what that means for the realms…

I shudder to think what might come for all of us next.

In the tunnels below Wayfair, Kieran and Cas worry about Poppy. She’s cold and doesn’t feel right to them. He and Cas are super overprotective of her—something she doesn’t need in the slightest—and Nektas calls them adorable. Kieran says he doesn’t think he’s ever been called that.

I would call him that all day if he wanted.

They find Ires and help him become himself again, finding out that Jadis is likely being kept in the Willow Plains.

When Poppy passes out and goes into stasis, he and Cas take her to a spare room, and he goes in search of some clothes. He spends most of his time with them and Delano in the chambers, watching her and waiting for her to wake up.

As Cas tells stories to Poppy, talking to her as Nektas said to do, Kieran listens in and interjects in a few places, telling Cas that what happened to him wasn’t his fault, asking if he’s going to tell Poppy the full story about Shea, and reinforcing their bond.

He’s out of the room when the Revenant attacks Casteel and comes in to find his bonded Atlantian not as he left him but as a spotted cave cat. He talks to him, tells him to remember, and can suddenly hear him in his mind. He stops him from eating Emil, sends the Atlantian on his way, and then helps Cas shift back.

They gather the bone daggers and talk about those for a bit, until the walls and floor start to crack, a symbol appears, and Poppy opens her silver eyes.

The Primal of Blood and Bone and Life and Death.

POPPY, CASTEEL, AND KIERAN

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EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ~ HIGHGROVE ANNUAL HERALD MAIL

JASPER AND KIRHA CONTOU

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As the leader of the wolven plus a Council Elder, Jasper holds positions of esteem not only within their group but also with the Atlantians as a whole. And as his wife, Kirha, is revered in her own right.

Hair: Shaggy and silver.

Eyes: Pale blue.

Body type: Tall.

Facial features: Stubble on chin. Tan skin.

Distinguishing features: Black ink on both arms swirling all the way to his shoulders.