Latest / Deep Trope Fantasy & Romance Podcast / Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen Episode 6: Chapters 54–58 + Stark Bonus POV | Final Twist
Transcript
- Rachel: Welcome to Deep Trope, we go deep into fantasy and romance books, one trope at a time. We're your two book besties gushing over plot, characters, Easter eggs theories, and of course, our favorite spicy moments. I'm Rachel, Romantasy Theorist. Kate: And I'm Kate, lover of all things dark and spicy. Rachel: And this is our sixth and final episode of our deep dive into Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen. So that means spoilers. If you haven't finished the book yet, pause the podcast and finish reading before joining us. Kate: And please remember that the triggers and content warnings in the book also apply to our discussions. So between that and our complete inability to censor ourselves, please be advised that the podcast is for adults. Rachel: All right, we're picking up our story at chapter 54. Meryn awakes in the castle's dungeons to a voice echoing throughout her body, telling her to get the crown. It's the same voice that she recognizes from her dreams. Anassa is locked in a prison cell with her, with a red metal collar around her neck. Meryn approaches her, and though Anassa is silent, she nuzzles her and heals her, and they cuddle up and comfort one another. The collar prevents Anassa from communicating with Strategos, but she is able to communicate with Meryn and tell her that she's been out for way too long when Meryn asks. Despite being in the worst case scenario, Anassa is still being kind to Meryn. They made the decision to kill the king together, and Anassa didn't turn on her when things went poorly. This was so touching because it was the first time we've ever seen Anassa comfort Meryn in this way. Kate: It was really nice to see their bond finally evolving and connecting in this way. it was you know, again, pretty shitty ⁓ but ⁓ there's still, you ⁓ some lightness to it to see how they are finally communicating. Rachel: I just love the description of nuzzling up to her like the same way a dog would and that cozy feeling you have with ⁓ I know that Anassa is not her pet and Anassa would probably bite my hand off if I said that. ⁓ Kate: Yeah, and I was going to say she would definitely bite you for saying that. She is ⁓ wise ancient creature ⁓ deserves ⁓ respect. ⁓ also, yes, she sounds very sweet in this scene and very cuddly. Rachel: Killian steps into the cell, wearing the Dire Blade and there's something slightly different about him. When he briefly passes through a streak of light, Meryn notices that his bright blue eyes look ghostly, almost like winter ice. Killian looks at Meryn with concern and pain, which infuriates and the entire fandom. We had a plan, she screams. And Killian explains that they never had a plan. This was all part of her delusions, which were exacerbated by the loss of her mother and the trauma of the trials. Anassa is disgusted by him and tells her down the bond, do not listen. Killian claims that he still loves her and will love her no matter what. Again, Anassa screams, liar, down the bond. And then Killian kisses Meryn, which absolutely disgusts her because how could he think she would want to be kissed right now? Killian tells Meryn that he's keeping her in prison for her protection and to protect those in the castle, but regardless, that he still loves her. Rage, rage, this gaslighting motherfucker, Anassa girl, I am right there with you, ⁓ liar. ⁓ Kate: I mean, this was disgusting. It's the literal definition of gaslighting. We already hated him by this point. This just made me so, so mad. Like, he's absolutely dead to me. And I know that he's a siphon now, so I think he actually technically is dead, right? Is that how that works? Rachel: good that's a good question because that's kind of how vampires typically work. But they're all so beautiful. And also, why are they dying? Kate: Right. Rachel: We learn from Stark All of the kings have died in the past 500 years. So Alistair Brightbane is passing through their bodies and they're dying. They're not staying siphons. So why did Killian get turned in the first place? Kate: Well, I feel like that's a whole other question. Right now I'm just really mad at this guy. Rachel: Well, I'm saying like, so is he? So is he? I mean, he is a siphon, but is he dead? I can't. It's a complicated question, Kate: I don't know. Okay, okay. Well, all I meant to say is that he's emotionally dead to me. he's the worst. And I don't really know how many other ways to say that at this point, because I feel like I've been railing about it for a few episodes now. But this was a particularly disgusting moment. Rachel: Yeah, no, this was bleh. Meryn trembles in betrayal, pain, and confusion, but Anassa confirms she is not insane. Meryn asks Anassa if she knew he was capable of this, and she gets no response other than a sense of patience from her. This Meryn, who says she feels that Anassa has locked her out from important information, including who her mate is, and that it makes her feel alone. Anassa looks at her meaningfully, ⁓ silent. But then Meryn has an idea. Can you still speak to your mate? And Anassa confirms that she can. Ding, ding, ding, we have a solution. And also in this moment, Anassa tells her that trust goes both ways. So she couldn't reveal her mate to her while Meryn was still with Killian because she couldn't trust that she wouldn't take that information to him, which as we learn turns out to be a wise decision Kate: Yeah, that's fair. Rachel: they didn't think to guard against the mating bond when locking them away since Killian didn't have that information. so this their saving grace. Anassa confirms her mate is in the castle and Meryn begs her to get in touch with him. She tells her to tell him to get in touch with Venna who will help break them out and to retrieve the crown from beneath the arena and bring it to her. Anassa asks Meryn if that's a direct order and Meryn has the realization that it needs to be and says yes, at which point Anassa confirms, it is done. I completely agree with Anassa here. Her mate is the most important connection that she has, and Meryn could not be trusted with that knowledge. She absolutely would have told Killian. And I just got to say, Anassa would have thrived in middle school. Absolutely no one would trick her into telling them who her crush was. Kate: She wouldn't get tricked by that three-way call. Rachel: No, no. She would not fall for the three-way call, as we can see in this four-way call scenario. Kate: That's true. She's very used to having open connections to a lot of different communication lines. Rachel: So while reading the book, did you think it was wrong for Anassa not to reveal her mate to Meryn throughout the book? Kate: I I've made it no secret that I was frustrated with Anassa not communicating with Meryn, but my issue was less with the information that was being held back and more with how she was communicating. Like, could she have told Meryn she doesn't trust Killian with the information? Could she have found another way to push Meryn towards the giant book of secrets conveniently sitting in Stark's library this whole time? Like, ultimately we don't really know the extent of how the magic works, like the curse that they're under that stops them from telling Meryn anything about her true identity. But it still just always felt like Anassa could have made it more clear that she does have faith in Meryn and that she's not withholding information just for the hell of it. Like she continually made it seem like she was withholding information only because she doesn't trust Meryn or she doesn't have faith in Meryn. And that was sometimes the case, but it just kept Meryn continuously defensive. So it was not so much that she was keeping information, it was the fact that she really didn't do anything within bounds of what she was allowed to do to kind of quell that. Rachel: Right. Kate: anxiety in Meryn. So that was more my issue. So story, ⁓ very short at all. ⁓ I don't think that she was wrong to withhold that information. I just think that she was wrong to keep Meryn feeling like she wasn't on her side. Rachel: Yes, yes, I agree. Stark walks in as Cratos enters the room. Meryn sees Anassa completely shift and she is visibly calmer than she's ever noticed her before. Anassa opens a veil within their bond and Meryn is overwhelmed with sexual tension and desire and she's suddenly struck by the same feelings about Stark. She places a thin veil within her bond enough so that she can clear her mind to focus rather than thinking about off his pants. and she's furious with herself. How did she not realize it was Stark? Girl, we don't know. We don't know. Kate: We've been knowing. Where have you been? Rachel: I mean, and why are we trying not to rip off his pants right now? Give in to that feeling, Meryn. Kate: She is so open to being sexual with Killian. regardless of what he's done. Like the first time that she was repulsed by it was when he was full on gaslighting her. And yet every time that this beautiful man has turned her on, she's repressed it. Rachel: Right. Kate: is very frustrating for me. Rachel: Like if she had just given into her feelings during training, when there was a bed right there, an unmade bed, think of all the things that wouldn't have happened. Think of them all. Although it probably still would have happened, but maybe not. Kate: right there. But listen, we would have enjoyed it, right? So it would have been, it would have been worth it. Rachel: We would have enjoyed it. That's right. Stark hands her the crown, which has an opalescent stone identical to the one in her mother's necklace. When she grabs the crown, Meryn feels a jolt of power rush through her, and when she puts it on her head, she immediately drops into a vivid memory. She's in the castle. The same castle, but it's different. She describes it as warmer than the current castle, and there are direwolves walking around on the royal side, seemingly just living amongst regular, everyday people. Meryn approaches the throne room where a familiar looking, beautiful woman with long pale hair and pale skin sits on the throne holding her baby and at her feet lies a beautiful silver haired direwolf. Meryn immediately recognizes this woman from the carving that she found in the castle wall hidden beneath that tapestry. A woman bursts in the room and screams that siphons have infiltrated the palace. The queen, Queen Chiara takes off her necklace, hands it to the woman and says, this will safeguard you. The woman rushes the baby away and Meryn wonders if that family line has kept the necklace throughout history. Queen Chiara jumps into action and runs into battle against Alistair Brightbane who reveals he's already killed her husband and her three older children. And he intends to go after the baby. the fight goes out of the Queen, and she and her direwolf are easily overtaken. Meryn hears the voice from her dream say, Chiara Sturmfrost is dead. Meryn Sturmfrost has returned. Long live Queen Sturmfrost. Meryn comes to and suddenly it all makes sense. She says to Stark, I'm the rightful queen of Nocturna, aren't I? And he drops to a knee and says, welcome home, my queen. Yay! ⁓ Kate: It's happening! Rachel: My queen. My queen! We love that trope! Kate: We do, we do. The princess is finally a queen. And the way that he's just yearning for her in the scene, leaning on the bars of her cell, desperately wanting to be closer to her, it's beautiful. He's finally able to let out some of those emotions that we know he has been desperately shoving down for the rest of this book. And it's just so, so nice to see that release from him of like, Finally, she knows, she gets it. She knows who she is. I don't have to keep the secret anymore. And also, I can yearn for her freely. Rachel: I mean, he's been yearning for her, but it's great that we get to see it now. Kate: He's been yearning, but it's, yeah, we get to see it and it's beautiful. Rachel: We need to talk about the necklace. We know it was a heirloom and Meryn's mother tried to give it to her when she left for the bonding trials, thinking that it would protect her. This is important since it seems to have kept the family safe throughout the centuries. So I'm wondering ⁓ what its powers are and if we'll learn more about it in Fury Bound. Because yes, the family's been hidden away. They've been slumming it with the common folk. Stark's family's been looking after them. But it just feels like it's more than like, ⁓ we got lucky and it kept us safe, whatever that means, right? Like, I wonder if it protects them from siphons, if they're wearing it. Like a siphon can't suck their blood if they're wearing the necklace. Kate: Yeah, I'm really interested to learn more about what kind of powers an opal has because we're getting hints at the powers of rubies. You know, we're seeing it in Meryn's bracelet. There were a few other places where we clocked rubies being used. So clearly there's some magic that's kind of attributed to these different stones. So opals, ⁓ they have some kind of really powerful protective magic. yeah, I would I would be really interested to know exactly what kind of protection this necklace provides. Is it like, yeah, does it just stop them from being able to be controlled by a siphon? Does it to your point stop them from being able to drink their blood? Like, what if it makes their blood like poisonous to siphons or something? Rachel: Yes. ⁓ that would be sick. That would be sick. Kate: Yeah, I don't know that that's the case, but that would be cool. either way, just, it seems like, you know, Opals have certain magical properties or powers in a similar way that Rubies we're learning also have magical properties. Rachel: gonna toss out there that I think jewels in general have magical properties because they also mention at one of the trials that the king was wearing a particularly jeweled crown different than he typically did or maybe it was more ostentatious than usual but they mentioned the jewels in his crown and I don't know that just has my spidey senses up. Meryn asks Stark why he didn't tell her, and he explains the bonded have been under a siphon blood curse for 500 years. The crown and the sword control the human bonds to the direwolves. Though they didn't know where the crown was hidden, its location under the arena makes sense. The direwolf and bonded blood filtering onto it was strengthening the king's control. The siphon that overthrew the royal family did so by using blood magic to bind the public's memories of the Sturmfrost royal line. Since no one could speak about them, they were forgotten within a generation. And it makes me think of that line, that it only takes one generation to erase history. I love that this is becoming such a theme in Romantasy. I know we've talked about it before. So many of us in the US read this genre to cope with the horror that we're seeing happen in our country. And this is just such an important concept to remember as we see attempts to erase uncomfortable histories or prevent the press from documenting current events ⁓ at all. Kate: And I'm going to quote another ⁓ very well-known line. Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. So just in case anyone missed the memo the first time around, we did already kind of figure out that fascism is bad. Okay, kids. All of our great grandparents that fought the Nazis the first time, they taught us that lesson and I'll be damned. If we keep repeating this stupid fucking cycle. You're not supposed to these books and side with the violent authoritarian dickbags. ⁓ You're supposed to understand that the rebellion is on the right side of history. So just like you're not supposed to side with the Empire or the Capitol or Hydra or any of the other obviously evil groups, if you wouldn't side with them in fiction, don't side with them in real life for fuck's sake. Rachel: Who's Hydra? Kate: Alright. Marvel. Rachel: ⁓ Due to the blood curse, the only family who remembered the Sturmfrosts were Stark's family, the sworn protectors of the royal line. Stark explains the woman who smuggled the baby heir out of the castle was his ancestor. Not only did she hide the baby away with a commoner family, but she also hid the history book Meryn found in Stark's library. And for generations, his family passed the book down, keeping the truth alive through reading. even if the curse prevented them from speaking of it. The power of reading! I do think it's funny to think about what happened in the past 500 years if one person in the Therion line was a bad student who didn't do the required reading. Kate: So in my mind, that bad student, his name is Billy. And knowledge was briefly lost during a dark age when Billy decided that reading was for nerds. But fear not, a renaissance occurred as soon as Susie realized her dad Billy was an idiot and picked up the mantle once more. So basically I think that it was saved because ⁓ along the line women probably did a lot of the heavy lifting. Just a guess. Rachel: Yeah, yeah. And fucking Billy with his mullet and his red hat. Kate: Readings for nerds. Rachel: It suddenly clicks for Meryn. Since Stark couldn't speak of the Sturmfrost, that is why Meryn had to give Anassa direct orders for him to retrieve the crown. But Meryn is confused. How could he be her family's protector when he's been trying to kill her? Kate: Be so for real right now, Meryn. Jesus Christ. Rachel: Stark erupts in anger, as he should, explaining that he has been doing everything he can to keep her safe. He was the one who moved her quarters when someone tried to kill her. He was the one who trained her and strengthened her so that she would survive the trials. Kate: who disemboweled that stinky loser who came after her with a dull butter knife. Rachel: When I saw that you put that in the outline, I was like, is this Perrielle? Who's she talking about? But you're referring to the man that he disemboweled in the first chapter. Kate: Yeah. Did he disembowel anybody else in the book that I don't remember? Rachel: Yes. No, the butter knife just, I was like, the lunchroom attack and I just started thinking it was Perrielle. I'm like, when did he attack Perrielle? I don't remember that. Kate: No, it just, it gave me the feeling that the guy who came and attacked her was ill-prepared for the fight that he was about to have. Rachel: ⁓ for sure, for sure. Meryn asks why he threatened her after the voice trials, and Stark explains he did that to scare her out of drinking anymore, since it was unsafe for her after being attacked. Kate: In fairness to Meryn here, he probably could have just said exactly that. He probably could have just said, hey, maybe you shouldn't drink anymore since you were just attacked and maybe you want your wits about you. But instead he tried to scare her straight. Rachel: Agree. Agree. I mean, there's nothing that pisses me off more than a man counting my drinks, I'll tell you that. So, yeah, you better have a reason that you're going to stop me from dancing on this table, okay, Stark? Kate: Mind your business. You Rachel: Meryn says he has been trying to kill her in training, but again, Stark says he never ordered a hit she couldn't take. And I know he thinks he was strengthening her, which he probably did, but this one in particular feels like not of an excuse for the way he acted during training. Kate: I'm really not a big fan of tough love. I feel like there's almost always a better way to go about learning those lessons. Rachel: Yeah, me neither. I'm a fan of treats. Kate: Yeah, I'm very treat motivated. Give me a little sweet treat. Rachel: You Meryn continues to press him, saying, I know what I saw, Stark. You've hated me. And he hisses, of course I hated you. And it all comes out. His family has waited hundreds of years for her. And when the Sturmfrost Queen finally appeared, not only was she weak, but she was in love with the heir to the line that stole her crown. And Meryn sees that his eyes are full of pain. Stark reveals that it was torture to see her with Kilian, while knowing her true identity not only as queen, but bonded to his wolf's mate. At that point, Anassa tears down the wall that Meryn had put in place, flooding Meryn's entire body with a soul-deep desire. Stark as of her entire being that has been ripped from her, leaving behind the quote, fury and desire to go to him. This seems like it's a hint at book two, since the title is Fury ⁓ this means that if we don't get a book three title reveal before Fury Bound, I will definitely be scouring it for clues. Right now, based on the information that we have in Bound ⁓ and the fact that Sable Sorensen has teased that it is a four word, ⁓ I'm guessing that the title of book three is God's Bound. Do you have any thoughts? Kate: I that you could be right. We have very strong theories about the role that the gods are playing in this, including who the gods are. I, again, with the information that we have right now, I think that that's a really good guess. ⁓ But I also really hope that you're right, that this is a hint at the next book because given the context in the scene I feel like it would mean that we are in store for a very steamy book. If her fury is bound to her desire for Star, see what I did there, I can only imagine the tension and release we have to look forward to. The tug and pull of the fury and the desire and just this tension, it just, I... Rachel: ⁓ yeah. ⁓ yes. Yes. Kate: really cannot wait to read the next book. Rachel: No, I can't wait. Hours away, hours away. She tries to remind herself that this is Anassa and Cratos' bond, not actually her and Stark. ⁓ Or is it? Kate: Sure about that. You sure about that? Rachel: But Stark grabs her arm through the bars and pulls her as close as possible. Quote, do you have any idea what it felt like to watch you at the forging ball in the dress I picked for you swirling in your lover's arms? ⁓ my God, ⁓ my God. I feel like we all knew he picked it, but. I mean, Stark doesn't seem like a dress guy. Killian? Total dress guy. Stark? Seems more like he would pick out like a beautiful weapon for her. Kate: I mean, we don't know what the emeralds do. Rachel: ⁓ God. Kate: No, that's too far. That's too far. But I think you're, I mean, you're right. But love and desire make us do crazy things. turns us into people that we don't always recognize. Rachel: He's like, I'm in love with her, my princess, my queen, and I'm gonna make her look like a queen at this ball where everybody else is dressed like they're going to the club, you know? Kate: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Rachel: poor Stark. She was dancing with him and not only did Killian cut in, but she publicly claimed Killian in that moment. And that is just the worst kind of rejection that I can imagine. Kate: Honestly heartbreaking. He's so hurt. I guess might have to lick his wounds. Rachel: ⁓ okay. Meryn asks him about before the ascent, when he came through the city and arrested the deserter, and all he says is yes. puts two and two together, realizing Stark killed the man because he threatened her, and was therefore watching her fight. And when her eyes meet his, we get ⁓ a jaw think that might be one of my favorite micro tropes, a jaw tick. Kate: It's a good one. I mean, it says that he works to hide his emotions. It's giving tension. And, you know, he has his signature scowl or glare, but you know that the tension is building in his mind and driving him crazy beneath the surface. And that jaw tick is the perfect visual of that. And it's just like, let out your feelings, man. Unclench your jaw and for the love of God. Rachel: It's giving tension. Kate: Please get laid and let us watch. Thank you. Rachel: It's giving tension, it's giving yearning, it's giving barely held back restraint. ⁓ god. Kate: All good things, all good things. Rachel: ⁓ god, okay. Meryn feels bolts of lightning through her body, from Stark's hold on her arm. She gently puts the barrier back in place in her bond with Anassa, but continues to feel a dull but aching desire. She realizes Stark felt this way the entire time that she's been bonded to Anassa. Yes, yes, girl, yes. ⁓ actually, so have you. You've just been in a weird form of denial. ⁓ Kate: Yeah, that was just painful to watch. Rachel: Meryn places her hand softly on Stark's wrists, and it's clear he feels the same way. He steps away. Meryn reaches for Anassa for comfort and receives it. She releases some of the connection down the bond, so Meryn is able to clear her head. And Meryn repeats Stark's words back to him. Alphas don't have the luxury of weakness. And this seems to shake him back into focus. Meryn asks if Killian is a siphon too, like his ancestor. But Stark doesn't know. He explains that the original king, who stole the throne, died, as did all of his descendants in the past 500 years. But knowing Siphons can live forever, Meryn asks how and why, and again, Stark explains that he doesn't know. Everything that he knows was in the book that Meryn has practically memorized at this point. All he knows is that Killian is not looking out for her best interests. Kate: And that is putting it maybe a little bit mildly. ⁓ But also, and this is something that I just thought of, so they're saying that they don't know why the kings keep dying. But I think that it's because Alistair is still trying to be on the DL. moving on to the next generation of king so that... Rachel: Yes. Kate: It's not obvious that the king is a Siphon and that Rachel: ⁓ that's interesting. We'll wait so that. Kate: Right? Because like, if they didn't die, if they just remained siphons and Alistair just stayed in the body of the same king the entire time, then it would be like, okay, so the king of Nocturna is a siphon. Rachel: Right, but that also means that for the past 500 years, every single son has killed his father. Kate: Does it have to be the son that kills him? Rachel: would imagine that whoever's body is being currently occupied by Alistair is the one that is killing the outgoing king. So we know Alistair demanded to be transferred from the king to Killian. So it was probably just a matter of time before Killian would have taken out his dad anyway. Kate: Probably, yeah, he just got his hostage to do it instead. Rachel: Meryn asks why neither of them said anything to her. And Anassa growls, and you would have believed us? And finally, finally Meryn realizes the error of her ways. She feels like a complete idiot. And Stark gives us what probably the most famous quote of the book. It's even on the naked cover of our fancy deluxe editions. Quote, give me the word and I'll tear out his throat. All the lives I've ever taken were just training for this moment, my queen. Make me your instrument of vengeance. Let my hands act out your every savage depraved thought. Use me. I'm yours. Squeal, scream, swoon. I am in love. I am finding the word depraved to be particularly swoon worthy here. He how depraved she is when she gets into her murderous rages and goes all Minging Meryn and won't take a bath and says, you know what, let me take that on for you. Kate: Yes. I mean, we've already seen some of the depraved things that his hands can do for the sake of violence. I would love to see what depraved things he's capable of for the sake of pleasure. But seriously, mean, use me, I'm yours. Like I'm picking my jaw off the floor, wiping the drool from my chin. God damn, that is hot. Rachel: ⁓ my God. like us, the I'm yours really strikes a chord with Meryn, who can't stop thinking about that he's hers. And she begins to cry before telling Stark that she needs to return to Killian. She has questions she needs answered before they can eliminate him. She instructs Stark to work with Venna to find and save Saela and the other children. And she tells him that she'll send word with Anassa when she needs him to come rescue her with the crown. Though Stark looks concerned, he reassures her, you the danger. There is so much to unpack here. When Stark said he was hers and Meryn thought, quote, my psycho asshole, my bloodthirsty killer. It makes me wonder, what will his nickname be in book two? Kate: Let's think. What about emotional landmine? Murder gremlin? Sad boy psychopath? Should I keep going? Trauma with legs? Brooding bastard? Rachel: I think so. ⁓ I like Brooding Bastard has a nice little alliteration. Although Murder Gremlin has a little something to it as well. Kate: Hahaha Rachel: Sad Boi psychopath is the most accurate probably of all of them. Meryn has spent this entire book thinking Stark wanted to kill her, but he is so sure of her and her power in this moment, immediately reassuring her that she is the danger in her battle with the Bright Veins. Kate: It reminds me of I am the one who knocks from Breaking Bad. She is the danger, not the victim. I love that he reminds her of that. Rachel: Yes. Yes, especially because like now that we're talking about it, she's basically been in an abusive relationship for over a year now and reminding her that she has the power and she has the means to overcome it is just so powerful. Kate: Like literally the power, like she has not unpacked her power at all, has not explored it, has not even really understood that she has it at all. So she has so much potential that is untapped right now. Rachel: Meryn begs the guards to bring Prince Killian to her, claiming that she loves him and needs his help to heal her. And they correct her, King Killian. But after some time, they bring Meryn to Killian's room. Kate: Pardon me your kingliness. And for those of us not watching the video, I just did the jerk off motion because woof. Rachel: and hopefully Killian will only be jerking off from here on out. Kate: Seriously, yeah, don't, as much as we enjoyed some of those spicy scenes early on, I don't think I could stomach one anymore. Rachel: ⁓ Once in room, Meryn instructs Anassa through the bond to have Stark come back, free her from the cell, and remove her collar. After two servant women bathe Meryn and style her hair, they dress her up in a beautiful but tightly laced gown. And Meryn sits at the window waiting for Killian. Because Killian is not into Minging Meryn. He's into freshly laundered Meryn. Killian arrives wearing the dire blade and relief, concern and love fill his face, which of course fill Meryn and us with rage. But she uses her training from the ring to transform it into a mask of vulnerability. She reveals to Killian that she thinks she is losing her mind, just like her mother. Repulsed, Meryn allows him to embrace her and twine his fingers in her hair and kiss her. Vom, vom. Kate: Ugh. Rachel: Bleh. Meryn attempts to disassociate while Killian begins to undress her. She moves toward the bed, going through the motions of their typical seduction. At this point in the book, I was very concerned. Sable Sorensen did a great job anticipating our expectations here because I was convinced that Killian was going to tie her up and keep her there. But no! ⁓ they are on the bed and Meryn is on top, she manages to pin his hands beneath her legs. slamming her fist into his throat and pulls the dire blade from the sheath at his hip. She pushes the blade against his throat, Kinky, you trying to behead a second king with that sword, he says. Meryn confronts him, saying neither he nor his father was a king. And we finally get the big bad confession. He mocks her for believing that they met coincidentally and reveals that there were rumors throughout history that Queen Chiara's baby survived. Though his own ancestors decided that it didn't matter, he had a different plan, to hunt Meryn down and make her his. But despite all of this, Killian still claims that he loves her and that he was acting in both her best interests and those of the kingdom. Kate: Kindly fuck all the way off. Like this guy is so, so full of himself in the most aggressive way. Rachel: and not kindly fuck off. In the most disrespectful way ever, fuck off. Kate: Yes. Rachel: Killian reveals that he arranged her mother's death so that her powers would pass to Meryn. She realizes the Sturmfrost royal magic is what she feels while holding the Dire ⁓ Kate: So just so that I'm clear, he just claimed that he loved her and was acting in her best interests and then goes on to tell her that he arranged for her mother's death. That's like all one thought from this man. Rachel: That is correct. That is correct. Kate: Okay. Okay. Rachel: As Killian reveals that he needed Meryn, he has what seems to be a seizure, eyes rolling to the back of his head, before speaking in an ancient haunting voice that Killian got greedy. Meryn asks who it is and his face begins to transform. Going fool vampire, fangs and all. And it says his grin stretches unnaturally wide, which is always super freaky to me. Kate: Ugh, agreed. I don't like it. Rachel: The voice reveals that he is Alistair Brightbane, who Meryn remembers as the siphon that killed Queen Chiara. So as we discussed in the last episode, Lucien Brightbane is the king of the siphons. So are they father son, ⁓ brothers? long-lost, distant cousins. Kate: think they're brothers, because I feel like it's always brothers who couldn't get along and then decided to make it everyone's fucking problem. Rachel: Mm. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Kate: think that just feels right. Rachel: My mind is spinning. like we've asked before, why is he moving through generations of bodies? And I'm almost wondering like. Is he a different type of being? Well, no, Lucien Brightbane's eyes were familiar to Meryn, so they're probably related. I just, I almost wonder if like... I don't know. He just seems like Voldemort You know what I mean? And like... Kate: Well, I think that they're brothers. What I'm not sure about whether he to inhabit the kings because he was wounded so badly at one point that that's the way that he could survive, ⁓ or it's because he's undercover ⁓ and Lucien doesn't know that he's still alive or still in control. And he has to keep up this front of like, these are human royals are in charge of Nocturna, and he's gonna just like make his move at some point against Lucien. I don't know. But those are my two guesses is that either it's the only way that he can survive at this point, because he was somehow like, really badly wounded, ⁓ that is going through the motions and ⁓ moving the generations ⁓ so people don't realize who he is or what he is and maybe Lucien doesn't know. Rachel: Yes. I think it's both. Right? I think it's both. I think it's both. We're going with both. Kate: Could be both. Rachel: In this scene, we learn that the blood magic that allowed Alistair to survive for 500 years from passing from king to heir is called transference magic. And so when they realized that Meryn was on to the king, Alistair demanded to be transferred. And this type of magic is difficult to maintain, and that's the reason they needed the extra strong blood of the children to maintain their power. especially during the bonding trials because they're also controlling so many wolves at the same time. Killian, who has returned, reveals that the king turned him into a siphon on the day of the graduation ceremony and thanks her for killing Henrey, since he was so thirsty after his transformation. RIP Henrey. Kate: ⁓ Poor Henrey. Rachel: Meryn finally notes the eerie blue color in Killian's eyes, which she previously noticed in the King's eyes, and she assumes that it's tied to this Transference magic. Horrified, Meryn moves to end this, decapitating Killian like she did his father. But once her blade is in the air, Killian laughs as her strength leaves her muscles and shadows wrap around her wrists and ankles. ⁓ plot twist! The thing that I was scared was going to happen. is actually happening. Just not when I thought it was going to happen. Kate: But did, and did you think that it would be shadows binding her? Rachel: I did not. I did not think it would be shadows. I thought that her shadows would be binding him, if anything. Kate: while her shadows are binding her. Rachel: Mmm. Yep. Kate: as we learn. Rachel: She's pinned to the floor as Killian walks to her, saying he wouldn't let her kill him because he is still planning to marry her and rule with her by his side. Another romantic proposal from Killian. Kate: Aw, it's so romantic. Wow. Rachel: Meryn screams down the bond for Anassa and Stark to arrive, and Stark, Anassa, and Cratos burst through the door. Stark throws Killian against the wall with his Daemos power. Okay, so we've seen Daemos power several times now, and I think it's best described as wind power. What do you think? Kate: I think that fits. I was imagining it kind of like the force from Star Wars. Rachel: ⁓ I like that. Kate: in an invisible strength, an invisible hand. Something like that. Rachel: Yeah, okay. So Obi-Wan Kastark? That doesn't work. Kate: And it doesn't really work. We'll workshop that. Rachel: Luke Stark Walker. Kate: You Yeah, feels great. Rachel: ⁓ boy. The shadows free Meryn and Stark throws her the crown. Once the crown is on her head, she immediately feels a rush of power, but Killian just laughs. When Stark attempts to use his power, it rebounds back on him, and Killian reveals Stark can't use his powers against him because they are Meryn's powers and are rent from Meryn's. Kate: So does this mean Stark's powers are not Daemos powers, but actually Sturmfrost powers? If his powers are rent from Meryn? Or does this mean that all direwolf magic is derived from Sturmfrost magic? Rachel: I think that, that's what I've always thought. And I thought that's why she has all four of them. Kate: Right? Rachel: which gives more credence to the idea that she is the faceless goddess. Like all the power comes from her, right? And the faceless goddess's name is Lumina. Kate: Yes, which I firmly believe. But then, so the powers still work against Meryn though. Rachel: Well, that's because she has the bracelet on. Kate: Right, that's true. Rachel: So her powers are no longer belonging to her. He's siphoning her powers out of her and into him. Kate: But she's not completely powerless. Because we see her with the shadows. So like, is it... I don't know, we can talk about that when we get to the part where she is like noticing her shadow powers. Rachel: Yeah, I don't get that. Okay. Killian forcefully kisses her again and thanks her for his new power and tells her he left her a parting gift. Meryn lashes out with her blade, but the shadows shift again, forming a cocoon around Killian's body before he disappears. This is so ominous. I know a lot of people were shocked that Saela became a siphon, but when he said I left you a parting gift, I was pretty sure it was that. ⁓ Do you think that he changed Saela just because he's cruel or do you think there's another reason? Kate: I mean, there definitely might be another reason. I don't really have a theory on what that would be right now, but he definitely did it to be cruel. So either way, like that was definitely a big part of it for him. Rachel: horrified, grabs Meryn's arm and she looks to see shadows swirling within the ruby in her engagement bracelet. When she tries to remove it, it tightens around her wrist. Anassa explains the bracelet is bound to her, allowing Killian to siphon her magic wherever he is. Meryn realizes there is nothing she can do to remove the bracelet without the siphon magic that created it. The timing makes so much more sense now that he proposed as soon as possible after her mother died in order to steal her magic before discovered it herself. ⁓ interested in understanding the magic system better and the types of items that can control powers. know that Meryn's ruby bracelet, siphons her powers into Killian slash Alistair. I think I'm going to call him Killistair. There was also a red metal collar that blocked Anassa from communicating with her pack. So is it just rubies? That also brings into question the ruby in leader Aldrik's as well as, we discussed, the jewels in the King's crown. Kate: I mean, it's definitely all linked to this ruby red from what I can tell, because there's also the link to the red roses, which are not rubies, but there's a color tie in there. Rachel: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Stark comforts Meryn, rubbing her back. my God, Stark, I would love for you to rub my back. And again, she mentions his musky amber smell. Yum. Kate: Okay, so there's this place near where I live that lets you create these custom scents and put it into all of these different products. So we could make a stark candle or maybe a stark cologne that we can spray on our sheets or a stark bubble bath that we can bathe in or a stark lotion that we can rub into our skin. Or maybe we could just be like totally normal and chill about this fictional character, but probably not the last one. Rachel: You really thought about all the ways that you can wear his skin. Kate: Where his scent? I'm not creepy. I just want to bathe in his scent. It's not that weird. But they also just have a really long list of products that you can make. So if we made a Stark scent, there's just endless possibilities. Rachel: Mmm, that sounds delicious. Those... Okay. Kate: I think that should be our next brunch date. Rachel: Though she initially finds it comforting, the touch becomes overwhelming after the betrayal from Killian. Meryn assumes Anassa communicated that to Cratos because Stark quickly stops touching her and steps away. This is so heartbreaking, but I do think it's important that Sable Sorensen included this very real response to abuse. And I also think it's setting up the slow burn for Fury Bound And I understand that books need plot and tension, but I am not excited to wait another whole book for a Stark Spicy scene. Kate: I really don't want to wait that long. Please don't make me wait that long. Rachel: It better happen in book two. Like if it's like a slow burn and it doesn't have until book three, and that's why they really gave us so much spice in book one, I'm going to be distraught. Kate: I I think that ⁓ I would be pretty upset by that, to be honest, because this whole book, I mean, I know we've gotten space with Killian, but the whole book has still felt like a slow burn with Stark. Like the tension has always been there and we've always felt that connection between them. So we've been waiting. It's not like we are just starting the tension and the yearning now. So if we have to wait a whole nother book, I would be devastated. Rachel: But if we don't wait a whole nother book, I feel like it's definite that Stark's going to become a siphon. And that's going to be the drama of book three. ⁓ or the siphons will capture him maybe and she has to go rescue him in book three. Kate: I mean that's fine as long as they fuck. Rachel: That's what I'm saying. Like, I don't care what happens to him. I do not care what happens to Stark so that we get a plot for book three as long as they fuck in book two. Kate: Hahaha Yeah, whatever it takes. Rachel: Stark tells her that he and Venna led a small group of Daemos to rescue the children. They are being returned to their families in the city while Venna guards Saela in Stark's office. As they navigate the castle, they notice the shadows swirling around them strangely. And Meryn feels like they are following her. She feels like she may be able to manipulate them if she had her full powers and control them completely. I cannot wait until we get to see her go full shadow mommy in Fury Bound. Kate: Agreed. I'm really excited for that. I don't know that I've really read a book with a shadow mommy before. Very familiar with Shadow Daddies. Rachel: Yeah, no, I don't think that I have either. Yeah. Kate: But also, this part made me question, does her bracelet just dampen her powers or make them harder to control? Or does it just allow Killian to control her and share the magic with her? Like when he's siphoning the magic, is it draining it from her or is it just like allowing him to share it with her? Because clearly she still has some power here, right? Like that's what we're seeing. Rachel: Right. Kate: So what is it? What exactly is the bracelet doing? Rachel: Aight. I think it's option one. I think it somehow siphons the powers to Killian, but there's still some left for her. That's what I think. Kate: So it just dampens them, yeah. Rachel: but also. Kate: I feel like that's probably the most likely, but hopefully she can overcome that. Rachel: Yeah. Meryn finds Saela in Stark's office, cuddled up in a chair with a book and a blanket, because we know that Stark is a cozy Belle bitch. She runs to hug her, and Meryn notices she is pale and cold, and her hazel eyes seem dull. Meryn catches her up on everything that has happened. Revealing their new royal status is easier than Meryn expects. Saela is thrilled to discover they're from a line of royals, squealing, am I a princess? And I don't know why Meryn would think this would be a hard pill to swallow for a 12-year-old girl, because I am in my 30s and would love to receive this news. Kate: Yeah, I mean every little girl wants to be a princess. Rachel: Finally, Meryn tells her the news about their mother and reassures her that she'll never be alone. Saela asks if she could become one of the bonded one day and Anassa responds in the affirmative. In this scene, Anassa is lying down at Saela's feet and Saela treats her exactly how I think I for sure would want to treat her, which is by petting her and telling her that she is a good girl. And Anassa's like, put some respect on my name. But Meryn can't stomach the idea of Saela going through the bonding trials one day. Here we learn from Anassa that the trials were created by the king in order to control the direwolf population. They were never actually created by the direwolves to cull the pack. And suddenly everything makes sense. Essentially, the entire book was one giant clue about Alistair Brightbane. Anassa tells Meryn she needs to claim her crown publicly and then everything can change. Anassa calls Stark back in and he returns with his two Daemos riders who have been protecting Saela, Grigore and Helene. Meryn agrees with Anassa to show the wolves the truth and Meryn feels her mind connect with the pack. But all of them, just Strategos, Anassa reveals everything to them, including Meryn's true identity. As Grigore drops to a knee, they hear a crack. Saela is convulsing on the ground and Meryn notices a sweet smell like rotten fruit. Helene runs to her, but Stark holds Meryn back. Saela has ripped out Helene's throat. As Meryn screams, the shadows pulse around the room, snuffing out all of the light. But Meryn knows her powers now and refuses to accept it. She vows to hunt Killian, quote, to the ends of the earth. Okay, wow. so much unpack here. should have been Meryn's big crowning moment, but instead it's become her worst nightmare. Killistair has turned Saela essentially into a Trojan horse and knows that Meryn would never eliminate her, so she's just a constant threat. Kate: Yeah, I think that's what he thinks. But I don't know, I think that he made a mistake here. I think, you know, his intention was to turn Saela into a siphon as a cruel joke on Meryn. But I think it gives Meryn an opportunity in a few ways, actually. I think will the opportunity to learn more about the siphons and about their weaknesses, you know, assuming that she'll have the opportunity to spend time with Saela and learn from her. But also, We just talked about how the only way that Meryn can be free of this curse basically that Killian has put on her is with siphon power. Well, I mean, Saela's a new siphon, but I imagine that at some point she would have access to siphon power. So I don't know. It's like, obviously it would still an issue for Meryn and it's devastating for Saela to be put in this But ⁓ still think that there could be some benefits to this for Meryn, Rachel: The way Meryn describes her shadows here is interesting. it seems like they are tied to her emotions, which I think, based on the title of the book and the very short snippet that Sable Sorensen released today, that exploring her powers will be a major theme in Fury Bound. Kate: I mean, it would have to be, because we're just getting the glimpses here, but she's got a war to win right now against Killian, right? She's got battles ahead of her. She needs to figure out how to tap into this power that she's just starting to get inklings about. Rachel: Right, but I'm saying like it's tied to her emotions, so it's gonna be like this feminine rage shadow mommy, which I think is gonna be just delicious. Kate: ⁓ yes. Mm-hmm. Rachel: All right, well that brought us to the end of the book. We do have two bonus chapters to cover today. And from Starks POV. So everyone, you're gonna wanna get a cool drink of water, if you know what I'm saying. Kate: They're good. They're good. Rachel: our first bonus chapter ⁓ is chapter one of Dire Bound, but from Stark's perspective. And it comes out strong with his line. He's heard some of the other bonded talk how it feels to return to Sturmfrost from the front, warmth, despite the snow. And of course my reaction here is, because of the siphon king? Kate: And my reaction is that I fully support your magical warmth theory, but I do think that in this instance, I think they're just more of like the emotional warmth of returning home. Rachel: Maybe, Let me have this, Kate. Kate: Okay. Rachel: Stark is back in Sturmfrost and needs to check in on Meryn's family. He's bitter at this task, which has on him now that his mother is Sovereign Alpha. Comparatively, Cratos is thrilled to be home for some quality wink-wink time with Anassa. that's a good wink, Kate. Cratos goes to find Anassa while Stark heads to the Eastern Quarter, taking in the poverty around him. He again feels anger toward the king and the entire system that created this scenario, which is just so real. Kate: in our country, capitalism and authoritarianism are the enemy. In their's you know, siphons sucking the blood of children are the enemy. There's not honestly like a huge difference in my mind. Rachel: recruited Igor's wife, Prina, to be a spy with the backstory that the authorities have their eye on the Coopers due to Meryn's mother's mental health. It was easy to recruit her because... As it turns out, she's jealous of the time Igor spends with Meryn treating her like his daughter. We learn that the Therions are responsible for protecting women in the Sturmfrost line until they begin to hallucinate. And this is a result of them not bonding. It's the fate of every single one until Meryn. And it's his family's fate to watch them in secret. This is just so dark. Presumably all of them have been in leadership positions as the Sovereign Alphas, so they're used to being in control and taking action in every single area except the one that matters most. At one point, Stark thinks about how this is Meryn's fate Quote, no matter how many of the enemy he slaughters, it doesn't make the slightest difference. Nothing does. ⁓ And reading this his quote making him Meryn's instrument of vengeance has just such a deeper meaning. This is a skilled and dedicated warrior who wants nothing more than to right the injustices he's seen in his country. And shockingly, Meryn has bonded, finally turned away from Killian and discovered the truth. Up until she bonded, he never expected anything more than the same vicious cycle. So I just cannot wait to see Stark unleashed in fury bound going like insane on that gets in his way. Kate: ⁓ same. Like, I know that it hurt him to see her bonded and still be with Killian, but it's almost been like such a relief to break that cycle, especially knowing that he'd never expected to see her get this far. Rachel: Stark and five centuries of his family ⁓ knew their fate They're just so hopeless. And so the fact that he is bitter in this chapter makes so much ⁓ God. Fury Bound's gonna be so ⁓ Kate: It's gonna be so good. Rachel: Prina describes Meryn as mad and that she's currently at the fighting ring. He stops by the Coopers house to check on the peering in through the window. And he almost steps in to protect Saela from her mother's fit, but he sees her ⁓ run and hide in her room. He then goes to Meryn's fight in the southern quarter, and when he sees her in the ring, Stark is immediately attracted to her, imagining grabbing her by her long dark hair and pulling her out of the ring. At this point, I've forgotten about her dark hair completely because I just think of her silver bob. But this was an exciting insight into how Stark might approach Meryn in the future. Kate: I definitely enjoyed this visual. I personally have had short hair for like a really long time and I've been growing it out for maybe like a year now. I can finally get it up into like a good high pony. ⁓ So yeah, I guess what I'm saying is I appreciated this visual and it might be contributing to my current decision to continue growing out my hair. Rachel: Oh, okay. Okay. Kate: for no particular reason. Rachel: Stark is impressed by Meryn's fighting skills, and despite being confident she'll win, he feels compelled by the quote, god that implores him to get in there to tear out the man's throat with his hands. Dark god. Dark god. Like a lovelorn god? With shadow powers, perhaps? Kate: Like it's not even subtle. They keep, they keep, like these are not, I cannot imagine that these are just a coincidence that they keep referencing it this way. Like when someone tells you who they are, believe them. Rachel: Well, watching Meryn fight, he describes her as feral and he understands how Cratos feels when he gets to come home to Anassa. Stark wants to crawl to her. ⁓ my God. So does this mean that Stark is actually Meryn's mate? Because he already has these feelings toward her. And so I'm wondering if this means that mates aren't just bonds between the wolves, almost like the... wolves choose each other or the humans choose each other because it's all supposed to be connected in that way. Kate: I really believe so. I just can't imagine that there's something as strong as a mate bond that would be possible to separate when they're connected so closely to their wolves. Like it's such a deep connection for a mate and the way that the wolves are connected to their riders. Like I just I just don't think that you would be able to separate those feelings in any kind of meaningful way. Rachel: When Killian arrives, Stark recognizes him. They essentially grew up together. And it suddenly clicks that Killian is the royal messenger that Prina said Meryn was dating. And Stark knows Killian must be manipulating her. He knows the bonding trials are coming up, and he wonders if Killian is going to push her to bond. And everything makes sense. Killian knows her so well. He knows her reaction to Saela's nabbing will be to join the army and go to the front. And now Stark is truly trapped. He has to let her bond to reclaim her crown, but that also means watching the two of them together. Kate: Yeah, but it's, it's still got to hurt more to watch someone slowly be driven mad by visions of their true identity that they'll never know, then to watch be with somebody that you don't like, right? Like, I still feel like this is a better fate than what ⁓ Rachel: For sure, for sure. Yes, and I mean, at least there's a chance that they'll end up together this way. Kate: was in store for her before. ⁓ there's a big chance. There better be a big chance. Rachel: When the drunk man attacks Meryn after her fight, Stark follows him into the alley searching for an outlet for all of his anger at this entire situation. The man trembles and begs for mercy for deserting, which was definitely the wrong thing to say since it was the excuse Stark needed to execute him. Kate: he for sure would have killed him anyway but hey now he gets to do it in the town square with an audience good for him Rachel: We learn that Egith was entirely against this barbaric public execution, worried that it will fuel the commoners' fear and hatred of the bonded. But that is exactly what Stark wants. When he arrives in the Market Square, locks eyes with Meryn and sees the hatred on her face. And this is what Stark says he needs. He too hates himself and loathes her for getting involved with Killian after his family protected hers for centuries. Kate: I can't imagine how these emotions are warring inside of him. But he does have to recognize that none of this is actually Meryn's fault though, right? Rachel: a little perspective. Stark. Kate: Yeah, like I understand that you have centuries of background here and a history and you know how frustrating it is to watch this happen. like, she knows nothing. This is not, she can't help that she's frustrating you right now. Rachel: Here we get a detailed description of the execution, which I will not be discussing any further. And Stark keeps thinking at Meryn, look at me. This is all for you. So romantic. Kate: Look at this dead mouse I brought as an offering to your doorstep. Such a cat move. Rachel: When their eyes meet, Stark feels something shift in his chest and is struck by her fire. And we get this quote, Stark will use every ounce of her hatred to stoke it until she can burn the world down. This is all so disturbing, but I have butterflies. This chapter was beautifully written. I had a very hard time not just reading the entire chapter, you can tell by all the quotes that I pulled, but there were just so many delicious lines and Stark is so fucked up. and I love him. Kate: And now this is the kind of dark romance I am looking for. Toxic but in like a supportive way rather than toxic in a manipulative, deprecating way. Rachel: Yes, like here, I killed this man for you. You're welcome. Kate: Yes, but yeah, but like supportive instead of like here I killed your mom, but it's your in your best interest. Like that's not the right kind of toxic. Rachel: No, no, that's not what we want. That's not what we want. Unless she was mean to you and you wanted her dead. Kate: True, but in this scenario, very much not the right kind of dark romance. Rachel: Yeah, yeah. All right, so now we get our next start POV scene and it is our first tattoo scene. Hell yes, hell yes. All right. A serpent wakes Stark in the middle of the night to tell him about the dead raw bond she found in the hallway. At first, Stark is angry with her, asking why she woke him up and to just spit it out already. But he quickly attempts to be comforting when he realizes she's shaken by discovering this body. This was so funny because he had just no idea what to do to comfort her and he told her to go get a cup of tea. Kate: I mean, this man is just so fucked up. He's like, yeah, I forgot that most people are actually horrified by the sight of a young man choked to death ⁓ his own hand. I, however, find it nothing worth losing sleep over. Wake me up when something really dramatic happens, like maybe Meryn twitches in her sleep or something. Rachel: Stark is basically impressed by the way the Rawbond has been killed. Quote, it's so fucked up that it's almost amusing. Kate: It definitely is amusing. That dude got what he deserved though. Rachel: And soon Stark will agree. But not yet. He's angry that they disobeyed orders not to kill one another outside of training. He assumes it was someone trying to prove that they are the strongest. Stark goes to tell Leader Aldrich, and here we learn that Leader Aldrich's partner and only child were killed in the war. Kate: Brace yourself. I'm gonna bring up Avatar the Last Airbender again. Rachel: I was wondering what atla was in our notes. Kate: Okay, so this reminds me of Uncle Iroh, who is ⁓ brutal, fearsome general who ends up losing his son in the war and it completely changes him. ⁓ talked about how refreshing it is that leader Aldrich was an alpha that chose to step down and let somebody else lead rather than cling to power until his death. And I feel like that kind of crushing loss can really center what's important in life and change someone's perspective. It ended up making Uncle Iroh a better leader, able to mentor his nephew and help him become a better person. And I think maybe it did the same thing to Aldrich, giving him the perspective to better lead and mentor the packs outside of like the violence of battle and being an Alpha. Rachel: Yes. Kate: Also, can you just watch the fucking show already? Just watch it. It's only three seasons, okay? Just watch it. Rachel: Leader Aldrich tells Stark that he can lead the punishment since the victim was Daemos, and Stark starts imagining the ways that they can pay. But he has a feeling it has something to do with Meryn. At breakfast, when it becomes obvious that Meryn was the killer, Stark, of course, isn't surprised, but he is frustrated, thinking about how she's the one person he can't cull He also has a thought that maybe it will make it easier to protect her If everyone thinks she's a violent lunatic, I'm really hoping we get some version of this for her nickname in book two instead of just my queen. Kate: Maybe ⁓ Maniac Meryn, the Mad Queen of Nocturna. Rachel: Mingin Meryn, the Mad Queen of Nocturna. When they are going back and forth about whether or not it was self-defense, Stark notices her messily cropped hair and realizes she's telling the truth. She cut it out of her attacker's hands. Kate: See, I feel like this is the first time that we hear that the cut was messy, because until this moment, I was envisioning like Mulan when she slices her hair with the sword and it's a perfect bob. And I cannot even imagine how many children ⁓ just fucked their hair up trying to recreate that scene from Mulan. But this is the first time that we're like, ⁓ actually, it sounds like that cut might have been a little bit less than successful. Rachel: I really hope that no children fuck their hair up by trying to cut their hair with a sword. Kate: Well, yeah, maybe not with a sword, but I know for a fact that my older sister really fucked up my middle sister's hair by playing beauty shop. So it happens. It happens. Rachel: no, no. I mean, yeah, we've all had bad choices there. My fifth grade pictures have some real wonky bangs, because I thought I could fix my bangs. ⁓ But imagining the Mulan move with the haircut is very funny to me, because I don't know about you, but I am of those people that imagines a movie ⁓ playing in head. It's very, very vivid when I'm reading a book. And if you do the same, I do feel that maybe your television choices are coming into play here, because I imagined it messy always, even though you're right, they didn't really describe it that way. I imagine it as this like very messy, brutal scene. And I just wonder if you're imagining a cartoon. Kate: I'm not but it also probably helped that I've seen a lot of fan art of Meryn with her silver and it always looks chic as hell, you know? So I think that probably ⁓ impacted my internal visual for it because I just imagined her with this really hot, sexy, piecy kind of bob that looks amazing and frames her face perfectly. Rachel: Well, that's after Izabel fixed it. That's off, it's off screen. Yeah, off camera, Izabel fixed it. She just didn't have time to that morning. Kate: Off camera. Yeah. Rachel: Stark tries to confirm with Anassa, but she and Meryn are blocking each other out, so she can just confirm that Meryn had a flash of fear last night. Stark can't help but notice how confident Meryn is in this situation, standing tall, queenly. And when he calls her to the front of the room, he can't help but note it feels good to tell her what to do. Okay. Okay, yes. Another little sneak peek of what spicy Stark will be like and I'm very interested in how he's going to be dominant when Meryn is queen. So. There's a power dynamic there, but also ⁓ is this going to play out when coping with her experiences from Killian? Kate: I mean, certainly he traumatized her. It's going to be really hard for her to trust people again. But I do hope that since she now knows that Stark's intentions, literally from birth, like he was born to watch over her and protect her, and she knows that, that hopefully it'll help her to feel safe enough to hand him the reins in the bedroom. Just learn to trust again. Let him pull your hair, call you a good girl. I promise you'll like it. Rachel: So in the snippet that Sable Sorensen released today, which is a short almost kiss snippet from Fury Bound. I don't want to ruin the whole thing, but I will say he commands her to stop something that she's doing. He commands her to stop. And I should not have been reading this at work because my jaw hit the floor. Kate: My gosh, the amount of inappropriate places I've been listening to an audiobook and had to school my face. Rachel: Yeah, you need to read it. I think you're really going to like this snippet that they released. Kate: Sounds like a tease. Rachel: Stark begins her tattoo, the beginning of a crown around her neck. He describes it as a mark of her victory over her attacker, rather than a memorial to a bonded. He's aggressively turned on and describes himself as half-hard at the vicious look in her eyes. Then he grabs her hair in his hand, like he fantasized about when he saw her in the ring, and pulls her head back to lick her neck. way he describes her here sounds way better than Minging Meryn. Apparently, it's salted sugar and strawberries and mountain air. So I guess she has been better about indulging in the fancy baths at this point in the story. Kate: She sounds delicious, like very crisp, very fresh. Rachel: Yes, like a glass of Chardonnay. I'm thirsty. ⁓ Kate: I like it, I'm into it. Rachel: After the tattoos, Stark visits Egith and demands a private room for Meryn and pays her five silvers since the first death was in Daemos. We learned so much about Stark in these POV chapters, so much. And I'm loving getting so much insight into who Stark is, his thoughts and motivations. if we do not get a Stark, Meryn, spicy scene in Fury bound, as I've said, we will riot. We will riot. I've heard that Fury Bound has Stark POV chapters and I literally think they're gonna torture us with this slow burn. I think they're gonna torture us. Kate: I mean, it might kill me, but damn, what a way to go. We've got a lot to look forward to. I know that this has been kind of a long episode. Do we have time for a fuck marry kill? I was gonna give you one with all the villains, like, you know, getting Killian back in there and the king pre-decapitation and Alistair, but now that we've spent so much time thinking about Stark and how horny he is for Meryn, I don't really wanna think about getting it on with any of those losers. What about what about a fuck Mary kill? Of the different versions of Stark, like Stark from Meryn's perspective when she thinks he's trying to kill her, Stark from the bonus chapters where he's violently horny and with pent up rage about her and Killian. And then Stark from the end of the book where is no longer a romantic threat and Meryn. knows who she is and who he is. Rachel: Hmm. Kate: I feel like those are in my mind of the three like distinct versions of Stark that we are familiar with. Rachel: Okay, this is hard. I thought I had an answer. Okay, well, I will definitely fuck number two. That sounds like a great time. Kate: The violently horny one? Yeah that's probably it. I think that makes sense. I think that makes sense. Rachel: And I was gonna say marry the first one when he's like training her. But I think I might marry the last one, especially now that we know that he tells her he like bosses her around in addition to like, so I feel like his bossiness that we see when he's training her is gonna come through even once his feelings are revealed. So I guess I'll kill the first one. Kate: Yeah, I think I have to agree with you here. ⁓ I mean, obviously I'm gonna fuck the ⁓ horny version of Stark. ⁓ don't feel like there's another answer for that because like all of those scenes, he's so sexually frustrated. ⁓ just, you've got to let out that tension, you know? ⁓ that feels obvious. And then ⁓ do, I really, I like the yearning. Rachel: Yes. Kate: that we get from him when he is like finally allowed to. reveal his true self to her. So that is, that's really nice. I do still really like the tension of when she thinks that he's trying to kill her. But you know, long term, I don't know that that's like the bedrock of a solid relationship. So I think I'll agree with you on this one. I think that's the first time that we might be agreeing on one. But yeah, I think I'll marry the version of Stark where Rachel: Yeah. Kate: everything is revealed. And then I guess I'll the version from Meryn's perspective when she thinks he's trying to kill her. Rachel: Yeah, yeah, because that was not actually him. That was her misperception of him. Kate: It wasn't. but it was still a pretty sexy perception. Rachel: Okay, we didn't count our tropes, so I'm gonna try and count them real quick. I took some handwritten notes here, so hopefully I can read my handwriting. Kate: Good luck. Rachel: Okay, can you count them? I'm gonna read them. Nickname? My Queen? Yearning? Family heirloom. Use me, I'm yours. Shadow Mommy discovered powers, discovered powers, ⁓ hidden royalty. Kate: Seven. 8. Nine. Rachel: I think that's it. This is packed full of tropes for what? Four chapters, six chapters? That's Kate: Full. Good thing we're deep trope. Rachel: Thank you for joining us for our deep dive of Dire Bound. While we have reached the end of this book, we are planning one more special episode to provide a condensed summary of the book that you can revisit quickly when you're ready to read Fury Bound. And speaking of Fury Bound, I have the arc right now in my presence. So I'm gonna go read that right now because we are planning to drop our reaction episodes the week Fury Bound comes out and start the deep dive Fingers crossed, hopefully the week after if all goes well in our reading schedules. Kate: Fingers crossed. I hope that you don't have a lot of meetings tomorrow, because I imagine that you're going to be staying up pretty late. Rachel: It's a work from home day? Thank God. Kate: That's good. That's good. Well, I will, I'll check in on your progress tomorrow. See how it's going. So be sure to subscribe so you know when each new episode drops. And if you enjoyed today's episode, please drop us a five star review and share with a friend. We really appreciate your support. If you wanna follow us on social, you can find us on Instagram and on TikTok at DeepTrope Podcast. Rachel: See you next week. Kate: Bye. ⁓