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Later, Kieran retrieves Poppy to heal Perry after he’s shot in the shoulder with an arrow. He argues that she doesn’t need to worry about him when she has so much other stuff she needs to do.

As they talk about the book Delano is reading, Perry remarks that I have led an interesting life—boy, have I ever—and then says that Casteel must have been overjoyed to read the journal and then meet me at the Council meeting.

The feeling was—and still is—entirely mutual.

Poppy heals him, and then he and Delano share a sweet kiss.

Perry joins Poppy and Sven in discussing Primal magic. When his father seems a little scattered, he gives him some whiskey to help him think. Once he’s settled, Perry asks why he keeps returning to the locator spell. As they get into more detail, Perry suggests that my journal may be the cherished item needed for the spell.

I mean, it’s definitely prized by many, but given what I know of Primal magic, I don’t think it would work as they intend.

When Poppy and the group return to Padonia with Cas, he gives the King a one-armed hug and tells him he looks good and that he’s been keeping an eye on Delano—a twenty-four-hour assignment. (I’m sure it’s one he doesn’t mind.) He adds that he never doubted that Kieran and their Queen would get Casteel back.

He catches sight of Malik and stiffens, his jaw tensing when he sees that the Prince looks good and not like he’s been a prisoner for a century.

As they discuss what happened while they were away, Perry tells them that no one was left alive in Whitebridge. Thousands were killed and turned into Craven—so many, they actually lost soldiers and wolven during the fight.

Once they discover that Eloana and I buried Malec in the Blood Forest, Perry realizes they never knew the blood trees grew where they did because it was the place of Malec’s interment.

Three days later, Perry joins the group in fighting a large group of Craven while looking for the god. He wields a bloodstone axe like an extension of his arm.

When Emil complains about the trees leaking and asks what it is, Perry quips that it’s in the name, insinuating that it’s blood.

Noticing that the Gyrms protecting Malec didn’t attack Poppy, he points it out to the others and says that he can’t be the only one who notices.

I lost track of him after that. I’m not sure if he was there when they went to the Bone Temple or if he stayed behind, but I know it’s not the last we’ll see of this fascinating Elemental Atlantian.

HISA FA’MAR

Hair: Jet-black. She wears it in a single braid.

Eyes: Amber.

Body type: Tall. Muscular.

Facial features: Skin is light brown with golden undertones.

Personality: No-nonsense.

Habits/Mannerisms/Strengths/Weaknesses: Knows the magic that can create Gyrms.

Background: Elemental Atlantian. Commander of the Crown Guard.

Family: Unknown. Her family of choice is wolven Lizeth Damron, whom she is in a relationship with.

HISA’S JOURNEY TO DATE:

I do not know much about Hisa’s beginnings, but I hope to fill in those details as soon as possible. However, I can recount how she fits into the story once Poppy and Casteel enter the picture.

After the Unseen attack at the Contou residence, Hisa orders the guards to search the grounds. She mentions the Descenter mask found at the arson site and surmises that between that, the courtyard attack, and the ruins, they must all be connected and the work of the Unseen.

She’s present when Poppy and Casteel meet with Valyn and Eloana at Cove Palace. She’s also in attendance for the couple’s crowning and immediately begins shadowing her new charges.

Joining Kieran, Vonetta, Delano, Emil, and Naill, Hisa stands guard for the Council meeting. I remember seeing her there—she’s beautiful, has a presence, and is hard to miss.

When the group goes to Iliseeum for the first time, Hisa leads them through the crypts to the access tunnels and uses her keys to unlock the entrance. When they go to leave, she asks them to be safe and says the kingdom wants to get to know their new rulers.

Attending the planning meeting with Casteel’s parents, she realizes the land party will be spotted before the by-sea group even arrives in Oak Ambler—all attention will be on them. She then becomes part of that group, arriving by land with Lyra and Emil posing as Poppy and Cas. Unfortunately, the Ascended capture them almost immediately.