LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City / Episode 19: Poisoned Kisses

Summary

LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City
Episode 19: Poisoned Kisses
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zabrowski
Podcast Network: The Last Podcast Network

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Overview

In Episode 19, titled "Poisoned Kisses," of LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City, hosts Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski delve into the intense and emotionally charged events unfolding in Sarah J. Maas's popular adult science fiction series, Crescent City. This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of Chapters 61 and 62, exploring the intricate dynamics between characters, pivotal plot developments, and the underlying themes of power, sacrifice, and redemption.

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Key Plot Points Discussed

1. The Medwitch's Extraction Process

The episode begins with Natalie and Jackie unpacking the harrowing scene where Bryce Quinlan undergoes a painful procedure to remove the poison lodged in her leg. The Medwitch, a mysterious and powerful healer, employs a combination of magic and medical expertise to extract the venom.

• Natalie Jean expresses empathy for Bryce’s pain, stating, “You can imagine, if you think about it, that, like, Novocaine or topical anesthetics are really gonna do much for something that's demon made” [00:36:36].

• Jackie Zabrowski highlights the severity of the venom’s presence, noting, “she's leaving it as a souvenir of her best friend... it's a crazy thing to do” [09:10].

The hosts discuss the meticulous nature of the extraction, emphasizing the Medwitch's skill and the emotional toll it takes on both Bryce and Hunt.

2. Bryce and Hunt’s Growing Connection

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the evolving relationship between Bryce and Hunt Athalar. Their intimate moment during the extraction scene marks a pivotal turning point in their bond.

• Jackie remarks, “This was their first kiss... It was a way [for Hunt] to comfort her through something really, really painful” [39:54].

• Natalie adds, “Hunt savored the feel of Bryce, her scent and breathing. Savored every second of it” [74:30].

This connection not only provides emotional relief amid chaos but also sets the stage for future alliances and confrontations.

3. Confrontation with Sabine and Micah

The hosts dissect the intense confrontation involving Sabine and Micah, showcasing the treacherous political landscape Bryce and Hunt navigate.

• Jackie summarizes Sabine's antagonism: “Sabine is merciless. She's cruel... She’s obsessed with Bryce” [53:02].

• Natalie shares her disdain, stating, “You are a disgrace, Sabine. Sabine unshockingly just begins to insult her again” [55:50].

The discussion delves into Sabine's motivations and Micah's strict enforcement of angelic laws, emphasizing the brutal consequences imposed on Hunt, such as the harrowing "living death" punishment.

4. The Under King and Bone Quarter Revelation

A critical revelation about the Under King and the Bone Quarter deepens the lore of Crescent City, revealing Bryce’s desperate sacrifice.

• Jackie recaps Bryce's encounter: “She got over there by giving a coin, much like the River Styx mythology, to cross to this mysterious aisle” [66:02].

• Natalie reflects on Bryce's determination: “She knew how much Danika had, like, dreamed of this being with her ancestors” [73:58].

This section explores the parallels with mythological themes and Bryce's unwavering dedication to her friend Danika.

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Character Analysis

Bryce Quinlan

Bryce’s resilience and vulnerability are central to the discussion. Natalie and Jackie commend her strength in enduring extreme pain and making heartbreaking sacrifices.

• Natalie notes, “She’s extremely moved that she didn't realize he was the one who kind of, like, helped save her” [15:34].

• Jackie adds, “Bryce can stand up to this sort of, like, mockery and cruelty... but when it comes to Sabine, that never works” [56:02].

Hunt Athalar

Hunt's character is analyzed through his actions and internal struggles. His protective nature towards Bryce and his harrowing experiences shape his complex persona.

• Jackie observes, “Hunt remains unconscious through this, but Bryce never leaves his side, stroking his hair as the witches work on stopping the bleeding” [72:58].

• Natalie empathizes with his pain: “The emptiness hit him like a semi truck” [72:45].

Sabine

Sabine's antagonistic role is a focal point, showcasing her relentless pursuit of Bryce and her obsession fueled by past grievances.

• Jackie states, “Sabine is a through and through, no matter what. She is a right. And Amelie is just like a...” [53:14].

• Natalie outright condemns her actions: “You are a disgrace, Sabine” [55:50].

Micah

Micah's authoritarian control and sadistic tendencies are highlighted, illustrating his role as a formidable antagonist within the angelic hierarchy.

• Jackie describes Micah’s punishment decree: “Hunt will die, but it will be through a tradition known as the living dead death” [58:05].

• Natalie fears his wrath: “He’s like, I hate that Hunt is upset and scared” [54:21].

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Hosts' Theories and Insights

Natalie and Jackie speculate on Medwitch's true intentions and potential alliances, pondering whether she could become an unexpected ally in Bryce and Hunt’s quest.

• Natalie theorizes, “What if she's put a glamour on herself that makes people forget to ask her name?” [09:38].

• Jackie concurs, “That’s a sexy Jesiba question right there” [09:42].

They also explore the deeper meanings behind symbolic elements, such as the star blooming inside Bryce’s chest following Hunt’s kiss, suggesting a transformative emotional awakening.

• Jackie notes, “and her chest. It's interesting because that turns out to have a double meaning, as we'll find out does” [41:33].

Furthermore, the hosts delve into the psychological impacts of chronic pain and trauma on Bryce, drawing parallels to real-life experiences.

• Natalie shares personal insights, “Anyone I know that has chronic illness and chronic pain, it's just you see pain differently because you're like, I'm so used to it” [21:16].

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Natalie Jean: “You got to do the… That's how you get the top packs” [03:19].

• Jackie Zabrowski: “I'm in love. Like, Hunt is. Is a book boyfriend of mine” [50:23].

• Natalie Jean: “She shrinked away, but he didn’t…” [Specific timestamp not provided].

• Jackie Zabrowski: “Do it” [61:14].

• Natalie Jean: “You’re a bad mom” [64:09].

• Jackie Zabrowski: “Say it and it shall be done” [67:50].

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Concluding Insights

Episode 19 of LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City masterfully dissects the emotionally tumultuous events in Crescent City, offering listeners a blend of plot analysis, character exploration, and thematic interpretation. Natalie and Jackie adeptly balance their enthusiasm for the series with critical insights, enhancing the experience for both avid fans and newcomers. Their engaging dialogue, enriched with personal anecdotes and humorous interludes, makes the deep dive both informative and entertaining.

As Bryce and Hunt grapple with external threats and internal conflicts, the hosts highlight the intricate interplay of power, loyalty, and love, underscoring Sarah J. Maas's ability to craft complex, relatable characters within a richly built fantasy world. The episode leaves listeners eagerly anticipating the next installment, promising further revelations and emotional developments in the Crescent City series.

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Transcript

[Natalie Jean]

Welcome to Crescent City with your hosts, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski. But Billie Eilish, are you here at the episode? Yes. Because you're a boss ass bitch is what you are.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This is my Jesba 2.0. I'm working with it. I like this wig better, I think.

[Natalie Jean]

I do think it is definitely more Jesiba. And I feel like she would have a boss bitch haircut. I know it's supposed to be like a bob. Like, I know it's supposed to be cropped right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's supposed to be like this short. But it's hard to make. Not to make it look like a mom haircut.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. Like a bit of a Karen, especially because it is so. And I'm saying this as a person that had a haircut very similarly for a very long time. It is, man. The judgments are real when you have short hair.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

See, this is what it looks like. It's supposed to be shaved on the side.

[Natalie Jean]

Sides and more flowy up top. Almost like a straighter broccoli. Like, honestly, it's a little. Oh, this cuts.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Gorgeous. But you need. It's hard to get it so hot. Yeah, it. You need to get, like. It's hard to get a wig that has a shave on it. That's usually going to be a really expensive wig. Because it's hard to make it look like that.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And so you have to kind of like, work with what you.

[Natalie Jean]

I think you look great. I think you definitely. You are. I knew who you were the moment you walked in. Like, obviously you did of me and I. Well, I had to work it out for a second. Oh, yeah. You had to. You had to. You don't think. Business asshole. Angel. You don't think I'm pulling this off? I'm trying to think of that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's that I had to work out. You're doing sort of a gender fluid. Micah. You have a very beautiful face of makeup on.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. It's a little David. I'm giving David Bowie with it a little bit. Cause I feel like if you're an angel, go with me on this. I feel like they always kind of look like they've got makeup on. Even if he's not putting, like. I feel like he sparkles. He shines.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You are. You're doing a little shimmer. You're doing a little bit of a Twilight shimmer.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I'm feeling it. I've got the skin of a killer.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You got the skin of a killer.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay, Micah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, barf.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. He's a Barf zone. And I needed to make sure that I looked puffy enough. But I now I have Henry's a shirt over my muscly chest and it looks like I've got a fat suit on.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It does have your chest pushed up to your chin for some reason.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, yeah, it's my pecs. Natalie ever hoid of them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But wait, what's this part?

[Natalie Jean]

It's my top pack. You don't even know. See, ladies, they look at me, they don't even know how I get this big muscles. Yeah, it's because. Yeah, you got to do the. That's how you get the top picks.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Gym, tan, laundry, gtl.

[Natalie Jean]

All day, every day.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Laundry.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. Even though, again, as an angel, I imagine he would be this pale, even though we're always flying in the sun.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Right.

[Natalie Jean]

But I imagine imagine he's not doing like a lot of his fair share of open country flying around. Like, I don't think there's no, like, John Denver playing in his ears. They no country roads taking his ass home. And I feel like Micah needs to relax.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, I don't know if he deserves it, to be honest.

[Natalie Jean]

He definitely doesn't deserve it, but he needs to do something to get this stick out from up his ass. Is that just what happens if A, you're in control and B, you live forever?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. I mean, I think that's a scary concept about us extending lives in the the earth because it will probably first be the wealthiest people, and a lot of times those are the worst people.

[Natalie Jean]

And you don't want them sticking around forever. And also the people in power. So it makes a lot of sense because then they put themselves in power and then they take it and then they keep it. I hate you, angels. I love that angels are bad.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I just know.

[Natalie Jean]

I think it's great. As someone that, you know, has a biblically accurate angel on top of my Christmas tree, I do feel that it's important to remember that angels are very scary.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They're also very patriarchal in nature, which is garbage.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, we don't like it over here. Even though you are killing it as a boss ass bitch, I still outrank you here, even with my top packs. I'm sorry. Especially with my top pets.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, we don't. Jesiba's filled with mystery. We don't know everything about her yet, do we?

[Natalie Jean]

We don't know everything about her yet. All I do know is talk about, like, what we were talking about last episode. Jesiba's another one. Oh, my God. Step on me with high heels.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We know that she likes to fuck. We've learned that she's usually with several lovers whenever she is on a call.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, we know that. And it's crazy because the mystery of, like, how do you. It's like, are you on apps? What do you do? Are you just. If you live for so long, do you just, like, have a Rolodex of that? She just.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think, like, if you have, it's been open that she's in the house of flame and shadow.

[Natalie Jean]

Right?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think we already know that. I think if you belong to the house of flame and Shadow, you just go to, like, the clubhouse and go.

[Natalie Jean]

Like, who this one?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Come here. And like. But like, she'll still accept that. She wants their consent. She doesn't want to force them, but she wants people to be like, okay, okay. And she goes, come this way.

[Natalie Jean]

And I would go, yeah. And I'll go, which way? Which way? You want me coming? You want me coming? You want me going? I don't. I would be upset if she wanted me going, though.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Going, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Instead of coming. I.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is that reverse orgasm?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I guess. I mean, yeah. I don't want to be sucked up inside of myself. And I know that, like, I'm not like the other girls when I say that, but I mean it. I don't want to be sucked up inside of myself.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You are just kind of a little bit different.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. And it's not because of my angel status. Even though, yes, I am already sweating. It is. I've got a lot of layers on. And you don't think about how hot top pecs are until they're resting up underneath.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's not exactly where they go.

[Natalie Jean]

Is this not. I don't know if you know a lot about muscles, Natalie, as a dancer and, like, someone that works out all the time. Like, I feel like I know the person that never works out. Like, I feel like I know a lot more about it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You work out.

[Natalie Jean]

I do. I go. And then I stop.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sounds like you're making sex.

[Natalie Jean]

It does sound like that. And that's why I get kicked out of the fitness gyms.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's hard to do in Los Angeles because there's a lot of weird ass people in the gyms, man.

[Natalie Jean]

And it's just like, people that are there, that are, like, there to be seen, which is a weird thing to have to deal with when you're like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I want public gym. I don't want a single human being to talk to.

[Natalie Jean]

No, Not a single one. Crazy in La. And I imagine it's like this in other gyms. How often I see people, like, videoing themselves and making content inside of the gym, and it creeps me out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's a lot. And. And there's like a whole trend online. There's a guy who, like, calls people out on tick tock and shit because they'll get mad at other people in the gym for, like, getting in their shots and stuff. Stuff.

[Natalie Jean]

And you're like, dude, make your home gym. I guess if you're making enough money that you got to make these videos at the gym. And I'm saying this as a content creator. I just. The gym. Nobody wants to see.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No gym. Nowhere in public. Does anyone owe you space to make content?

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, you. Oh, Jesiba's dressing you down. You better. Oh, steal yourself, because she's got the eyes of Icy Glass lair.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

All right, 61. We're at chapter 61.

[Natalie Jean]

Man, I really thought you were about to say 69.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was like, okay, in what context?

[Natalie Jean]

Chapter.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, no, we're not there yet.

[Natalie Jean]

Not there yet. Fine.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, but we'll be soon and you'll want to.

[Natalie Jean]

When.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

When we're past 69. We've already gotten through some scenes that we haven't gotten to yet that you're going to want to stick around for.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. These next chapters, they thick.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So Bryce and Hunt are at the Med witch's office. If you'll recall last episode, Bryce has revealed that she is ready to let go of the poison inside of her body, which she's leaving as a souvenir of her best friend. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Because.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Which is not super healthy.

[Natalie Jean]

It is crazy. It's a crazy thing to do.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And also I think in this moment, because we're now at the Med. Which is office. Right. This is the same one that Rune's been working with. We have to address that. We still don't know her name. And no one asked.

[Natalie Jean]

Nobody's been asking. They're like, this is helping us so much. But. But why do I have to ask what her name is at this point? Just Medwich B.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay. So my only input, I would say here.

[Natalie Jean]

Is there a reason? There's gotta be. I mean, well, she's a witch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So what if she's put a glamour on herself that makes people forget to ask her name?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, that's a sexy Jesiba question right there. Thank you. I think that's a great theory. And it makes a lot of sense because they do talk about the Medwich Often it's not like, oh, it's because she's just mentioned in passing, like, yeah, they go out of their way. I think at this point, you definitely notice that we don't know the Medwich's name.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. And there may be reasons for that coming up soon.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, interesting.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So the witch greets them and asks if Bryce's, quote, partner wants to join her. I think she does mean work partner, since she knows of them from the crime scenes. But maybe she doesn't mean that. As we'll soon see, Bryce tells her that her partner would love to come to the room with her. Then we're back in the doctor's room. What do you call that?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I mean, the med witch's lair.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What do they call the doctor's office room? Patient.

[Natalie Jean]

Patient Portal.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Why can't I think of the word for that? This wig is tight.

[Natalie Jean]

I. It's. It's the tight wig.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is it different than a doctor's office when you're in the patient room?

[Natalie Jean]

I don't think so.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I feel like I'm forgetting a word. Maybe I have a glamour on me by a witch.

[Natalie Jean]

Honestly, I think that's a really good thing to say to anyone when you forget anything. Oh, I'm sorry. I've got a glamour that was put on me by a witch. And if you just say it as a throwaway, just see if any questions are asked.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A lot of times people are not gonna want to ask you more questions.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh. I mean, I would ask a hundred thousand questions because I would also want that glamour, and I'd like to be glamoured by a witch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And also. But I mean, a lot of people would want start slowly backing away from you, which is also sometimes very helpful.

[Natalie Jean]

So you're welcome.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're welcome. So then we cut over to the room that I can't remember called's name. And we're, interestingly, with Hunt at the beginning. This pov, I think it gives us a chance to really observe his emotions. While he's watching Bryce prepare for this pain that's about to happen. He thinks about the room as he looks around. It's sort of like a doctor's office, like a modern tech doctor's office with machines and computers and stuff like that. And he thinks about how it doesn't look anything like the witch's setups in Panjira, where he was kept forever, where it's all still like, bubble, bubble, toil and trouble stuff.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't think there is a word for that room. I'm now like, researching my brain.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I feel like there should be. Right. There's supposed to be a word for it.

[Natalie Jean]

I'll bring you back. I feel like, what do they say? Like, oh, I'll bring you back. I feel like I'm like, what do they say in that word? Oh, no, I'll bring you back. Think about every doctor's office you've ever been to and let us know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, God. Are we uncovering some mystery?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Why don't they have a name for it? What are they trying to hide from us? What do they do when we're put under the knife?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, the couple can do anything. Yeah. I'm so terrified of going under anesthesia. I don't like it. I don't want. I've never. And I'm scared to same.

[Natalie Jean]

And I'm so, so scared of it because also, I smoke a Of weed. And word on the street is if you smoke a lot of weed, that it doesn't work as well and that you could, like, actually feel everything. And you have to, like, not smoke weed for a while before you go under anesthesia, which also. Oh, my God, how do I live that life?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Interesting. Because I always was like, oh, no. I'm like, I have an intensely high anxiety level. And I thought that would be the thing that wouldn't allow you to go.

[Natalie Jean]

No, I have even. Even extra anxiety on top, which makes me smoke more weed. And who's making me do that? The anesthesiologists.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, exactly. Thanks a lot. Because they want you to feel it when you go under. Sickos.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. You sick. You're all sick. You're sick.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So this is a very different setup. We've also talked about this in other capacities with Crescent City being like. Lunatheon is a modernized city where a lot of places on their planet are not still. Even though they have the option, they just don't because they have of magic, which is, like, much cooler.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

As the witch goes over Bryce's chart with her, she's asking questions of consent like you would at a doctor's office, and comes to the question asking whether Hunt was present at the night of the attack. To get information about the wound. Bryce begins to answer, but Hunt cuts her off. Yes, he says. Bryce is stunned by the submission. She didn't know up to this point. I think we as the audience knew from his thoughts.

[Natalie Jean]

Right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But she didn't know. And Hunt, perhaps feeling some shame, doesn't look at braces. He explains that he was actually the first to arrive on the scene that Night and essentially treated her, but like somebody who would to a wounded soldier in battle.

[Natalie Jean]

In and out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Efficient. Getting the wound closed and not worrying about how it looks or feels. It's like the pro. You need to get it done.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

His voice is filled with regret as he tells this to the Medwich and also Bryce by proxy, and that it's his fault that it looks pretty bad.

[Natalie Jean]

Because he feels trying to save her and.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But he feels immense guilt for this, especially because he is now seeing the pain, the lasting pain she has, but it's kind of also on her because she didn't ever treat it. But Bryce and Hunt look at each other when he's done because he's speaking to the Medwich, like, not really wanting to make eye contact with her because he's ashamed. And he's like, oh, Bryce is gonna hate me. But, like, afterwards, Bryce just looks at him. And as he tries to convey his apology through his eyes, Bryce doesn't seem angry. She seems actually moved that she didn't realize he was the one who kind of, like, helped save her. The Medwich tries to ignore the intense eye contact they're making with one another.

[Natalie Jean]

So uncomfortable. Like, okay, so you guys are just staring, staring, staring at each other. Medwich is just like. She's like, okay, I think we're in the middle of something.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So as she asks Bryce if she ever saw Medwich after this attack, because reasonably you would. But Bryce says she never has, she.

[Natalie Jean]

Asks Bryce why her eyes still didn't leave his as she rasped.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Because I wanted it to hurt. I wanted it to remind me every.

[Natalie Jean]

Day those were tears in her eyes. Tears forming. And he didn't know why.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The witch again pretends not to see all of the blossoming emotions in this room.

[Natalie Jean]

And just imagine the da, da, da, da. Oh, wow. Just the little sounds she's making throughout the room, or at least I would be making if I were in that uncomfortable situation.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm going to just. Just go trick. I'm gonna prepare this. And remember, I am in this room.

[Natalie Jean]

At the moment I should be looking at, or I am here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hello.

[Natalie Jean]

Must be in the other room.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she obviously can catch a vibe, right? So she's trying to ignore it. And she goes on to explain the process she will be undertaking in order to extract the venom from Bryce's leg. It will entail the Medwich stabilizing the venom with her magic and so basically turning it into one clump to use on the synth sample. She's hoping by experimenting, she can find A way to stabilize the venom without having to be physically present in the room. With her magic holding it together, I envision it. It looks like the goo in a lava lamp. When she stabilizes, I can feel that.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And like little clumps and globules all about. But she kind of gotta fuse them all together. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mix it into, like, a little wormy.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, you know, I love my slime, so I love.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know. I can't believe you didn't bring any slime.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, it's in my bag. I've just kept it away from us.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, wow. Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

I didn't want. You know, I just feel like slime is vulnerable and, you know, you can't use it every day or you gotta choose. Yeah. About, like, when I need it. I can't become reliant on the slime.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I get it.

[Natalie Jean]

Slime lion slime long. We're assignment.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We're slime it. That's better.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Reading the description of how her magic appears, I'm. This is not a spoiler, but I'm very curious to see how this may connect to throwing glass or not. Because the witches in that realm seem different. But there's another kind of person character in that book series that's very similar to what the. What witches are explaining here. You know what I'm talking about.

[Natalie Jean]

I do know what you're talking about. And I just started thinking of a theory that I'm not going to get into right now because it would spoil things. Well, more on that later.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sucks to be you guys.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. You'll never know what happens in my brain as opposed to every other minute of my existence where you know everything that happens in my brain because I always have to say it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Look at you. Keep it. Something there. Keep it for yourself in a little special vial.

[Natalie Jean]

Mystery. Mystery. Yeah. You didn't know what I was gonna say next because I'm so mysterious. I'm just so upset because you can see the straps of my angel wings, and it's like, what am I, a fake angel over here?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A ph. Angel?

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Usually you can kind of work it under your. The jacket's hard. The blades are hard.

[Natalie Jean]

But I'm business. I'm a business angel. What, am I not supposed to have a jacket on?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. I mean, that would look ridiculous.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I'm not casual.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So. So she warns Bryce that she can only apply local anesthetic, which is, you know, just topically on the surface.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, those damn dentists when they're always like, yeah, I can't put you out. Like, just. I will do whatever I have to.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm not going to be out. No, I know. I've never done it. I'm terrified, too.

[Natalie Jean]

God. At least at the dentist. But the dentist is so scary.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. Novocaine me up. I hate it. I've been to the dentist more times in my life than I would have ever cared to be. I've terrible teeth my whole life. Been through, like, horrifying things in the dentist's office, but I will not be put out. That's too scary for me. I just get super numbed. Just Novocaine. Can't talk for a while.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I bet Henry's smiling, though, and goes, hey, look at my wife. Can't talk. It's better this way.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I didn't understand where that was going.

[Natalie Jean]

No. Yeah, you can't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was gonna say. I thought you were gonna say something more like sexual.

[Natalie Jean]

And I was like, no, Natalie. About my brother. Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know. You would never.

[Natalie Jean]

Natalie.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

As you grasp your breasts, your top pecks.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she tells her when she goes past the local anesthetic, she goes deep into to get the venom, that Bryce is gonna feel it, and it's gonna feel not good. So she explains that the venom is kind of almost a conscious organism that will try to snag its hooks in her as she's removing it. Not necessarily with actual physical hooks, but, like, will try to keep itself inside.

[Natalie Jean]

Yikes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's like a parasite.

[Natalie Jean]

Almost like tendrils.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. We cut to Bryce's pov, and she's learning that the depth of the venom is worse than they imagined. It's just a few, you know, minutes later, they've done, like, some scanning, and it's way down in there. And I imagine that has a lot to do with the fact that they, you know, she left it alone for two years. Raleigh. Which is also what happened with my teeth. It wasn't because I had an emotional attachment to them. That was just because I was poor and I live in America.

[Natalie Jean]

No, you can't drill into them. You can't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. No, my broken ass teeth. Like, please, I need to keep them to remind me of all the terrible decisions I've made in my life. So.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The witch informs her that she's going to need to cut through a ton of scar tissue as well to get to the actual venom spot, which sounds uncomfortable. Bryce tries to hide how hard she's shaking. Because she's scared, man. She even like the mind. What? She even offers like, hey, if we want to, like, wait, we can push you under. But it's going to take a few days. And she's just like, I just want it done.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Which I totally get that.

[Natalie Jean]

And also, she's had that pain, such a specific pain for such a long time that I feel in the same way that, like, anyone I know that has chronic illness and chronic pain, it's just you see pain differently because you're like, I'm so used to it. Just do whatever you have to do.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Cool. That's.

[Natalie Jean]

Hell, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Very strong.

[Natalie Jean]

Love it. Love the health care in this country.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, it's great. So Bryce strips down to her med medical gown, but Hunt looks away like a gentleman.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, it would be really weird if, right Then you just going, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Slower, slow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I like when you're scared.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm very glad he looked away. Not the time Hunt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

His specific kink is her being scared of other things, not him not being scared of him.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But she has to be terrified of something else.

[Natalie Jean]

Sure. Yeah. Just always keep her. I mean, it would make sense, as these books go on, if that was one of his kinks, but at least we don't know. And there he's not saying it inside of his head bad, so we know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What his kinks are.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. He's out there, baby. Eight little piggies. Did you say ain't little, Ben? It ain't little piggies.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I said little piggies. That'd be. That would be very specific kink. If he had only eight of the ten toes were rousing to him. But if you saw one of the other, maybe they're like.

[Natalie Jean]

Maybe the little piggies. Squeak, squeak, squeeze all the way home.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Maybe he doesn't like the little one.

[Natalie Jean]

Honestly, it would make it better for us if he didn't like the little ones.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're right. He likes the mature.

[Natalie Jean]

So he likes 8 out of 10. The big, thick, girthier toes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Really just really fully formed.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Any toe you can crack the knuckle of. You know what I mean? Really get in there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So as the witch. So he's looking away. He's not helping her get undressed, but the witch helps her kind of tie her gown in the back. And she comments on Brace's tattoo or asking what it says, since it's in a language she doesn't recognize. I gotta say, that's not super appropriate to do when your patient is naked in front of you. Be like, oh, like your tattoo. Oh, tell me about that tattoo on your Naked body that's in front of me.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. But I also do feel like you kind of want to talk about anything else in that scenario. I feel like anytime I'm like, I am that annoying patient, that if I'm going through something painful, I talk the entire time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sure.

[Natalie Jean]

I usually am just like. And then this. And then it's like, I'd rather. Let's just talk about the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, and I'll just, you know, monologue about how I feel about the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, which I can do at the drop of a hat anytime you want me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay. I just wanted to offer it in case you wanted to take me up on that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Nope. Anyway.

[Natalie Jean]

Pregnant with housewives. Paul, can you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Can you, though, like, in the situation, though, where you're like. Like, if it's, like, a tattoo that's in an intimate kind of part of your body.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's not being directly operated on.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, you're right. Yeah, you are.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Honestly, doctor, like, looking at, like, near your crotch, just being like, oh, yeah, look at that.

[Natalie Jean]

Interesting.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, what's going on there? Poke at it.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, wow. Got any weird or bad memories attached to this?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But anyway, you know, we don't play by Pangea's rules here.

[Natalie Jean]

You're right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce explains. It says, through love all is possible. That it means that she and her friend will never part.

[Natalie Jean]

A hum of approval as the Medwich looked between Bryce and Hunt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You two have such a powerful bond.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce didn't bother to correct her assumption that the tattoo was about Hunt. The tattoo that Danika had drunkenly insisted they get one night, claiming that putting the vow of eternal friendship in another language would make it less cheesy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, first off, I don't think that makes it less cheesy.

[Natalie Jean]

No, I think it's still. You know, you're still getting writing on you, which a lot of people have a lot of thoughts about. And I'm saying this as a person with writing tattoos on my body.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Same. I also have matching tattoos with people who I don't talk to anymore.

[Natalie Jean]

That. And that is, you know, it's part when people say, like, I could never get a tattoo with someone because what if it, like, it all falls apart sometimes? Like. Well, I view my tattoos as memories. Oh, yes. And, you know, well, at the time, I was really good with that person. And now we don't have that as much anymore. And that's okay because to everything there is all season turn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Also the ones that I have that are Matching. There's no indication that another person has. You know what I mean?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's not like half of a broken heart of like forever. Just a sisfa on it. Sisfu. I'm just a sisfa. I'm not a Trevor.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Which one would you rather be?

[Natalie Jean]

I guess I want to be a Trevor. So if you want to be a sisfa, we can do.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I actually think I prefer sisfa.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. All right, so you're. What you're saying is we should get these tattoos. Okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

All right. We just. Just said it's a bad idea.

[Natalie Jean]

We did literally just say it was a bad idea. But what if. Who remembers time?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. Who remembers what comes out of our mouths on this?

[Natalie Jean]

I want to learn more hard life lessons.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Oh, sorry. Oh, yeah. This is. This is our.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm just showing you for people watching Corseted up. Natalie is. She is sucked into that outfit.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This is our affiliate, a company called Sophisticated. This corset is literally.

[Natalie Jean]

That's why it's such a beautiful corset. Look up Sophisticate. Unbelievable. Unbelievable work.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This is from chapter one, which is only. They do limited drops, but we just saw chapter two, the pieces, and. Oh, my God, you guys.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh. Oh, I need, I need, I need. And we are gonna be letting you guys know because we'll have some codes for you when that drops. And we're also interested.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Also, this is not a. I didn't mean to turn this into a middle. I know, but Sophisticated so much company hosts fables. And we're going to be appearing at two of them in the year to come. And there will also be affiliate codes for that. If you want a discount on those tickets.

[Natalie Jean]

Dude, just even look up. I'm promise you, Sophisticate just. It creates such really cool environments for people that. Where you could be vulnerable and yourself. And you can love SJM and you can scream. You could put on your Fae ears and you could put up dress up. And everyone just goes like, oh, my God, you look amazing. Everyone's oh, my God, you look amazing. And it's just one of the greatest experiences I've ever had.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. They're ball. Their ball quadrant of their companies called Fantastique Sophisticated Fantastic Sophisticates. Their Fae clothing line. And chapter two is sick, you guys. Anyway, I'm just saying it because I love their. I love everything about them.

[Natalie Jean]

I know we weren't. I don't even care so much about our code just because of the fact that you would get a percentage. That's the Only reason why I bring it up, and it's worth it. And you can put all the different parts together to make different outfits. Okay, I'm sorry. I'll stop. I'll stop. Stop, stop, stop. But they're great.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So it's very interesting that the medw thinks that it's a tattoo. With Hunt feeling bond. Feels a very powerful bond between them. And. All right, so that witch throws in that. The witch throws in that curveball. And then the witch throws in another curveball.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, y. Yoy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She looks at Hunt and asks if his halo hurts. Hurts when he fell out of the sky because he's a sexy angel. No, she doesn't say. But if Bryce never uses that pickup light on Hunt, she needs to get her together.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. Or at least use Beyonce's halo in some manner. You know, Fiance. Oh, my God. How dare I. Natalie. Fiance. And I can. I know. I was singing like an angel right there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You must have a massive diaphragm from.

[Natalie Jean]

The top chest that you have big muscles. Oh. And there's just so much sweat under these muscles.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ew. Underneath them.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think that's blood.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, no. Oh, my God. Am I a sack full of organs? And sploosh. I am.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sometimes those thoughts get in there. You know, you're like, we're just a bunch of jelly.

[Natalie Jean]

That and, like, the fact that we have jelly in our brain that makes us not feel like the organs are splooshing around inside of us. And I think about that all the time. That, like, what if that just shuts off? What if all of a sudden, you feel all the organs inside of you? Apparently, after a major surgery, you can feel the organs moving back into place. I've heard this from people that have had C sections before that you can kind of feel it, like, juking back into place inside of your body.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What?

[Natalie Jean]

That's insane. I know. I want to say the dick is the best muscle, but I think it might be the brain.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, the dick is the brain of the bottom. You know what I mean?

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you, Natalie. And what's our brain of the bottom? Our knees. I always think knees first. I, I, I, I mean, it's our pussies, but I. Yeah, that is our. It's definitely our strength. But what if it was our knees?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't like it.

[Natalie Jean]

Then my knees have recently going. So they've got a lot to say, and I better be listening. I think it's like, I think there's a problem with my knees. But, you know, we don't need to talk about cartilage right now. We need to talk about Hunt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she asks if his halo hurts from when, you know, he wears it because he's forced to. And. And when he says that it only hurts when they applied it, the witch looks somber and sort of regretful because remember, it's the witches who are assigned to hold the slave's magic in some kind of restraint through the tattoo. He asks jokingly if she wants to take it off him.

[Natalie Jean]

The witch went wholly still and Bryce's breath caught in her throat.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What would you do if I did?

[Natalie Jean]

The witch asked softly, her dark eyes glimmering with interest and ancient power.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So very interesting. Could she be an ally?

[Natalie Jean]

Man, I want to bring a med witch. Man, it would be so cool to bang a med witch, bro. They hold so much intrigue. I want to know more about them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mysteries that aren't all answered.

[Natalie Jean]

Not yet.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not yet. So she kind of seems interested about Hun's feelings on all of this. Bryce feels fear course through her at this discussion because it's a dangerous conversation to have any hint of dissent. Just like with Lele earlier in a couple chapters back.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, she said I might show up with my muscles. Big guns.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not just the angels, but the Asteri. They seem to like have some sort of omniscient power.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't know. You're pretty scared of these muscles, Natalie. I don't know if you see these muscles, Natalie, I don't know if you can turn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You kinda look like Big Ed right now.

[Natalie Jean]

I ain't got no neck. I ain't got no neck. For half a second I thought you meant eddytunes. Eddytoons.com, but no, you meant the man without a neck. I am feeling a little Big Ed right now. Right? No neck, big problems.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like a. Much like a very sexy version of.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh my God, thank you. Yes, I'm going to make that waitress fall in love with me. Which is what Big Ed did. And then it was a lot of things were didn't go right for Big head, an old 90 day fiance.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

All right, we are back here.

[Natalie Jean]

Back to the Asteri.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunt stops the conversation there. So the med witch is seeming to sort of want to. To have like a little conversation about it, but he's like, let's move on. But there's a message conveyed in their brief discussion that if it came off, he would go after his captors. And the witch seems intrigued by this and unbothered by the way she may have her own fish to Fry with the hysterian angels.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, that's quite a question to ask. If she wasn't. I feel like that's definitely a like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Unless it was, like, trying to catch you.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, but.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But it seems much more like she's curious.

[Natalie Jean]

She's been the one that's going through and getting all this stuff done when they couldn't get it done other places. So it's like that. I don't know. She's. She's more than a mad witch. What is her name?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We'll find out. Maybe. She instructs Bryce to lie back and prepare for this incision. Bryce is visibly shaking with fear and maybe a little bit of sadness, because this is her line to Danika, and it's leaving her body. Yeah, but, like, do you really want your memento to your best friend to be poisoned?

[Natalie Jean]

It's like you literally have a tattoo with her on your back. Couldn't that be the memory you have with Danika? But I. You know what? I've never had all of my friends ripped to pieces in my own bedroom before, so I don't know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not yet.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, there's a time for everything.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

As the witch sets up her instruments, Bryce feels Hunt taking her hand. As she begins to cut into Bryce's leg, she holds Hunt's gaze. It makes her recall the surprising news that Hunt had been there the night of the murders, because he had just revealed it. He had been the one who stapled her leg closed. She barely has memories from that night, probably from both the drugs and the drama. The witch practically gasped at how much venom is in her and how deep it goes.

[Natalie Jean]

Thanks.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She prepares Bryce for what's to come. Tells her to take a breath.

[Natalie Jean]

Someone poured acid into her leg, and her skin was sizzling. Bones melting away. In and out, out and in. Her breath sliced through her teeth. Oh, gods. Oh, gods.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ouch.

[Natalie Jean]

That's.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Stone's not fun.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it's probably no good. And I. I can't imagine, if you think about it, that, like, Novocaine or topical anesthetics are really gonna do much for something that's, like, demon made. Probably. I know that she's still a Medwich, but it's like, I still feel like. I mean, she's obviously still feeling it, so there's not a whole lot they could do for her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And the Medwich did kind of prep her for that, at least.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm glad it wasn't a surprise. So, as she's sort of in this, like, agonizing pain and trying to, like, Control her breathing and just go. Get through it. Hunt grips her hand and as she sobs and tries not to scream, he begins to quietly tell her about the night that he found her. He runs his hand over her brow and tells her that he thought that night that he wished he had a friend like her. One that would fight to the death for the ones she loved. As she cries out in pain, he strokes her hair and tells her he's never forgotten about her since that night. The witch tells her that she's begun the extraction and that the pain is going to worsen.

[Natalie Jean]

Cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But it will be over soon.

[Natalie Jean]

Just do it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The pain crescendos in her body arc and you realize she needed restraints. That as she was being put down because. And we don't know why when they mention it, but then you're like, oh, she's going to try to leave the operating.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She tells Bryce to hang on. That just keeps. Try to keep still as much as you can that it's almost out.

[Natalie Jean]

I've got you, he murmured.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sweetheart, I've got you.

[Natalie Jean]

He'd never said it like that before. That word. It had always been mocking, teasing. She'd always found it just this side of annoying.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He tells her that they will get through this, both of them. She realizes that he's there, working through the pain with her. That he's not going anywhere, not just in the medical office either.

[Natalie Jean]

Get through it together. Get through this mess of a life together. Through this mess of a world. Bryce sobbed, not entirely from pain this time. And Hunt, as if he sensed it too, leaned forward again, brushed his mouth against hers. Just a hint of a kiss, a feather, soft glancing of his lips over hers. A star bloomed inside her at that kiss. A long slumbering light began to fill her chest, her veins.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

First kiss alert.

[Natalie Jean]

It's like, okay, I know that it's really great that it's just like the brush of a kiss. I know that it's really good in this moment and something that gets her through, but it's like she's in the middle of so much pain.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, I will bring this back up later on because is there's an interesting, I feel like overlap.

[Natalie Jean]

Mirror, mirror. I feel like that is now, you know, mirror because they're mirrors for each other.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So we have to say it like that.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. So. Yeah, so we. I. I'm expecting some sort of air horn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mirror, Mirror.

[Natalie Jean]

Mirror, mirror. Wow. Tiny.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yep.

[Natalie Jean]

Tiny kitten esque. And I enjoy it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So that was their first kiss. And it was in a way though, like Extremely intimate. It almost, like, weirdly made me think of somebody going through labor.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, like, it felt like that sort of intimate couples moment where, like, the partner can only do what they can to comfort the person who's pushing a fucking baby out of them.

[Natalie Jean]

So, I mean, I've never squeezed a child out of me, and I can't compare this, but I did get an IUD put in with no pain relief whatsoever. And Jeff did come in with me. That's the only experience I've ever had with that of, like, holding someone's hand as you have to get through something really, really painful. And he did. We just, like, locked eyes with each other, and we just talked. We just talked. We talked through the whole thing. And, like, afterwards, it was like, I couldn't have. Like, I've done it once without him and once with him, and I was just like, I could never go through this alone ever again. And also, advocate for yourself. IUDs are very painful.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're right.

[Natalie Jean]

But it really does. It's a connection that, like, you just went through something so difficult together. And this is not the first difficult thing Hunt and Bryce have gone through together, but it's the first time they've gotten through it as a team.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes, for sure. And, you know, he's conveying meaning through what he's doing there, too, but she seems to reciprocate.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And also the interesting. That last part is star bloomed inside of her at that kiss and her chest. It's interesting because that turns out to have a double meaning, as we'll find out does.

[Natalie Jean]

As I was reading it, I was just like, man, the second. The second read through really gets you. Really, really gets you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And then her pain just stops. It's because the witch has pulled the venom out, and it's as if nothing was there in the first place. She breaks the gaze of Hunt to look at what's just come out of her, and it's gross. Ew. Described as a wriggling clear worm with black and green specks in it.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, God. But I know that she can't keep any of the venom. But in the same way that I imagine, I think that anyone I know that has had something removed from their body has asked if they could keep it. And oftentimes the answer is no. It's biohazardous waste. And I think that it would be really cool to just keep a pinch of that worm and be like, man, this was inside of me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, I think you may forget that does happen in the Scene.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. I'm just over here thinking about what big thing would come out of me that I would want a piece of it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't. I have. I appreciate body horror and I enjoy a lot of it, but I have a hard time with it at the same time. So I'm not sure that I would want to keep something.

[Natalie Jean]

No, no, no. Not even, like, what if it's something that, like, has never been seen before? What if you had, like, raccoon eggs inside of you and they're like, oh, we don't even know how they got in here, but we must harvest them before the raccoons are released.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No. Hard. No.

[Natalie Jean]

All right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hard.

[Natalie Jean]

I would keep one of the raccoon eggs. I'd probably raise the raccoon as if it was my child because the eggs would bit inside of me. But I've never.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Being, like, infested with something is like, one of those things that's, like, akin to. What do they call it, triple trip. You know what I mean?

[Natalie Jean]

I know. When you can't see the little holes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, it's not the same, but I have a similar reaction to, like, that sort of infestation feeling. So something that came out of me grosses me the out. I had. I had kidney stones all through my teen years.

[Natalie Jean]

You didn't keep any of them?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No.

[Natalie Jean]

They gave you so much pain. You didn't want to stare at those fuckers and be like, I bested you?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, it makes sense.

[Natalie Jean]

I got you out of my body thinking about it, man. All right, well, I hope you never have one again. But if you do, may I keep it?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I guess so.

[Natalie Jean]

I just want a piece of your strength, Natalie. Isn't that. That's not a scary thing to say, Natalie. What if Henry really wanted it?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Guys. After her leg is sewn up and she's able to get dressed, the duo sits with the witch while she conducts her experiments. The three of them watch the venom sort of be floated with witch's magic. She kind of, like, has it pried in a little thing into a jar containing a pill of scent. So she has them in, like, tweezers. Like, it's almost like a worm. It's like a living worm. When the lid closes, the witch uses her magic to turn the worm venom back into the liquid that it is and pour it inside of the pill. After a few minutes of waiting, the pill bursts and disintegrates, which sounds like a success. But of course, just like most medicine, it's just beginning of a long Journey to figure out how to implement this on a larger and more intense scale.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But nonetheless, it sounds like good news.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, God. Just thinking about a worm of that kind of energy. Because now I'm. I'm triggered by the word worm. And I don't know if you knew this, Natalie. And it's only because of LPN Funhouse and because I had to have a worms massage where they put those huge night crawlers all over my bare feet. And I was really upset about it. What on LPN Funhouse? Worms massage.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

When was this?

[Natalie Jean]

I think it was the last one. The big one. I think were in the other room or maybe the one before. And I was like, that's just worms. I don't care. And then you get all the wor. Like, the nightcrawlers are big.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

When did they have bugs in the studio?

[Natalie Jean]

It was horrible. And they all have legs.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I totally.

[Natalie Jean]

So then they were like crawling and I was. And I had to. I was doing it blindfolded because I couldn't look. I was like. I didn't want to see them because I thought it would be better. But then feeling the cold worms on my bare feet made me. I even think about it right now. I thought I was going to be fine. I didn't think I was going to freak out, but I did. I freaked out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A lot of weird stuff happens in this building.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Yeah. It's almost like we're covered in the shadows of the ghosts of our content creation.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Who procured the nightcrawlers?

[Natalie Jean]

Kelly.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Did she dig them?

[Natalie Jean]

No, she had. She. She's like, I got a guy and she went to a guy that had them. Sort of person that's got special. It's bait. I think they're used for bait.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wow. Yep. This totally. I had no idea.

[Natalie Jean]

But we didn't hurt any of the worms, and all of the worms were kept alive and they were released into the wild. Oh, God. Now the nightcrawlers are taking over Los Angeles.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, God. Since she only uses a tiny bit of the venom, there's some left over. And she offers Brace a vial of.

[Natalie Jean]

It to take home, buy all of it to take home, saying she might.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like the reminder of her struggle, but me thinks she might have other reasons that she wants Bryce to have it.

[Natalie Jean]

Interesting.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Chapter 62 has Hunt carrying Bryce back to the apartment to rest. Bryce telling Jesiba that she needed to take the rest of the day off, which Jesper is not pleased with.

[Natalie Jean]

Now, she's not exactly an equal opportunity employer over here. That's Her Danish, sure.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So.

[Natalie Jean]

But also Jesiba. Maybe you need more than one employee. Sometimes a person has to do other things.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I mean, at this point, Jesus. Still kind of a mystery character. So we're not sure what her deal is, but she tells Bryce if she's not in the next morning, she's going to be transformed into an animal. So she's gonna just rest for the rest of the day. And Hunt has flown her back and he's not complaining now that she's curled up on him on the couch. So they are kind of in the aftermath of this sort of intimate moment where he kisses her and now they're.

[Natalie Jean]

Cuddling on the couch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But obviously she just had surgery, so they're not gonna like, start boning. What do you mean? What a horrible man. That would be weird.

[Natalie Jean]

We scream about this over on who's the Bitch? We started who's the bitch? Because of how many am I the assholes there are out there about men that are like, why can't I bang her? I know she just had a baby, but like, I'm ready to fuck. And there's so many of those that we were just like, I want the opposite of Am I the asshole?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Which is where who's the bitch? Check it out. Comes out every Wednesday. It's only on the last podcast network.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So he. So they. They're not talking about it and they're obviously not having sex in this moment, but they're happy. They're kind of just like.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Touching each other.

[Natalie Jean]

It's beautiful. This is a beautiful romantic moment.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But the happiness is short lived. Yeah. Because Micah calls and he is furious.

[Natalie Jean]

I just. Such a bad man.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah, that's you.

[Natalie Jean]

But I'm not a bad man. I'm a bad angel. Angel.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. You're not a man. Neither of them are confused about what Micah is angry about.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm so. I can't. Natalie. I can't go through this part again. I think that's why I did forget that she kept it, because I did skip past this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This is ev. This is not even the hardest part in this book. To me.

[Natalie Jean]

I know it's not. But this, like, it was. I think that, you know, Acotar had primed me for how good SJM is at writing upsetting things, but not to the extent of what she does with Throne of Glass and Crescent City. I dare say I'm saying this knowing full well that Feyre went through a lot. I'm not saying she didn't. She was very good at all that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Feyre.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I'm sorry for Rascher over here, but this. I. I think it's because I'm so in love. Like, Hunt is. Is a book boyfriend of mine. I'm sorry. We should talk about it first before.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Let's get there. All right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, this is actually a very good song for him.

[Natalie Jean]

It is. No. God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they know it's because of what Hunt did to Amelie.

[Natalie Jean]

Of course.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunt tries to hide his panic now that he's preparing to go over there with Bryce and this. And he's trying to hide it from Bryce because she just had surgery. And he's trying to be like the tough guy, despite nearly deciding to beg her to get on a train to get out of town because he's so scared what's going to happen to her. They are fucked. Fucked. After what he pulled with Amelie. To Bryce's credit, she isn't yelling at him or calling him an asshole. Like she knows Amelie technically did have it coming. And she also kind of probably likes that. Hunts it over.

[Natalie Jean]

This is the thing. Because. Because who has been sticking up for Bryce?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No one.

[Natalie Jean]

And I know that she has amazing parents, but I'm talking about, in the situation of this book, who's really sticking out their neck for her? Nobody.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, the people who are keep treating her like she's a toddler.

[Natalie Jean]

Exactly. And that they're not giving her the opportunity. This is like. This protection is so different than what Danika was doing with her. You know what I mean?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I agree. So, Sabine. Of course. Even though Amelie definitely deserved it. Sabine's not going to care about that.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They don't speak very much as they prepare to leave. And Hunt helps her into a pair of loose sweatpants. He scoops her up into the sky. It doesn't stop him from thinking about the brief kiss they shared.

[Natalie Jean]

During this time, however, a line had been crossed. One from which there was no walking away. Say.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's a bittersweet feeling knowing that this meeting could tear them apart. But also knowing that they are now deeply connected in a way that they can't really take back.

[Natalie Jean]

Undo. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

As he lands them on top of the committee, he comes to the realization that Sandriel might be here, might even be in this meeting. Rage and lightning threatened to search surge to the surface of Hunt at the thought. As they go to make their way into the office where this meeting is going to happen and their potential doom. He jokes at Bryce, telling her to get that look where she's somehow looking down the nose of someone Twice her size. Her light laugh forces a smile out of him in order to comfort her, but also because he knows he may not smile for a long time after this. They enter the room.

[Natalie Jean]

To the left of the governor's desk stood Sabine, arms crossed and spine rigid. The portrait of cold fury. A tight faced Amelie lingered at her side.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Amelie. I don't know why I'm more annoyed with Amelie than Sabine. Sabine is much worse person.

[Natalie Jean]

I know, but like Amelie, I just hate. Because again, I think it goes back to what we were talking about last episode. Sabine is a through and through, no matter what. She is a right. And Amelie is just like a. Yeah, I mean, Benjamin, it's that. No, I just feel like. It's like I just imagine that comes out of her and it fills me with rage.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, it's so annoying. But I mean, at least Sandriel's not in the room. That's good. Yeah, but they know they're. They know they're. Sabine's there. Sabine is merciless. She's cruel. Michael launches into it. Listen hun, we have all the documentation we need, so don't bother to lie about what happened.

[Natalie Jean]

I'mma show you my muscles one more time. Are you scared? Are you scared of my top pick? Yeah, I can't really talk cuz my top picks are in the way.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I am scared. I definitely am.

[Natalie Jean]

I know he is though. He is scared. I hate that Hunt is upset and scared. Scared of Micah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Of you. Maybe you can. Maybe you can kiss him.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, I mean, yeah. I mean, I'll watch a video of it for sure, you know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yep.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, their pecs just rubbing against each other. But they're all wet for some reason. I think it's through their tears.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, they're tears.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, they're just crying so much and then they bang.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They. So they have. I mean, it wasn't like Hunt was gonna lie anyway, but Micah's just like, just don't cut the. I'm not. I don't want to hear excuses. We saw it on the video. And then he says Amelie then reported the sisa bean. And then Sabine brought it to me. Micah. And Amelie looks embarrassed and says, I didn't. I just mentioned. I didn't mean.

[Natalie Jean]

Also. Sabine, come do something about it yourself. You're gonna go screaming to Micah. I thought you were this. Oh, this big, big scary. And now you gotta go running to a man to go deal with your. So why don't you take care of it yourself, Sabine. Ooh, ooh, I'm all revved. Up now because she's a.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But she's weak in a lot of.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, of course she's weak.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Hunt tells everyone in the room that he was reacting to a cruel prank that Amelie pulled on his partner. But Sabine will have none of it. Obviously. She's not going to listen to, like, rational arguments. In fact, she just continues to berate Hunt with more insults about Bryce because she's obsessed with her.

[Natalie Jean]

It's like, get a new line.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know. Just like, trash. Half breed.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay, okay, yeah, we get it. Yeah. Why don't you just put it on a recorder and. And leave it be?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So, as this is happening, Bryce seems to shrivel away at the words. A lot of times, Bryce can stand up to this sort of, like, mockery and cruelty because she, you know, has to worry. This cold exterior, this tough exterior, I should say. But when it comes to Sabine, that never works. It plays into her own guilt, I think, about what happened to Danika. So since Sabine, like, the most effective bullies needle into something you're already insecure about.

[Natalie Jean]

Of course.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And so Bryce feels responsible somehow for Danika's death. And so Sabine plays into that, and it only fuels Sabine's rage. She tells Micah there needs to be real consequences. After all, they've already accused her of murdering her own daughter. And now this.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, shut up, Sabine.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's a. She demands punishment now, and she wants to watch it. Amelie tries to argue.

[Natalie Jean]

She's like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sabine, of course, shuts it down. Hunt is certain that this isn't really about Amelie or the interaction. It's really just an excuse. It's to satiate Sabine's need for cruelty.

[Natalie Jean]

Exactly. And for. Honestly. And Micah also wants to keep him in line. So any way that. It's like any toe. Step out of line, he's going to bring down the hammer.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But I also enjoy that he's clearly irritated with Sabine. Of course, not this woman again.

[Natalie Jean]

And he knows. Knows Micah knows he has to do something about it because Sabine is such a. Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But even still, he knows that he is over Sabine's authority, and he doesn't like Sabine commanding him what to do. And he tells her that as much. It's not her place to demand things from him.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm the daddy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. But she continues on, suggesting that in their world, a slave assaulting a free citizen is forfeiture of their life. Life.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Which is. Ew. Gross. All of that sentence.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Bryce nearly collapses in panic.

[Natalie Jean]

Please.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is all she gets out. Despite Micah being a. He has shown less Sadism than Sandriel. And in this moment, he makes his decision. Hunt will die, but it will be through a tradition known as the living dead death. That is to have his wings sawed off.

[Natalie Jean]

No, that is w. Not his wings. Not his wings. It's a living death. No, I can't. I can't do it, Natalie. I can't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This doesn't surprise Hunt, although of course, it grieves him. But all the females in the room look confused, as they're not angels, so they're not sure what this means. Means Micah explains, and it horrifies Bryce, of course, but this is the way that the angels have. This is the tradition that they do. This is the punishment. And Hunt looks at Micah as he explains to Bryce and understands this is the way it goes, that there's no other way. And he lowers himself to his knees. Actually thinks that it's fair of Micah, which I don't agree with, but he's gone through this before.

[Natalie Jean]

But think of how much he's been tortured. So for him, he's like, well, he definitely could have done something much worse.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Much worse than hacking off your wings in front of everybody.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So he does specifically say at one point, I don't know if we've gotten to it yet, but he has had this happen before, of course, when he was. Was captured and everything. And so, you know, he's like, I'm not gonna die. So that's. Let's just do this. Let's just get it done.

[Natalie Jean]

Also, think of someone that has been tortured for years that, like, I guess, sadly enough, his perspective of, like, well, at least it'll be over and done with. Like, at least it's something that is one time, right. One stop shop, right. Kind of punishment.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Amelie again seems to regret all of this happening and tries to backpedal and tell Sabine it's not necessary.

[Natalie Jean]

A little too late, you idiot.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No one's listening. Also, Sabine doesn't really care about Amelie at all. She just wants to see this happen because she is a sick. Bryce tries to launch herself at Hunt, but is held back by Victoria, who's also in the room with them, really for her own good, because if Bryce and her ejected, there would probably be much.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So Victoria also, as she's holding Bryce back, whispers to her that the wings do grow back. He will have wings again. And it just takes some weeks. Hunt thinks about the excruciating process that happens. But, hey, he's been through worse.

[Natalie Jean]

Hunt spreads his wings and lifted them, holding them high over his back, so the slice might be clean. Bryce began shouting something, but Hunt only looked at Micah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Do it.

[Natalie Jean]

Micah didn't so much as nod before his sword moved.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunt blacks out, but comes to moments later to Bryce screaming. He looks to see Amelie in sort of shock, but Sabine is merely amused at it, which is like, Jesus Christ, what a psycho.

[Natalie Jean]

She really it, man. Every. Even those little bits that SJM puts in of just like the fact that she's amused during this. And like, you're so watching somebody be mutilated. Oh my God, what a. Oh, what a trash person.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But Amelie is. She's. She's horrified. But, like, I don't feel for you. Like, you're a jerk. Hunt is only thinking about going back to Bryce's apartment. So essentially, because he's so accustomed to like, the worst kind of torture, he's just like, it's done now. I get to go back with Bryce. And that's what he's thinking about. But Bryce can't take the smirk that's on Sabine's face and begins to berate her. You are a disgrace, Sabine. Sabine unshockingly just begins to insult her again.

[Natalie Jean]

Just like, get better at it. It's just always the same. It's like, yeah, we get it, we. But I'll come up with something new. At least make it up, up.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, and she's the same old ones. Just like calling her a. Bryce screams that she never deserved Danika as a daughter.

[Natalie Jean]

That's what I'm talking about, Bryce.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And Sabine spits out that, yeah, you're right, she didn't ever deserve such a selfless, spineless brat for a daughter. Which is of course not what Bryce meant. No, but she is a. Thankfully, this outburst hasn't made Micah take more action out against the duo. He's irritated with everyone and he just tells them all to get out. And basically still allows Hun to go back home with Bryce, which is, you know, good.

[Natalie Jean]

So honestly, it is. And it is sad that he does technically go easy on him, right?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But Sabine's on one now. She's not done yet. With hatred rippling through her words, she tells Bryce that she went to visit the Under King after Danika's sailing and he revealed the truth about what Bryce did. The scene at the end of Part one, of course, if you'll remember, back when she kneels before the dead gate, Sabine reveals that she went to the Bone Quarter to summon Danica. And the under king said that Danica refused to see her mother. She's disgusted with Bryce's decision to sell her space in the bone quarter for Danika. Bryce screams back, and Sabine tells her Danika deserved to have her boat dumped like the coward she was, that she didn't deserve to be in bone quarter.

[Natalie Jean]

You're a bad mom.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I wouldn't say that. I'm gonna go. You know what, guys? Guard yourself. Trigger warning. She's bad mom.

[Natalie Jean]

Bad mom. She's a bad mom. I'm just glad that we finally said it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So she calls Bryce. She leaves. Of course, she needs to have a button of calling Bryce a stupid whore.

[Natalie Jean]

Got to get one more in there. What if she forgets?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What if. What if Bryce was like, oh, I forgot. Thanks, dumb and a slut. So Micah finally chimes in again, just tells them to get out of his office. Bryce is sobbing as Sabine storms out. Amelie quietly, as she passes by, following Sabine says, I'm sorry, but Bryce only spits at her. Hunt blacks out again. So this is a very dramatic scene with this, which just is like, there's a man covered. There's an angel covered in blood. There's severed wings on the ground. And Sabine is sitting here making this young adult woman cry and just calling her a stupid.

[Natalie Jean]

Feel like all of a sudden, it's right, so you had a bad day. It's just. Everyone's just really sad. And you go through a montage with all of them getting home. Well, they're not gonna have had a bad day.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They have had a bad day. They're not gonna get to go home just yet. Because we cut over to Bryce's POV because we had been with Hunt during that entire scene, but now this is a little bit later on. They need to go to the bed witches, because even though they are not permitted to use first light to help the stumps grow back, they, you know, make sure he doesn't die of bleeding to death or whatever, so they. They can treat him to an extent. So they're going. They're. They're with the med witches, and they. You know, part of the punishment is the humiliation and pain of the regrowing process. Hunt remains unconscious through this, but Bryce never leaves his side, stroking his hair as the witches work on stopping the bleeding again, as much as they're allowed to do. While she sits with his head in her lap, she thinks about that night, the night that Sabine was referencing, the horrible night when she made her way to the entrance of the Bone Quarter to face the under king. He seemed amused at her presence there, as mortals rarely dare appear before him. She Got over there by giving a coin, much like the River Styx mythology, to cross to this mysterious aisle. The under king already knows why she's there, because I guess he's like an under king. So he, like, no stuff. He asks her if she wants. Doesn't she want her own soul to live here in honor? Because she wants to offer her soul. Essentially, all she says is, I wish to trade my place for Danica Fendi here. He continues to challenge her, seemingly not surprised she's offering, but says, don't you want to be here with your loved ones? Don't you know you're going to disappear? He asks her over and over again if she. She is so sure this is what she wants to do. I wish to trade my place for Danica Fender, is all she says.

[Natalie Jean]

Then say it, Bryce Quinlan, and let the trade be done. Say it a seventh and final time. And let the gods and the dead and all those between hear your vow. Say it and it shall be done.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Very scary.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. I was really working on my underking. Thank you for letting me shine in that moment. And, yeah, I do view the under king. Almost Yoda esque, I guess, but I feel like I have to think of him that way so that I'm not scared of him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I. I get it.

[Natalie Jean]

And maybe the under king appears to you as whatever you want them to appear like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yoda would be a little insulted by.

[Natalie Jean]

That, but you think so? Like, damn you is me. I, Yoda. Me. Our king.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, Star wars head over here.

[Natalie Jean]

Am so like, oh, may the fourth be me. Come on. I know nothing. I've never finished Star Wars.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I have ridden the rides many times.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. Star Tours. I can talk to you about till the end of time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm not into Star Tours because the.

[Natalie Jean]

Screens, I think, oh, did it make you Bad belly?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But the newer the Rise of the Resistance ride is one of the sickest dark rides I heard.

[Natalie Jean]

I haven't wanted to wait. No, I don't want to wait in the line.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Jackie, we have to go.

[Natalie Jean]

I know, I know. You know, I'm not a Disneyland person. Disney scares me with its. It's so big and powerful and not in a hunt kind of way where I want to bang it. Like, I don't want to bang the corporation of Disney.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like, the corporation's not good.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But I love the theme park. I'm sorry.

[Natalie Jean]

I know. That's why I just. Usually I stick to my Six Flags. I go to my Knott's berries, you know?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, I love me a Knott's berry fairies.

[Natalie Jean]

So good.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Anyway, this horrible.

[Natalie Jean]

So she said, oh, yeah, no, she's in the middle of giving her soul. All right. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So he asks her to say it a seventh time. And she does without hesitation. She knew what it had meant to Danika to get across the river. Even the under king said, you know, you're grieving right now. You might be making a mistake. But she didn't even falter.

[Natalie Jean]

Which good on the under king for.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Giving her an alley.

[Natalie Jean]

Kind of nice.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Really responsible.

[Natalie Jean]

I wouldn't expect that from someone who's, like, the keeper of souls in the Bone Quarter, you know? Know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But Bryce wouldn't allow even the. The chance of the risk of her not getting across because she knew how much Danika had, like, dreamed of this being with her ancestors. So she does this right after all of the murders. And she had done it in, you know, this exchange in secret. She was actually able to sneak out of the hotel room she was staying in with with her mom. That a horrible, awful week. Because obviously, she couldn't be in their apartment.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, exactly.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And Sabine's rage at the committee. She had tried to convince Bryce that Danika's suffering in the Bone Quarter was because she didn't belong there. Because she tried to convince Bryce in that last scene that Danika is suffering there because she's not supposed to be there. Right. Yelled at Bryce, which is so up, I guess.

[Natalie Jean]

Like, technically, she is coming up with new things, though, so she was doing what I asked, which is come up with new material to, like, torment Bryce in different ways, you know?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So, like, what a weird thing to say about your daughter. Like, she's writhing in hell right now.

[Natalie Jean]

And she loves it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And she loves it, but Bryce just does not believe that at all. Because you mean, like, no one is more deserving than the brave and courageous Danica Fendir. Your boat tips in the river. If you are, like, a coward or, like, don't deserve your space, right? Danika does. But the reason Bryce did it was just in case, you know, the under king is as conti. As Sabine. And not in a good way. No, he's not serving cunt.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she said she didn't want to take the risk. And she knows Danika's supposed to be there. She mulls all this over while she is sitting with the unconscious hunter. And she decides to pull her phone out. In that moment, Han still just, like, resting in her lap, she sends her first message to Ethan in two years.

[Natalie Jean]

You tell your Alpha that Connor never bothered to Notice her because he always knew what a piece of shit she was. And tell Sabine that if I see her again, I will kill her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Even though Ethan quickly responds to this, telling Bryce that he had nothing to do with what happened, essentially backpedaling away from like, I didn't look, don't. I didn't do it. Okay? Like, I think trying to make it clear that he's not trying to torture her, but she just. She's over it, she said finally. Like, she's kind of stood up for herself, which she hadn't been doing.

[Natalie Jean]

Good for you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she says that he disgusts her. They all disgust her. And then she puts her phone away. She doesn't want to have a conversation about this. We cut to later on in the same night, and Hunt has finally awoken. He is startled at first by the missing weight of his wings.

[Natalie Jean]

The emptiness hit him like a semi truck. But soft, feminine breathing filled the darkness. A scent like paradise filled his nose, settled him, soothed the pain.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ooh, he likes her.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, that. Even through all of that, just hearing her breathe brings him some relief. Oh, my God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Looking around the room, he sees that on the clock it's four in the morning. And that he's actually in Bryce's room with her sleeping next to him. He can tell by the state of everything around the bed that she's been tending to his wounds all night. Night, though he's in pain. He won't waste these precious hours of intimacy with Bryce because they don't know what their future is going to hold. And he achingly reaches an arm out for her, tucking her into his side. She doesn't wake up, but leans her body back into his.

[Natalie Jean]

Something deep in him shifted and settled. What she'd said and done today, what she'd revealed to the world in her pleading for him. Him. It was dangerous for both of them. So, so dangerous.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, no. Not dangerous.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, this is not sexy danger, Natalie. It's not sexy danger. It's scary danger.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What if it was?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I mean. Well, I mean, maybe it's sexy danger.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He knew in this moment he shouldn't give into his deep feelings for her, that it could only end up in disaster and tragedy in their world. But he can't make himself stay away. Come what may, and it may be quite horrific, he stays.

[Natalie Jean]

So Hunt savored the feel of Bryce, her scent and breathing. Savored every second of it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You don't have a lot of time. You better get on.

[Natalie Jean]

But I guess I would hope that they would give him some kind of, like, Zannies or something. Something to, you know, at least, like, if they can't give him anything really for the pain, like, something to just Zen out for a while.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, it sounds like he was unconscious for, like, 10 hours.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Well, also, I mean, going through an experience like that, I imagine makes you sweepy, takes a little toll out on you. But also, think about Bryce having gone through what she had gone through that day as well, and how. And then staying up and tending to him, too. Oh, my God, I love their love. Not me as Micah. Me as Micah. I hate their love, and I'm gonna be against it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Maybe when Micah's alone, he also goes like, oh, my God, there's something.

[Natalie Jean]

I liked it. How she stuck up for him.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I wish I had a girlfriend.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm all alone. He just listened to, had a bad day. He's like, I had to cut somebody's wings off today. I can't even make jokes about the lyrics because I don't know the lyrics. I know. He goes, that's about it. Please read up until chapter 66 for next week.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

SA.