LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City / Episode 20: MalaKISSING

Summary

Podcast Summary: LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City / Episode 20: MalaKISSING

Release Date: March 5, 2025
Hosts: Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski
Presented by: The Last Podcast Network

---

Introduction

In Episode 20 of LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City, hosts Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski delve deep into the intricate narratives and character developments of Sarah J. Maas's popular adult science fiction series, Crescent City. Titled "MalaKISSING", this episode offers a comprehensive analysis of critical plot advancements, character dynamics, and thematic elements that shape the story's progression.

---

Cosplay and Host Banter (01:19 - 04:15)

The episode kicks off with Natalie and Jackie engaging in their signature playful banter, discussing their simultaneous portrayal of the Viper's Queen in cosplay. Their lighthearted exchange sets a fun and engaging tone for the episode.

• Natalie Jean: "[...] especially when I'm dressed as the Viper's queen."
• Jackie Zebrowski: "We're Viper's Queen today. Not intentional."

This segment highlights their dedication to immersing themselves and their audience in the Crescent City universe, emphasizing the importance of costumes in enhancing the deep dive experience.

---

Navigating Personal Struggles and Work (04:15 - 10:31)

Natalie and Jackie transition into discussing real-life parallels with the characters, particularly focusing on themes of vulnerability, work-life balance, and personal growth. They draw connections between the protagonists' struggles and their own experiences, making the analysis relatable.

• Jackie Zebrowski: "I sit weird. I need to be able to move my legs around a lot."
• Natalie Jean: "It's my belly button had teeth."

Their candid conversation underscores the human elements within the fantasy narrative, showcasing how personal challenges and relationships drive the story forward.

---

Deep Dive into Chapter 63 (16:53 - 29:32)

Natalie and Jackie embark on an in-depth analysis of Chapter 63, unraveling the complexities of Bryce's emotional turmoil and her relationship with Hunt. They dissect key moments, such as Bryce's frustration with being unable to take time off to care for Hunt and her subsequent job applications, paralleling their own feelings about job dissatisfaction.

• Jackie Zebrowski: "She is doing this."
• Natalie Jean: "I just remember how many jobs I've just sat there angrily, just applying for other jobs."

The hosts explore Bryce's determination and the ethical dilemmas she faces, particularly focusing on her interactions with other characters like Ruhn and Sabine. They highlight the tension between personal desire and duty, emphasizing the narrative's depth.

---

The Viper Queen and Emerging Threats (33:22 - 48:10)

The discussion shifts to the enigmatic Viper Queen and her role within the story. Natalie and Jackie analyze Bryce's discovery of the flash drive hidden in Danika's jacket, leading to revelations about synth trials and the sinister experiments conducted on humans.

• Jackie Zebrowski: "None of that sounds like anything I like."
• Natalie Jean: "She realizes that Danika is doing the same thing that Bryce has been doing about her."

They delve into the moral ambiguities of the Viper Queen, her significance as a villain, and the ethical implications of the synth experiments. The hosts also touch upon the symbolism of the snake imagery and its connection to the character's identity.

---

Character Relationships and Emotional Depth (48:10 - 57:45)

Natalie and Jackie examine the evolving relationship between Bryce and Hunt, highlighting moments of vulnerability and unspoken emotions. They discuss key scenes where Bryce grapples with trust issues and Hunt's internal conflicts as the Umbra Mortis.

• Natalie Jean: "I feel like even in this space, I still be. Like, there's a reason why he hasn't fucked me yet."
• Jackie Zebrowski: "They have talked about their future, and it is at least clear enough to him that he knows Bryce at least has not rejected him."

The hosts emphasize the complexity of their bond, exploring themes of dependency, love, and the fear of vulnerability. They also speculate on potential future developments and the psychological impacts of their intertwined fates.

---

Climactic Developments and Tensions (57:45 - 73:16)

As the episode progresses, Natalie and Jackie dissect the climactic events surrounding the barge confrontation. They analyze the confrontation with the Viper Queen, the implications of the synth's abilities, and the escalating tensions within Lunathian society.

• Jackie Zebrowski: "Viper Queen is selling the drugs, not buying the drugs."
• Natalie Jean: "I love explaining to Jeff there are certain plot points of these books."

They explore the strategic maneuvers of the protagonists, the reveal of hidden agendas, and the impending threats that loom over the characters. The discussion also touches upon Bryce's moral compass and her relentless pursuit of truth amid chaos.

---

Intimate Moments and Emotional Clashes (73:16 - 82:52)

The hosts delve into the intimate and emotionally charged scenes between Bryce and Hunt, analyzing their first sexual encounter and the underlying tensions that accompany their physical connection.

• Jackie Zebrowski: "They just watch something so terrible. And yet he finds her smiling at him."
• Natalie Jean: "But it's so much more than even just a kink. Like, it is a connection."

Natalie and Jackie discuss the portrayal of consent, emotional readiness, and the complexities of their relationship dynamics. They highlight how these moments contribute to character development and the overall narrative arc.

---

Conclusion and Teasers for Future Episodes (82:52 - End)

As the episode reaches its conclusion, Natalie and Jackie tease upcoming content, including erotica readings and further plot explorations. They reflect on the book's brutal yet romantic storytelling and express their anticipation for future developments in the series.

• Natalie Jean: "Thank usjm is what I'm saying."
• Jackie Zebrowski: "So prepare yourself, prepare your brain for it, because we're going on a wild ride."

The hosts encourage listeners to stay tuned for the next episode, promising more in-depth analyses and engaging discussions as the Crescent City saga continues to unfold.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Natalie Jean (02:14): "I love too that both of our interpretations of what the Viper Queen is, is a."
• Jackie Zebrowski (10:31): "He knows how to. Because I feel like in the same way that Hunt is so good, because he's the umbra mortis, he knows how to attack."
• Natalie Jean (23:07): "I love me some Ruhn."
• Jackie Zebrowski (44:25): "Cuz thinking of this, this is horrific."
• Natalie Jean (50:28): "I'm telling usjm is what I'm saying."
• Jackie Zebrowski (75:36): "It's going and going."

---

Final Thoughts

Episode 20 of LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City provides a thorough and engaging exploration of pivotal moments in Crescent City. Through their insightful analysis and relatable discussions, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zebrowski offer both newcomers and longtime fans a deeper understanding of the series' complex characters and intricate plotlines. Their ability to intertwine personal anecdotes with narrative breakdowns makes this episode a valuable addition to any Crescent City enthusiast's listening repertoire.

Transcript

[T-Mobile Representative]

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[Natalie Jean]

Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit.

[T-Mobile Representative]

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[Natalie Jean]

Welcome to Crescent City with your hosts, Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski. I know me being a bitch, that never happens.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're not generally. That was a younger version of you. You're very kind most of the time. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

But you know, the claws. The claws come out sometimes. Especially when I'm dressed as the Viper's queen.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's right. We're Viper's Queen today. Not intentional. We kind of wanted to make it a surprise every time we bring a costume in so that we want to find the moments where we're both coming in as the same character. And it happened today. Happened today.

[Natalie Jean]

We. I did not expect it, but Natalie walked in and went, well, bitch, guess it's Viper's Queen. I mean, you technically came up with the phrase Vipers queen, so thank you. I bow down to you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, no, but you guys came up with it. You and your husband came up with it technically first when you were Kurtz Russell for Halloween.

[Natalie Jean]

Kurtz Russell. Two different kinds of Kurt Russell. And that's. I mean, you're right. Thank you. Thank you for giving it up back to me as Snake Plissken. Because, man, I wanted to fuck Snake Plissken before. And then I became Snake Plissken. And then I realized, man, I just want to fuck myself. You look great in this coat. I love too that both of our interpretations of what the Viper Queen is, is a. She's serving, she is given.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And it is even when drug dealing On a river.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, man. She's got to show up. She's got her, you know, non glasses on. She's got her big puffy. Even though you look so good in the big purple puffy coat, Natalie. But feel like the Viper queen. You imagine her trying to be sneaky.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But she's like, well, everything about her, and we'll see in this scene is not sneaky at all.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think it's because she don't give a 0f.

[Natalie Jean]

Only thinking about herself and how good she looks. As she should. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So this is my cosplay with the purple jacket, because she's wearing one later. But I'm taking it off because it's inside and it's not raining in here.

[Natalie Jean]

Mmm. And also, you don't want the. You guys love hearing the sounds of our unnecessary costumes throughout most of these. And while I say unnecessary, we know they are very necessary. How else are we supposed to be immersed in the world? In fact, I expect you at home watching and listening are also in character.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And if you aren't, we can tell.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. And it's. I just need you to know you're not enjoying it quite as much as if you know what you need. Put a wig on it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Put a wig on it. You need a wig. Put a tail on. Underneath the tail on.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, Just do whatever, you know, it doesn't even have to be necessarily a character from this book. Just dress up as something. It's fun.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Dress up as your favorite feminist from the 19th century.

[Natalie Jean]

Sure. Yeah. You can, you know, you do. You just live it. I was thinking that as I was putting together my bag to come here today, that I was like, man, it is crazy that I'm like, everybody has to wait for, like, Halloween or going to, like, a Rocky Horror midnight showing. And why aren't we dressing up all the time? Maybe again, this is coming a lot from me watching a lot of the Real Housewives, and I just think it's like, we should be dressing like we are. It's like everyone should be asking, where are you going every day when you leave the house?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I love it.

[Natalie Jean]

And I'm like, I go to the grocery store, bitch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I agree, because I love to dress up. I also think if you want to wear a sweatsuit every day, as long as you're not, you know, hopefully bathing and stuff like that, I think that's also great.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah, dude. Yeah. If it's comfy and then you put a wig on it and then you make a new character. There's also something in that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Make a new character. Use what you got.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Any gender who wants to can always rock a dress. Don't listen to it.

[Natalie Jean]

Damn right, man. Think about the freedom. I think that people forget and they think that wearing a dress is rather. It's not freedom giving, but, oh, baby.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I love a dress.

[Natalie Jean]

I love a dress, but also I love. I love, you know, spreading my knees. I ain't wearing them short. I ain't no viper's queen on my every day. You know what I mean?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I need to. I sit weird. I need to be able to move my legs around a lot. But we have to be thankful again for our feminist four sisters, because now dresses have pockets.

[Natalie Jean]

And that's the game changer, my friend. It's a place to put your snacks.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They didn't want us to have snacks. That's why they didn't give us pockets. They were like, you need to stay trim.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Why do you think Goody Proctor was burned? It wasn't because. Because she was having a fun time gossiping in the woods.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yep.

[Natalie Jean]

And because she was hungry. Yep. If that bitch had pockets in her skirts, I bet she wouldn't have been. She would have been able hangry.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah. And also able to fight off people who were grabbing her and trying to.

[Natalie Jean]

Be like, oh, you're a witch. Oh, you're the devil. Like, yeah, I am playing with the devil, and it's awesome. And you should coming out with us for real. Anyway, I'm just over here always thinking about the Crucible, you know, because. Were you in it?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Did you guys do the Crucible in school?

[Natalie Jean]

I've done many scenes from the Crucible, but I was not in. We didn't do that because they had done it right before I came to high school. So, yeah, we missed out on the. I. I didn't get to get burned, but instead we did another O. Oh, God. Another really bad, bad. You know, I'm not gonna talk about Shadow of the Moon. Anyway, let's continue on. Ah, it was my phone.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, God.

[Natalie Jean]

That's what happens when you put it on. Do not disturb. It tries to become the ghost itself. You are not a ghost. You are a phone.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It says, jackie, don't you miss me?

[Natalie Jean]

Don't you? Aren't you thinking about me, Jackie? I said, yes, I am.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I am you, demon.

[Natalie Jean]

Even though that is my Wendy voice. And was I just sitting by myself last night, sad and looking of at old pictures of me and Wendy? Because it popped up on my phone. Yes, A dog. That is not mine. Yes. From Many years ago for when I was very sad. Yes. And then did it make me sad? Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh. But did it make you sort of happy too?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Because Wendy's little head.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Because I have this picture of when Eddie was much bigger and when Wendy didn't like him as much and it was the first time she had ever she laid her head.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know that picture.

[Natalie Jean]

And her head looks so little and he looks so big, but he looks so happy. He obviously doesn't want to disturb her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Frozen. He's like. He won't move because I wanted to.

[Natalie Jean]

Take a picture of her head on his thigh. And it was so cute. I'm sorry. Now I'm just talking about me looking at pictures of Wendy because. Damn it, Natalie, you got a cute dog there.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Can you open this?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Because you got fake nails on.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

You're welcome. In fact. Cheers. Viper's queen.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Viper's Queen.

[Natalie Jean]

Hear the bubbles.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's just Waterloo. We're not drinking.

[Natalie Jean]

We could.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, God, I can't.

[Natalie Jean]

Natalie, we haven't even thought about maybe starting to drink during these.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, our Throne of Glass streams we do usually drink.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But they are a little bit more unhinged and way less following the plot and coming up with his reference points and stuff. We're kind of just gabbing about it. But we do do Throne of Glass stream that appear on Twitch TV, backslash LPNTV and then eventually go to the YouTube.

[Natalie Jean]

Coming out with us?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yep, coming out. You can ask us questions. Isn't that exciting? All right. We are in a dangerous, forbidden love zone right now.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh God. This is just. It's really ramping up. We're getting to the. We're getting to this. Oh, man. This makes me. The end of this book reminds me of like when I used to make my own roller coasters and roller coaster tycoon and I would make it loop, loop, loop, loop so that it would all the people would go off the end and then everybody would die. That's what I imagine the end of this is that final loop that. And it goes up into the air and very, very scary.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wow, that's an interesting visual for that. Do you know if you have too many loops in a row will kill you and there. Somebody once created a model of a suicide machine roller coaster that roller coaster to death.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh my God. It's like the bone coaster. Please put me on the bone coaster. What a way to die.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's a non consensual way to die.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Suicide ghost are supposed to be one consensual Consensual.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, I would hope so. I would. Oh, man. Please think about the amount of finally, how many diagnostic tests you'd have to go through to be like, I just want to die on a roller coaster. Is that so crazy? I'm not that sad. I just feel like, what a way to. To go. Put me in, coach.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

All right.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm ready to fly.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So that's not what is happening right now in Lunathian. We have the last scene. It was. Hunt and Bryce are just trying to savor the moments they can have together. They know they're on a. A crash course.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh. That's why they're flying off the roller coaster. Right? All right, I get it now. And they're just. No one wants them to be together. And I guess it's them against the world.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. And that just makes your love even stronger.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That was favorite misanthropic toxic love when I was younger.

[Natalie Jean]

Us against the world. Oh, yeah. When it's like, we don't need anybody else, baby. We've got each other. But then you grow up, and you realize it's actually scary. And sometimes it's when somebody's, like, trying to get you away from the other people that you love in your life so that they can manipulate you, and they can.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And then you become codependent.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it's like a whole other thing. But also, though, I feel the same way about Enemies to Lovers. Like, I feel like I love Enemies to lovers, but in reality, enemies to lovers has a lot of issues, you know, a lot of things that maybe you can't get past, and maybe you shouldn't be treated like that ever. You know what I mean?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But boy, oh, boy, does Sarah J. Maas do some good. Enemies to lovers in fantasy worlds.

[Natalie Jean]

But those are, like, fun, I guess, in my head. I've also read some other ones where it's real enemies to lovers, and you're like, I don't know if I could get past that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, yeah, it's sort of also that.

[Natalie Jean]

Are you already ripping off your nails? Oh, I thought. Oh, I thought that. I thought those stickers was like, damn. You're like, I can't. I can't handle it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm trying to make a mistake because I think they look cool. I just.

[Natalie Jean]

They do look cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A child. And I can't keep them on.

[Natalie Jean]

The one that. That I go to every time that does my nails. Always ask me, she's like. She's, like, scared of long nails. Scared of them. Scared. Scared of a life with long nails was like, yeah, I like them short. I'm scared of long nails. I feel like I'm immediately gonna break one off and then it's gonna be weeks until you get them done again. And people are like, oh, you can get one nail redone. But I'm like, then I gotta go back. Yeah, go get it redone. I know they're beautiful. Every person I know that has beautiful long nails, I'm just like, oh, I wish.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I have a couple aerialist friends who sometimes have aerialist friends. And how's my. I don't know. They have to be. You have to be incredibly strong already to do it. Because if you're training on especially silks and you're not, you have to be able to not be gripping hard to be wearing nails. You have to, like, already be really strong.

[Natalie Jean]

That's crazy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. No, no, no. But that's where. Okay. They are in this world of me and you against the world, baby. Nobody gets us.

[Natalie Jean]

And right now it's kind of sexy. So it's like, just put away all the other real life, you know, trial, all that stuff.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's why it's called fantasy, because you take the extract things that otherwise in the real world probably wouldn't be very good. And then you just think about the good parts about it and you go, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And then I. All giggly in my belly hole.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Your belly hole?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it's my belly button. But I don't know if I want my belly button to be giggly.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, I hate. Don't you. The idea of something going deep in your belly button feels so weird.

[Natalie Jean]

I guess I was more thinking about, like, what if you woke up in the morning and all of a sudden you heard like a sound and you lifted the sheets and you looked down and your belly button was going like.

[Therian]

Don't you remember?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That was a whole thing that people freaked out about. There was a jeans commercial where the belly buttons sang and everybody.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't remember that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know you out there remember it. I think they were saying it was singing, I'm coming out.

[Natalie Jean]

Was this. I. I do. I. Now I'm thinking, is this about Low Rise Jeans?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I believe it was.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God. You just unlocked, I dare say a core memory inside of me that maybe that is what I'm thinking of. But I think it was because they're finally letting their belly button show because of Low Rise Jeans. Oh, my God. It's been living in my brain the whole time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, look.

[Natalie Jean]

Ah, it is low Rise jeans. That's why I'm traumatized. Ah, trigger, trigger, trigger. I'm traumatized. I guess we have to put a trigger warning before this episode. Ah, that's what. Except at least the belly button doesn't have teeth. Because in the experience I was thinking about the belly button had teeth.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ew.

[Natalie Jean]

So that'll. That'll change it for ya.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, it was just a bunch of very skinny models wearing low rise jeans and their belly buttons are singing. So.

[Natalie Jean]

See, I feel like at that point.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Levi, anybody wants to go find it?

[Natalie Jean]

I was so sad. Those were like the years when I wanted a belly button ring so badly, but I never had like a straight belly. Like I never could.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I've always had a belly full. I was like, if you were to do that.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I just dreamed. I dreamed of having a flat belly so I could have a belly button ring. And that was the only reason why I wanted one. And then videos like that. Those damn commercials showing off their tight belly button shaming.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Button shaming, everyone.

[Natalie Jean]

All right? I've got. I've got a bit. You can't see my belly button. Okay, I got folds.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're a woman. You've got a body of a woman. A beautiful body.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm a woman with folds, everybody.

[T-Mobile Representative]

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[Natalie Jean]

Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit.

[T-Mobile Representative]

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[Natalie Jean]

So, alright, I guess we'll get into.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The chapter at the beginning of chapter 63. Bryce is hardly even noticing that her leg doesn't hurt anymore. Because, as you remember, it got extracted. The poison all got taken out.

[Natalie Jean]

Damn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Because they're trying to find an antidote. There's too much going on. And now with Hunt in agony back at her place, she's worried about someone else's pain. So Hunt, of course, had to go through what they call the living death. It's not cool.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He. He. But he took this punishment for Micah. He got his wings sawed off like it's the movie Hostel. And Sabine's just there grinning away as it's happening because she's got issues, apparently. And now that's all Bryce can think about. She's at work the next day because Jesiba. Don't get it.

[Natalie Jean]

Give an F. No. She still has to get work done. So.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Because Bryce asked for the day off after to help tend to Hunt, but Jesper says, absolutely not. Get into work. I need to make money. And so she's back, and she's at work livid and filling out job applications while she's there because she is furious that she cannot take care of Hunt.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce. She's just like us. I feel like. Like reading this portion again. I just remember how many jobs. I've just sat there angrily, just applying for other jobs. But, like, I will get out of here while you're trying to do other things. But you're like, I just am obsessed with looking at other jobs right now. And I don't want to do the current job because I hate this job.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Jobs. Jobs are fun.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Love it. I don't think we need to raise the minimum wage. I think that people should be thankful for.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I just.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's totally normal that it's only, like, $2 more than when I was making minimum wage freaking 25 years ago. It's fine. Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

It's fine that we. I just paid 12.99 for a regular dozen eggs. That's how I used to survive when eggs were $1.99 a dozen.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't gotta start laying eggs yourself.

[Natalie Jean]

I would love to lay eggs myself if I could. Oh, my God. Change this womb into a chicken's house.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know what they're like, do.

[Natalie Jean]

I put a chicken in May? That's what I do. I replace my womb with a chicken. Put the dead chicken. But you connect it to my inside so that I can transfer my eggs to the chicken. I'll get a scientist. If I could get the scientist that, like, created flubber to give me a call. I feel like we could figure this out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think you need to workshop it a little bit.

[Natalie Jean]

If I is just randomly, though, I had to pa. That was my curse. Chicken inside of me. I get to lay my own eggs.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The curse isn't that there's a dead chicken inside your body.

[Natalie Jean]

No, that's my choice. The curse is my choice.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Got it.

[Natalie Jean]

And that I'll also give you some eggs. Cause I probably can't eat all these eggs.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't. Thank you. I don't. So they come out of your. You come out of your ass. Is that.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, it depends on how they hook it up. I just think you can't say no to nice, warm eggs from your sister.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know, just give them. Maybe you could hand them over and just lie about where they came from.

[Natalie Jean]

All right. I'll make sure they're cold.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay, so now we're gonna get into this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she is. She's doing this.

[Natalie Jean]

She's.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, she's at Griffins. She's pissed off. But she knows better than to defy Jesba by not showing up.

[Natalie Jean]

Right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know, she. She did go so far as to call up her brother. Cousin to ask him to look over Hunt. Which is a big thing for her. Asking run for help. Very vulnerable.

[Natalie Jean]

Very vulnerable.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But me thinks she also cares a little bit about Hunt. Ethel are.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She thinks about her conversation with Ruhn as he arrived on her way out the door that morning. So she's, like, reminiscing about that morning when Rune showed up. And Ruhn sees Hunt's wounds and feels. Obviously looks like he's gonna hurl. Cause it's really gross. And also probably in a way, like, it's like mutilation. So you're seeing this horrific act on somebody.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But he does tell Bryce in the moment that technically he got off easy. That Micah could have killed him and been justified by their shitty laws about slaves. That's not much comfort to Bryce.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He was thinking about Sabine's little smirk as Hunt screams in pain. Like, that is some dark stuff right there.

[Natalie Jean]

Don't you just want to rip her face off? I just want to rip her face off.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But, you know, it's good to have a really solid villain because then you can just direct the rage at the villain.

[Natalie Jean]

Exactly. Especially when it's like you don't know all sides of everything. So you can just blindly hate her without having to think about anything else.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. In this conversation, Ruhn sort of reaches his hand out to ask Bryce to let him back in. Her life in a way, which, I.

[Natalie Jean]

Mean, she kind of is right now.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. But he's sort of saying, can we just. Can I be a part of your life? Can I help you in this pursuit? And not so many words, but she doesn't know how to answer that. And she just sort of, like, leaves. And it seems like she really hurt his feelings in that moment, because it's not like she was trying to. I think she just didn't know how to. What to do. Like, she doesn't know how to feel about her brother. She doesn't hate him now, but she doesn't feel ready maybe, to, like, fully, like, allow him in. She's still really putting people at arms length mostly.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, I also feel like, too, when someone has been ready to move on with someone for a while and the other person is just coming around to it, which I feel like is what this is. Like, Ruhn has wanted to meet her, obviously. Like, he's been present through this entire book, and he wants to, I think, start to. I feel like he knows her, weirdly, so much better than she thinks.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

Because he's so good at, like, okay, I'm going at your pace. I'm still gonna meet you. Which also does, of course, make me fall even more in love with Ruhn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, love me some Rune.

[Natalie Jean]

I love me some Ruhn. Not so much. I was all about Hunt in the first book, but Ruhn definitely over time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, we learn some more about Ruhn in later books.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, do we?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't we?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, do we? So but maybe this is just the Viper's queen. I feel like it's like, yes. Uh. Oh, get him in our lair.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

See what we do to him?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's channeling through me right now.

[Natalie Jean]

Mm. So it's the Bob I need to ask. People out there with Bobs, does it make you feel like the ultimate badass that you are?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, it's the blunt bob.

[Natalie Jean]

It's a blunt bob.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's what it is.

[Natalie Jean]

It's a blunt blob. Bob is really what takes you. I've never felt this way before.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, it's a. I think it's the harsh cut is, like, very much.

[Natalie Jean]

And it's so straight.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's assertive, and it's saying, don't fuck with me.

[Natalie Jean]

With me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

My hair looks like a sword.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay. Looks like my hair is a blade that I can swing at you. That'd be cool.

[Natalie Jean]

God, that would be awesome.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So she leaves and goes to work that day. Now it's the Afternoon on the same day, and she's completed her work and is back downstairs in the library trying to crack the code of Danika's reddener account. The password, as you remember. So she knows it's Dief and Deer Defender, and she is trying different things to get in. And she's like trying a variation of like little Danika colloquialisms and expressions they used and Sabine insults. And none of them are working rune text to tell her that Hunt's doing fine, by the way, just for her information. He also adds that he doesn't think Hunt is a bad male. Bryce agrees with this. This is all over text as she's sitting at her computer, tapping away trying to find passwords. That's as far as Ruhn texts about Hunt, though. Though I think he's saying it because he very obviously sees that they are deeply into each other, despite them both denying that happening. Yeah, he's sort of saying he doesn't seem bad. I'm not, you know, I'm giving you your blessing without you asking me to.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, and also, you know, Ruhn can smell a lot more than in also remembering it, unfortunately. I feel like they don't want to, but I feel like they're gonna smell. I feel like he's gonna notice that the smell is right. It's all about the smell. And the smell is different.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But they haven't done.

[Natalie Jean]

How do I. How did you know? I mean, obviously I knew when you and Henry fell in love with each other because the scent was different. And that's because of my Fae heritage. Like, sometimes you just feel it in another person. Okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. I mean, when you live in like a. A squat house with like 10 of your friends, you are smelling a lot of people's smells, if you know what I'm saying.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, Smelling that kind of like when someone opens their door and it's like, yeah, I know you were freshly fucked. Like, obviously we all know it. And when you can just like the reek of. Of fuck sometimes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

How many roommates were your most roommates in one house?

[Natalie Jean]

I lived. Well, this wasn't the most roommates that I had, but it was the smallest area that we had five people living in a one bedroom in Ridgewood. Yeah, we had. Which. So two people slept in the like living room esque area. But it was a. It was a railroad two people that they. They. We were in a couple two people. Ed Larson was one of them from last podcast network and he shared a room with my best friend and they literally had a Brady Bunch sheet. Yeah. In the middle of the room. And then somebody slept on the couch that also lived in the kitchen.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I had. I did that too, in Bushwick. A one bedroom loft with five to six people in it. But the most people I lived with, I think, was closer to eight.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, that's a lot. That's a lot of. At that point, you really give up trying to know anybody's schedule. You just kind of let it happen, you know?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah. Also, in those time periods, everybody was drunk all the time.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It was just. You just had to expect whatever was gonna happen at the house was gonna happen. You couldn't actually, especially at the lofts.

[Natalie Jean]

Like, I feel like I knew so many people, and we would party with so many people at the lofts because literally, it was just a big open space, and they'd be like, oh, no. Put up walls and you would just.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's how my.

[Natalie Jean]

We would go. Put up these, like, random walls. We would find and, like, make makeshift spots for people to essentially just be able to do more drugs behind a door and so that you can. But most people were just kind of anywhere anyway.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah. The. The walls that were put up in my loft in Bushwick were. I mean, they were.

[Natalie Jean]

They don't go to the ceiling. Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The upstairs part of it, it.

[Natalie Jean]

It was.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

There was no windows. It was like a catacombs up there. I slept on the bottom floor in a drywalled corner of the living room, but upstairs, like pits.

[Natalie Jean]

Like, dark and pits.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It was really exciting.

[Natalie Jean]

That's why when people would be like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You'Re paying a ton of money for.

[Natalie Jean]

So much money for it. When people be like, I can't believe that overseas sometimes people sleep in a drawer. I was like, I wish I had a drawer. I'd love to be able. Something to close up and that nobody could get into except for me. Please.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. All right, here we go again. So they're just doing this quick text exchange while she's still at work. And as Roon is signing off, he adds that Hunt has asked him to tell her thanks for everything. This exchange, this expression of Hunt's gratitude, seems to give Bryce a light bulb moment. She returns to her laptop to type in the password prompt. Through love, all is possible. Their matching tattoo in what is written on Danika's jacket.

[Natalie Jean]

Of course, it is a long password.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It is. After trying it in different variations, she writes it in the common language.

[Natalie Jean]

The login screen vanished and a list of files appeared.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Now we're talking. She Got in, baby. She does a quick scan of the content, most of which seem like paperwork. Boring stuff. Right. Then she notices a folder called party Invites. Her deep knowledge of Danika, or the knowledge she thought she knew, gives her enough insight to know that Danika would never be organized enough to make an invite folder, that she would have just tossed them away or whatever. So she's like, this is sauce. I'm gonna click on it. Amidst the number of other files inside of that folder, she finds a subfolder with her name on it.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Clever girl. Was Danica.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She realizes that Danika is doing the same thing that Bryce has been doing about her. You know how you hide folders? I don't really have super hidden folders on my computer, but, no, I don't.

[Natalie Jean]

Know how to do that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I have, like. I have folders listed under certain things, like, that people wouldn't know what they were and like. Like, I only know what's in the folder by the name of it.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But it's not like I'm trying to super hide stuff, just things that are personal.

[Natalie Jean]

I imagine I am so I have none of that. Like, I am so. I feel like it'll be very easy if I just suddenly die for you to figure out everything that happens in my life. I have no mystery. I'm just gonna say it now. I've got nothing. I've got. I have not. I wouldn't even know how to hide a folder on a laptop if I were, like, showed how to do it. Like, I'd still be. Huh. But where does it go? Like, I'm just. So I have nothing. I just. It's kind of.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't feel like I do either.

[Natalie Jean]

I feel like I need to make something so that, like, it's exciting if I suddenly die.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What, like, commit a crime?

[Natalie Jean]

I don't know. Like, have something that, like, nobody knew. Like, there's nothing that nobody knows about my life.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I feel like that's okay, I guess.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I just. I know that. I feel like if there's one through line of this entire show, it's that Jackie wishes she was more mysterious. And I have no myst Mystery.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A lot of times, what people find on their deceased family members computers is not.

[Natalie Jean]

Not what they want.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What they want to find.

[Natalie Jean]

No. I have a lot of pictures of dogs in costumes that I've saved. There's this one. Oh, man, the dog looks so sad. He's got it underwrite, and he's dressed as the Beast from Beauty and the Beast, and he's got the little tuft of a hair on the top of his head and he looks so sad.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He's not. He doesn't like it, but I don't. It's cute.

[Natalie Jean]

Also, I think he's just. It's just one of those kind dogs. It always, I think is a Brussels griffin. You know, they always look sad. All right, sorry.

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

$10 device connection charge.

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[Natalie Jean]

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

And brighter and it lasts for up to eight hours.

[Natalie Jean]

They make my eyes look refreshed. Lumify it's kind of amazing.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It was love at first sight with Lumify. Try it for yourself.

[Natalie Jean]

Learn more@lumify eyes.com.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What'S in this folder? Right, it says Bryce. She clicks on it. There's only one picture inside. A picture of the leather jacket that sent her on this quest in the first place. Place. Suddenly, everything clicks.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm glad it does for her because.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was like, through love, all is possible. She logs out and flings herself back up the stairs to retrieve the jacket. To avoid prying eyes, she darts back downstairs. Lehiba appearing over her shoulder to watch Bryce feels around the jacket and her heart pounds as she feels a very small bump right along the L. In love. It was a literal expression. Through love, all is possible. She grabs the nearest scissor and carefully cuts a seam next to the L.

[Natalie Jean]

A small thin metal rectangle fell onto the table. A flash drive. Ooh, how did she think of. I'd be like, okay, so it's just. It's just what the tattoo is. Okay, yeah, I get the tattoo. I. I mean, I'm not mysterious. And also, I'd be a really bad detective.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, you already have to be like several steps different than you are in the sense that, like, I need.

[Natalie Jean]

A trench coat you need to be.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Like, you know, trying to save the planet with, like. To, like, beat villains who are trying to bring in demons from another realm.

[Natalie Jean]

Is that not what we're doing here? I thought that's why we do.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, I play like that every day.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, you have to.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's gotta be something real dangerous. By the way, if she's hidden it so deep that it took Bryce two years to even find the clues about what's going on.

[Natalie Jean]

I just surprised that she never, like. You know, I feel like if she. I imagine she's clutched that jacket many times, that she never felt the flash drive in it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I feel like if you were. If it was a thick jacket and you weren't just, like, rubbing your hands along it and she really hid it in that middle layer, you probably wouldn't notice that.

[Natalie Jean]

Also, I guess it was painted. Was it painted on or was it embroidered on?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think it's painted.

[Natalie Jean]

It was painted on. I guess you wouldn't wanna. Because you wouldn't wanna screw it up and you wouldn't wanna, like, crackle it at all.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I feel like it's feasible that that could happen.

[Natalie Jean]

You're right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And there was no indication that we can tell as of now that Danika gave her any, you know, notice that something was going on. So how. How far deeply did Danika plan this? Because she did this, obviously, before she died years ago. So what's going. This is a bigger thing, maybe, than even Bryce is realizing. Shaky and breathless, Bryce moves to her laptop and plugs in the flash drive she's just found. Lili staying over her shoulder as a rule. By the way, please don't put mystery flash drives into your computer.

[Natalie Jean]

I feel like, yeah, I would definitely have done this on Jesiba's computer, because I'd be like, well, if I up her computer, then she can pay to get a new one.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Also, there could be some dark web stuff on it. Probably should just hand it over to the cops, but obviously you can. Winathy.

[Natalie Jean]

Nadi. Nadi. Yeah. Not in the middle of this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

If your bestie hides it in your jacket and then is murdered, probably you can look at it.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Three videos are all that are on this hard drive.

[Natalie Jean]

She opened the first video she and Lehabah watched in silence. Lehabah's whisper filled the library, even over the scratching of the nook.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

God spare us. That doesn't sound very good.

[Natalie Jean]

No, it doesn't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But we must wait but a moment because we're cutting over to Hunt's POV at chapter 64. And he has roused himself enough in the late afternoon to have Ruhn leave. He dismissed him one like, I'm fine. You can go. Before he can reach out to Bryce to check on her, she barrels through the front door of the apartment. Having left work, we can only hope it was clock out time or Jesupa is gonna have another creature in her basement. He immediately goes on alert because she looks as though she's seen a specter. When he inquires, she only goes to close the curtains, assuring no prying eyes can see in whatever she's about to show him. Him. She then pulls out her phone to the file that she's just emailed herself. After leading him to a seat on the couch because he's obviously injured and he can't be standing and telling about about finding the flash drive and the jacket, she plays the video.

[Natalie Jean]

It was grainy, soundless footage of a padded cell. At the bottom of the video, a ticker read artificial amplification for power dysfunction test subject 7.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

None of that sounds like anything I like.

[Natalie Jean]

No, I don't know it, but I don't like it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You don't want to usually Hear Test Subject 7 about anything. It's like, not a lot of good stuff's gonna happen.

[Natalie Jean]

Where are the other six? Yeah, probably nowhere. I don't think that they've been sent to Disney World for their troubles.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No.

[Natalie Jean]

Although would be cute.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That would be cute.

[Natalie Jean]

And then I would want some footage. Maybe that's like, on another flash drive somewhere else. Yay. We lived through the implication of our power dysfunction. Yay. We lived extra.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We live more. We live better lives now. Thank you, science.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't think that's what's happening, but I guess we're about to find out.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So on the video, Test Subject 7 turns out to be a human woman without having to see it written anywhere. Hunt can guess where this is leading. These are synth trials. Oh. They watch as the human woman is injected with a syringe that they both know is Synth, without a doubt. They watch in helpless horror at the slight woman as she backs into a corner of the room. And two enslaved by the tattoos on their forehead. They know shifters come into the room. Hunt gauges by their expressions that they look like they might be enslaved due to their violent appetites. And they think they've just been handed a treat.

[Natalie Jean]

They lunged for her, but the human female lunged too. It happened so fast that Hunt could barely track it. The person who had edited the footage went back and slowed it so he watched Watched blow by blow as the human female launched herself at the two veneer males and ripped them to pieces.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I do want to see a film adaption of that because it would be.

[Natalie Jean]

Kind of pretty cool. And I do feel like. I know that it's bad because the synth is. It's too much for the human. Like, we know that it's gonna be bad for the human female, but, like, part of me is like, well, if there's one way to go, and it's to also take out two really horrific people as well, that like to hurt other people. I feel like it was like, at least they didn't give her other, like, you know, it's like, here's this puppy and he is this baby that is, you know, loves to see you. So at least they don't do that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're right. Ethical.

[Natalie Jean]

Look at this. What is this? The brighter side over here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. The shock of the footage leaves them both silent for a moment, as though they're processing what has just occurred. They know under normal circumstances, what they just witnessed is impossible. But with the Synth, it seems to become a possibility. A small human physically overpowering too large veneer. It would be like a person taking on two rhinos and walking away.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa. But what if you, like, slayed them and then you're using both their rhino horns as, like, a battle, and then you can pick them up. Because in this, I imagine if the person can kill both the rhinos, I imagine these are evil rhinos. So then you can use them to attack, like, you, like, take over their bodies, I feel like. And then attack the rest of the Serengeti.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Can rhinos be evil? Philosophy.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa. You come here for the philosophy, don't you? I don't think they can. I don't encourage anyone to kill a rhino.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, please don't. Also, don't go near them, though. I think they can definitely, like, rip you to shreds. Yeah, they're, like, scary, are rhinos. I know hippos can be aggressive.

[Natalie Jean]

Those are aggressive.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't remember if rhinos are or not.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, I think it's. It's nice that it's something we don't have to worry about. Surprise. Not a whole lot of loose rhino in Los Angeles.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Not yet.

[Natalie Jean]

We don't know what's going to happen, guys.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You really don't.

[Natalie Jean]

We don't know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I honestly wouldn't be that shocked if that was, like, we come back next year and be like, remember how we thought there weren't going to be rhinos.

[Natalie Jean]

Loose yeah, like, look at them now. Remember when they made all the zoos illegal so they just let everybody free? Wow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

God, is that gonna. Is this prophecy?

[Natalie Jean]

Who knows, man? I mean, honestly, at this point, I feel like you can play like a Mad Libs and just say whatever horrific thing that you think the government might do, and they're gonna do it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't say anything then.

[Natalie Jean]

Sorry, we're just gonna continue and we are going to be ripping these veneer to shreds, everybody.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's true. Because the science people behind this who are ever. Whoever's doing these tests is not done yet. Veneer slave after veneer slave is sent into the room with the woman. Over and over, this human breaks them apart. So this is not just a momentary strength booster. This is at least minutes or hours of somebody being able to just destroy.

[Natalie Jean]

Veneer until the entire room was red. Until the Vanir were clawing at the doors, begging to be let out, begging as their companions. Then they themselves were slaughtered. The human female was screaming, her head tilted to the ceiling, screaming in rage or pain or what. He couldn't tell without the sound.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And then they watch in horror as the woman turns in on herself and begins to shred her own body until she's a bloody pile on the floor.

[Natalie Jean]

Good Lord. It is just. Man, I love explaining to Jeff there are certain plot points of these books. And he's like, man, SJM is brutal. I was like, dude, you don't even know. She just get like, she's so good. I feel she's just as good at writing brutal scenes as she is writing the romance and creating the worlds that she does.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, she has definitely some super severe, violent scenes.

[Natalie Jean]

Cuz thinking of this, this is horrific.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was in a horror movie in the 2010s where I had to behead or got to behead myself in the movie.

[Natalie Jean]

Whoa, that's got to be very difficult.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It was fun.

[Natalie Jean]

That's awesome. With a sword an a hatchet. Whoa, that's awesome. All right, I want to watch it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And Bryce softly contemplates what all this means scenes. She thinks that Danika must have discovered these trials happening by accident and was trying to stop them somehow, which would clock because if she hid these trials and hoped that Bryce would find them, she probably was trying to stop them and knew that, like, it was incredibly dangerous to try to get involved in it.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's only a matter of time before this kind of lab drug makes it to the street. The streets we see that happen all the time here on Earth. Is that why she was on the shipment boat?

[Natalie Jean]

Maybe.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So Bryce is, like, going through all these. Maybe that's why they saw her. Maybe she was trying to, you know, intercept it, not because she was a drug dealer or whatever. She wonders aloud if that's how someone or something overpowered the wolf pack. Hunt tries to work out in his mind what this would have to do with the horn. So there's this whole other side to it now. They have Danika warning them post mortem that they're trying to make this a thing to, I guess, strengthen people or to use the drug in some way for something violent. And then also they have this whole thing. They're supposed to be looking for the horn. And does this have anything to do with that? Neither of them know. Hunt points out that regardless of whether or not the horn and the synth are connected, there is still this possibility that the synth could interact with the horn. And whether or not anyone knows it is kind of irrelevant to their need to retrieve it somehow, because they can't let somebody try to use it on the horn and then it reawaken, basically, like the apocalypse. They must find the horn. In short, it's so.

[Natalie Jean]

And I just. Thank you so much, Natalie, for all of your work here, because it is. Is so. This story weaves in and out so much, so many times that I feel like at this point, you kind of almost forget about the horn and everything else that we were in the middle of earlier in this book and so bringing it all together. And I feel like even with their thoughts, it gets bungled in the reading somehow. And the way you just explain it makes. It's like, aha. Okay, thank you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, you're. Thank you for acknowledging it. But it's actually just because to break the book down, you do have to read it over and over until you understand what's happening.

[Natalie Jean]

Right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Because some of that stuff, some of the exposition in stories like this, I'll just gloss over. I'll figure it out later.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. Yeah. I'm like, oh, I feel like I can see that you're dropping something now for a reason, but I'm not going to remember. So you'll bring it up later, probably.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Which is, like, it's frustrating, probably, for an author because they have to make sure they have every seam sewn up, everything covered. And then people sometimes are just like, I don't. There's stuff here just.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Just going over it. Whatever.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So in true form.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank usjm is what I'm saying. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

In true form. Bryce wants to go make Big moves fast. She wants to go deal with this right now. We need to get on the streets. We need to find things, people to help us. And Hunt warns her against this. He tells her Micah is on his absolute last with them.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And if they make another mistake, they are both toast. They're done. But she doesn't care. She says none of them, not the archangels, not the ox, has come anywhere close to finding this. The thing that I have, the thing that I found that Danika wanted me to find. So I want to act right now. She continues to protest, but he stops her, knowing the only way he can, telling her that if she pushes the wrong buttons, he's a dead male, that he will pay the price.

[Natalie Jean]

Thank you. Thank you for. Because it's like. It's so. He knows how to. Because I feel like in the same way that Hunt is so good, because he's the umbra mortis, he knows how to attack. He knows how to torture. But he also knows in that. In learning that over all those years, he knows how to immediately get into someone's brain and. And, like, it's gotta take a lot to be like, I know how much I mean to you at this point, and I know that we're not saying this aloud right now, but, like, you could hurt me. And that's very vulnerable.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, absolutely. And to an extent, they have talked about their future, and it is at least clear enough to him that he knows Bryce at least has not rejected him in the concept that maybe they could somehow have a future.

[Natalie Jean]

Isn't it crazy, though? Because I feel like if I were in this place through all of this, I'd be like, I know, like, all these things are happening, and we're in the middle of, like, a huge mystery. And, like, it's all scary and it's all pressing, but, like, maybe he's not fucking me right now because he's probably not that into me. Like, I feel like I would still be struggling at this point, being like, no, he doesn't actually like me, though. He's not really. And it's sad to admit that. That I feel like even in this space, I still be. Like, there's a reason why he hasn't fucked me yet.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think that that's very relatable in general. I think most people can relate to that feeling. And people. It's like a believable. Even in the midst of this going. I'm not sure. Maybe he's just horny. Like, maybe he doesn't care just because I'm Around.

[Natalie Jean]

And that's why I just wanted to call that out. Just because I'm like, this is very. It's a vulnerability that we haven't really gotten a lot of from Bryce just yet.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But it's there. It's coming.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And you even hear it in her thoughts. Thoughts to an extent. Like she's. She is even in her thoughts, very guarded. But you can tell in some ways. But he's not buying it. And he puts a hand on her knee at great cost to his physical comfort, considering he has this huge wound. But he reaches out for her because he's being open now. Maybe too open for their personal safety, but they've kind of, you know, gone past the point of no return. So he tells her that he's with her.

[Natalie Jean]

Her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That they need to handle this quietly and discreetly. But he's there with her. He's. He agrees with her in that he'll employ Victoria to help, but he wants to do it right, because he wants to make sure they have a future. And he makes sure to emphasize a future for both of them.

[Natalie Jean]

She was so fucking beautiful. He could barely stand it. Could barely stand to hear her ask.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Quietly, what sort of an afterword for you and me do you have in mind? Athlete.

[Natalie Jean]

He didn't balk from her searching gaze. The good kind, he said with equal quiet. Start each other, please.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They just watch something so terrible. And yet he finds her smiling at him.

[Natalie Jean]

No, I know it's not nights. This is a nice scene.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sounds like a plan to me.

[E]

Oh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So this leads us to one of the very first sexual scenes in the book.

[Natalie Jean]

Yay. Yay. Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And you've had. We've had one now, if you haven't listened to our Acotar series, we have people read the erotica scenes at the end. End of our episode. So you will be hearing from some special guests reading through this scene, which is very hot. So they.

[Natalie Jean]

And it's gonna be very. You're gonna be so turned on when you hear the two people that are.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Reading it to each other. Oh, won't you?

[Natalie Jean]

I'm very excited for everybody to check out the video footage we also have of the dudes grappling with erotica that will be up on our social media media soon, because they're joining us in our cosplay now.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes, we didn't film the first season of LPN Deep Dive Acotar. We didn't film their readings, but we are this time. So I'm very Enjoyed. Gird your loins, everyone. So they just. They're. They're having this very intimate moment saying kind of hunt going like, I want a future with you, which makes her goosh.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And they start to talk about the kiss that they shared during the surgery that she was having. They go through this scene and basically at the end of it, you know, you might. If you don't know, if you haven't listened, if you haven't read the books, you're gonna have to listen to the end of the episode. But it ends with him being. His back being slammed into the couch.

[Natalie Jean]

Into his big, massive wounds onto the white couch.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So in the scene, they haven't grand. Slammed it, but third. Is it third base?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Would you call that third base?

[Natalie Jean]

I'd say it's a third. I think it's maybe second. I guess it depends on how people feel about their bases.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I think it's a. What chat is it second or third base?

[Natalie Jean]

I feel like for a while, though, going all the way for me was like third base. And I think. Feel like talking about my emotions was a home run. You know what I mean? I feel like for many years of.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

My life, I've always said that oral sex is more intimate than penetrative.

[Natalie Jean]

I. I feel that I. I feel this way. I feel like it's.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's.

[Natalie Jean]

You know, there's extra communication, I feel. But for some, they're like, yeah, but possibly going all the way is pretty crazy. But when you don't view it as such, when you're thinking about yourself rather poorly and you feel that, you know, it's not much to give anyway, you know, you can really change. It really affects the bases and what you feel happens on them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

First base, second base. Talking about your childhood fears, telling them.

[Natalie Jean]

My mom's name, you know what I mean? Although I guess everybody here would have gone to second base with me already, so.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Slow down, guys.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm a bit of a speed racer.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is that a car?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, that's my fast car. That's the sound they make.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they've gotten to a base in this scene, which ain't too shabby, but the. The end of the scene, she realizes that she's in the throes of her passion. She shoved him into the couch, into his massive back wound, which she mistook in her pleasure. She mistook his groans for his own pleasure coming out of him. And thus moments were actually groans of immense pain. It's an interesting mirror to the first kiss, if you recall.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Their first Kiss. Being her in pain physically. And the second interaction is him being in pain, which is. It's just interesting to know.

[Natalie Jean]

Just hope they can let that go for the third. You know, it's like, you know, it doesn't always have to.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, and at least, I mean, whatever, if you're into pain, play. I'm not. But it's not like the pain was what was making them horny.

[Natalie Jean]

No, it's. Honestly, it was the connection. And it was. It was like two people that have never allowed anyone to help them through their pain. And this was actually a physical manifestation of. Of both. Of that, which I imagine Hunt in this scene would never let anyone be around him, especially when he's convalescing like the umbra mortis. So I feel like it's so much more than even just a kink. Like, it is. Oh, yeah. It is a connection. It's them reaching out their hands. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And just being. Again, I keep saying vulnerable, but it is a vulnerable thing to help in that way. And it makes them slippery. So Bryce is horrified at this moment. So she realizes that he's actually grimacing in pain.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's climaxing.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, my God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And she is. Can you imagine more?

[Natalie Jean]

I would be more fide mortified.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But Hunt is not. He is focused on the task at hand.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He's like, yeah, I know I'm bleeding. I'm hemorrhaging back here. But, like, it's back there.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm focused.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We need to. We need to keep our eyes focused.

[Natalie Jean]

On things happening here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And she's.

[Natalie Jean]

Which also goes to show how badly he wanted it so much.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, we know that through his thoughts, he's, like, losing his mind.

[Natalie Jean]

Y.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But Bryce is like, I can. No, absolutely not. And no thank you. No blood play for me. I appreciate your. Just your desires. No, thank you. Also, just the idea of a partner being in that level. Level of pain and being like, all right, keep going.

[Natalie Jean]

I guess, like, yeah, it's not really. That wouldn't get me going.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She looks at the wound as he's, you know, arguing with her, and he basically throws the. My body, my choice. Which is funny and definitely tells you that his downstairs brain is steering the ship.

[Natalie Jean]

Damn.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Right.

[Natalie Jean]

His eyes were dark, burning. So Bryce poked his back a good six inches beneath his wound wound. His answering wince of pain settled the argument. Setting her underwear to rights and sliding her dress back over her chest and arms, she dialed the public Medwich number. But that's such. So cute. Of like, ugh. All right, let Me. All right, you're not gonna deal with this. Let me deal with this then.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So it's like half a clock block.

[Natalie Jean]

But I feel like, you know, it's. We got something. I don't know if it's so much a. I mean, I guess literally there was a cock block.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, He.

[Natalie Jean]

He.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He technically in the scene, which you'll hear clock blocked his own cock.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. You have to listen about why that happens. They call him Medwich to the house, who reassures them that he's still okay. He didn't cause any new wounds, and she redresses the bandages. Bryce is mortified. When Hunt asks. Asks the Medwich if he's cleared to have sex, the Medwich gently tells him. I'm gonna hold your hand while I say this. No.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, no.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She actually says, not until you're ready to fly again, which is no, because we've already learned from his thoughts that this takes weeks and weeks to recover.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Hunt really isn't in any condition for carnal pleasure.

[Natalie Jean]

He can try.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What if he tries? I can see a world in which you could do some very fun sexual games during that time, for sure.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, there's lots that can be done.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know, so he's not in a condition for this, though. And despite his protesting, that's proved when he essentially collapses into his bed as Bryce guides him to his room. She closes his door and she goes to her own room, where she tries to lay down to sleep for the night. But she's got too much on her mind. And late into the witching hours, she decides she needs to quell the suspicions that she has in her mind right now. She checks Hunt's door, which remains closed, and the room is darkened. She can tell. So she slips out the front door of the apartment without telling him. We then cut over to find her in front of her old apartment, and she's thinking about how she hasn't been here in two years and hasn't. Has avoided the street since everything happened.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I can't even imagine being in the same city. You know, I. I feel like for me, when my bottom dropped out, I moved across the country because I didn't want to deal with it anymore. So, you know, good for her that she sticks around there, honestly. And obviously it's for many, many reasons, but that's got to be so difficult.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. And she has technically not dealt with it. I do think that there is maybe a level of healing to go face it at some point, but she's here now for solving mystery reasons, and Again, this is like, you know, past midnight, the middle of the night. But she is actually not there alone because her old apartment building is in flames and there is a scene on the street in front of it. So she's walked into a massive emergency. She wagers, in shock, as she's, you know, she's still grieving and in shock, looking at this fire, even if she had some suspicions about it, that this happened because she had logged into Danica's account the same day, that somehow that someone or someone knew she had reached out to the landlord of her old building shortly after she logged into Danica's account and that they would know that she had come. She had wanted to come look for clues. So they burned the entire apartment building.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh. Oh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She blames herself for this and is anguished by the cries of the tenants on the street. Street, watching their sorrow as their entire lives are burned to, you know, the ground. And she also knows that this means that she's probably on the right track for whatever's happening, that someone is getting spooked enough to do this. As she's making her way back to her house, her phone goes off at this strange hour, and she assumes it's Hunt asking where she is. She grabs her phone, feeling along the way the opal in her pocket. The one that Hunt bought for her in the meat market. Apparently, she's kept it with her these weeks.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, God.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The text isn't from Hunt. It's from Therian.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He tells her there's a deal happening right now on the river. Which makes sense. This would be when you would do the deal? Probably like three in the morning.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, we know these things. We are. Are drunk.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Always stealing my drugs.

[Natalie Jean]

And you've got to. If it ain't after midnight. I say keep them gremlins at home because I'm feeding them. I. The drugs.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The drugs.

[Natalie Jean]

I. I guess I'm only giving them the gremlins, but. I don't know. As a druggie, it's hard out here. It's hard to explain. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Remember things. You just have to live the life. So.

[Natalie Jean]

Hey, you want some of these? Hey, you want some of these? That's the kind of drug I would be subtle.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She tells Therian she will be there momentarily. She doesn't give Rune or Hunt the opportunity to tell her to wait for them. She doesn't tell anyone. She just goes straight there because she knows what they're gonna say. At the start of chapter 65, she's on the back of a Waverunner holding on to Tharion or wave Skimmer, as they call them. It's some kind of river government op vehicle that is pitch black and silent, yet it's pretty cool. Yeah, I want to go on a pitch black wave runner. That'd be fun. But he still cuts the engine as they approach the boat that is sitting and hovering still on the middle of the dark river. So they're deep onto the river. They're obviously trying to avoid any prying eyes.

[Natalie Jean]

I feel like Batman must have a vehicle like this. Right? Like, I feel like this is a Batman esque.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm sure at least one of those movies has one, man.

[Natalie Jean]

They started selling crocs. Batman Crocs. And you can wear croc version of the Batmobile. And it's got the wings on the back and it's got the wheels on it, but not actual wheels. I don't know why in. I don't know who it's for. They do make. It's not a children. It's not for children. So it is very shocking. But you know what? More power to you. And maybe you heard what I just said. Went. That's what I've been waiting for my entire life. And I say God bless.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Listen, I just got the Twilight LEGO set, so who am I to judge?

[Natalie Jean]

You did. And also, quick question about the Twilight LEGO set. Do you actually have to build the Big Wolf that's off to the side?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I haven't started it yet, but I imagine yes.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay. That's pretty cool.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they are creeping up upon this water vehicle which turns out to be a barge. It's an actual barge. And they have to stay a bit away to remain concealed. So they're farther back in the water and they're. They're psyop. Whatever you want to call it. Vehicle.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay. Barge is a type of boat that's primarily used to transport cargo. In case anyone was wondering, I was like, what's the difference between a barge and a boat? And that's the biggest difference. And barges don't have an engine.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's interesting because I'm very familiar with barges because I grew up in Pittsburgh. I guess if you don't live on a river town, you don't know what a barge is. Maybe.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, I don't. I'm not that familiar. I didn't really know why it specifically said a barge and that, like, you had to know that it was different. But that makes a lot more sense.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

That. That's where a deal would go down.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sure.

[Natalie Jean]

No, I know. Not a thing about a Barge.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Guess you're not a river person.

[Natalie Jean]

But now we do. You're welcome, everybody.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So they, you know, Tharion and Bryce have to stay a bit aways from the barge to remain concealed. But Tharion can see. He says he can count six figures on the deck. And they all looked relatively humanoid. He uses his water magic to create a special current just for their skimmer. And they can get just a touch closer, which is fun. So, like, instead of turning the engine back on, you can kind of like push them a little closer, making sure to stay downwind so their scents don't blow towards the barge.

[Natalie Jean]

It's like Timon and Pumbaa. It made sense that our friends ever stood downwind.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, that's about farts. This is not. They don't do that. Lunatheon.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. No gas passes them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They only smelled sensual at all times. So now they're close enough to make out some details. And they identify the Viper Queen.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. Hello. Surprise, surprise. Has lied about dealing in sin. And she would say, I don't owe you anything because we're bitches who never. I never said. I don't lie, do I? So. So in order to try to figure out what's going on, they risk getting a touch closer. And as they do, they notice that the barge is painted with two huge snake eyes. Which is like. That seems like a bad idea if you're trying to be covert, that you just advertise yourself on the side.

[Natalie Jean]

But it makes so much sense again as the Viper Queens like, yes, bitch, it's my barge. Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you. I'm evil, but I'm a different kind of evil. Then that's bad in the. I'm a different kind of evil. I give you drugs, but I only kill you if I gots to. Although that's not always the case.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We don't. We're gonna learn a little bit about where she stands. But, you know, Sarah loves a morally gray character.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, she does.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Some people might end up being full eves.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Some people might be a little bit of middle grounds. And you don't know how to feel about them, but you like them sexually.

[Natalie Jean]

And that's the Viper Queen, baby. Not quite sure how evil she is. You know, she's real bad if she runs the meat market. But you also know she's really hot. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So also she's wearing that bright purple rain jacket, which is why I was wearing it earlier. So it's not. It's not subtle. You're not really blending in.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But she doesn't care.

[Natalie Jean]

I know she doesn't always wear green either, but it's really difficult for me to not wear green if I'm trying to be the Viper Queen.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know. I mean, everything that I've, like, brought into my costume has been green because it just feels. Feels correct with the Viper.

[Natalie Jean]

I just feel like, how do you not. And also, I love dark green. Like a hunter green is like, my favorite. So it's good. I have a lot of stuff in dark green, so it just works. Guys. I guess we are kind of like the Viper Queen all the time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Unintentionally. We just share a lot of fashion, you know, Similarities.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Hang out on barges. You?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I did. I mean, I grew up in meds.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, you are a river townie, so did you ever get drunk on a barge or is that only. Were they working barges?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, there's never really. I've never been on a member of pleasure barge.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah, Pleasure barge.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, I've never really done that. But, like, similar style in the regatta, they have these things that are sort of like big floats that you can.

[Natalie Jean]

The regatta?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. You got a regatta, which is what they say.

[Natalie Jean]

I love that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, they have those. And then they have like the gateway clipper, which is like. It's one of those, like, riverboat things that's like two levels.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, it's not like a gateway Clipper, where like gateways you into like shears or like different kinds of cutting implements maybe.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, I've never been on that leg of it, but it could happen. There are like sort of barge like creatures or. Creatures. Jesus. They're sort of barged like ships.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh. I got really excited about the barge. Like creatures. I was like, are they big? What do they do?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Someone didn't get a lot of sleep last night. Can you tell? So.

[Natalie Jean]

And I'm hanging on your every word, desperate for the lore of the river people. You must explain it to me. It is.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

River people are a thing.

[Natalie Jean]

It's real.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's Appalachia river people for sure.

[Natalie Jean]

Tell me me more. Tell me more.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Tharian and Bryce determine that she appears to be the seller. So the vibe Queen is selling the drugs, not buying the drugs, but can't make out the other figures on the boat. She can see that they're arguing with one another. She presumes about cost or something, but they can't hear what's happening. But the two. Two of the people who are the buyers are fighting with each other. Bryce ponders this new reveal. Could the Vibe Queen really have been behind all of this? This. She's not convinced just yet. The figures arguing seem to come to an impasse. The larger one seems disgusted by the other figure. But the other figure throws a bag to the Viper Queen. My nails are so.

[Natalie Jean]

Your nails are just. I just hear the. As your nails fall off.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They decide they need to be able to hear the conversation. So Bryce and Therian and ease themselves a little bit closer to the barge because they need to know what is being said. As they do, Tharion notices just how much gold is being exchanged and expresses concern. He and Bryce wonder if this is going to flood the streets of Lunatheon and just how they can stop that from happening. Even if Bryce may sympathize with the human rebellion's cause, people like Philip Brigg are willing to kill any innocence for the greater good. Quote unquote. Which she just can't jive with. Which I agree.

[Natalie Jean]

Makes sense.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She pulls out her phone and takes a few pictures of the exchange happening on the barge and the boat itself for evidence. Though from this distance, it's difficult to get a read on just who the buyers were.

[Natalie Jean]

Through the darkened fog, Bryce pulled up Hunt's number. The Viper Queen said to the buyers.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship, don't you?

[Natalie Jean]

The tallest buyer didn't reply, just stiffly turned back to their companions. Displeasure written in every movement as the first lights illuminated the face beneath the hood.

[Therian]

Holy fuck.

[Natalie Jean]

Therian whispered. Every thought eddied out of Bryce's head. There was nothing left in her but roaring silence as Hunt's face became clear.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What? What?

[Natalie Jean]

What?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What?

[Natalie Jean]

We were just banging him on the couch and he's leaving red on the white couch. What? No, he's convalescing. What? We're just getting vulnerable.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

What? I just.

[Natalie Jean]

The.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I gotta tell you, the first time I read this, I was irrationally devastated when I read this. Like I happened to read this book the first time. Like I read 60 of this book on one reading because Henry has was out of town and I was laying in bed reading through this section of the book. It was like 4 in the morning. I had been reading all night and I got to that, that scene and I was beside myself.

[Natalie Jean]

Dumb. I, I, I don't. I was so upset because so, so, so, so, so upset.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We know that Sarah J. Maas likes to flip a character so you don't know. You're going through everything in your mind. You're like, well, we listened to his thoughts, but is he been a double agent? This Whole time, it's.

[Natalie Jean]

Was he just able to compartmentalize? Because also, you got to remember he's the umbramortis. Right? So think of what he is able to do and what he can control inside of himself.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And if he's trying to break free of the chains of like. Like, slavery, was he willing to use this human woman to get to that? Was this all him?

[Natalie Jean]

A ploy? It was all manipulation, which.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was so depressed after I read it. I put the book down. I was like, I can't. I can't watch her be destroyed again.

[Natalie Jean]

Also, I am in love with Hunt.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah, Absolutely.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm completely in love with Hunt. So I really, truly. I felt like this was one of the first times I really, truly felt like. I was like, I'm broken hearted by a book boyfriend.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

I actually think I'm broken hearted by a book boyfriend.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was like, hunt, I'm so disappointed in you. I can't believe you would do this to us. Us. So we're leaving that here today because.

[Natalie Jean]

You'Re being a viper queen right now a little bit.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Also because we are going to get a lot of information in the next little section.

[Natalie Jean]

So prepare yourself, prepare your brain for it, because we're going on a wild ride.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. I mean, the end of this book is about to ramp up, and it is just.

[Natalie Jean]

So I'm telling.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's going and going.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. So we're gonna get there, get the roller coaster tycoon.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We're gonna get Hunt back. It's hard to see how. I feel like we can't trust him anymore.

[Natalie Jean]

We can't trust. And we are just starting to be vulnerable for the first time. And you're gonna ruin all erectra.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, Bryce.

[Natalie Jean]

You.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And now Dudes Grappling With Erotica featuring Cena Gosnevy and Travis Irvine.

[E]

She was so fucking beautiful. He could barely stand it, could barely stand to hear her ask quietly, what.

[Therian]

Sort of an afterword for you and me do you have in mind? Athelar. He didn't balk from her searching gaze.

[E]

The good kind, he said with equal quiet. She didn't ask, though, about how it would be possible. Possible? How any of it would be possible for him. For them. What he'd do to make it so. Her lips curved upward.

[Therian]

Sounds like a plan to me.

[E]

For a moment, an eternity, they stared at each other. And despite what they just watched, what lurked in the world beyond the apartment? Hunt said, yeah.

[Therian]

Yeah.

[E]

She toyed with the ends of her hair.

[Therian]

Hunt, you kissed me. At the Medwich's office. Office.

[E]

He knew he shouldn't, knew it was ten kinds of stupid. But he said, what about it?

[Therian]

Did you mean it?

[E]

Yes. He never said anything more true. Did you want me to mean it? His heart began to race fast enough that he nearly forgot the pain along.

[Natalie Jean]

His back as she said, you know.

[Therian]

The answer to that, Athalar.

[E]

Do you want me to do it again?

[Therian]

His voice had dropped an octave.

[E]

Her eyes were clear, brave, right? Fearless and hopeful and everything that had always made it impossible for him to think about anything else if she was around.

[Therian]

I want to do it, she added. If that's all right with you.

[E]

Hell yes. He made himself throw her a half smile. Do your worst, Quinlan.

[Therian]

She let out a breathy little laugh and turned her face upward toward his.

[E]

Hunt didn't so much as inhale too deeply for fear of startling Syrinx, apparently taking the hint, saw himself into the crate.

[Therian]

Bryce's hands shook as they lifted to his hair, brushed back a strand, then ran over the band of the halo.

[E]

Hunt gripped her trembling fingers. What's this about? He murmured, unable to help himself from pressing his mouth to the dusky nails. How many times times had he thought about these hands on him, caressing his face, stroking down his chest, wrapped around his cock? Her swallow was audible. He pressed another kiss to her fingers.

[Therian]

This wasn't supposed to happen between us, she whispered. I know, he said, kissing her shaking fingers again. He gently unfurled them, exposing the heart of her palm. He pressed his mouth there to but.

[E]

Think fucking erd it did. Her hand stopped shaking. Hunt lifted his eyes from her hand to find her own, lined with silver and full of fire. He interlaced their fingers. For fuck's sake, just kiss me, Quinlan.

[Therian]

She did. Dark hell she did. His words had barely finished sounding when she slid her hand over his jaw, around his neck, and hauled his lips to hers. The moment Hunt's lips met her own, Bryce erupted. She didn't know if it was weeks without sex or Hunt himself, but she unleashed herself.

[E]

That was the only way to describe it as she drove her hands into his hair and slanted her mouth against his. No tentative sweet kisses. Not for them, never for them. Her mouth opened at that first contact and his tongue swept in, tasting her and savage, unrelenting strokes.

[Therian]

Hunt groaned at the first taste and the sound was kindling. Rising onto her knees, fingers digging into his soft hair, she couldn't get enough taste enough of him. Rain and cedar and salt and pure lightning. His hands skimmed over her hips, slow and steady despite the mouth that ravaged hers with fierce, deep kisses, his tongue.

[E]

Danced with her own.

[Therian]

She whimpered and he let out a dark laugh as his hand wandered under the back of her dress, down the length of her spine, his calluses scraping.

[E]

She arched into the touch and he tore his mouth away before she could.

[Therian]

Grab his face back to hers. His lips found her neck.

[E]

He pressed open mouth kisses to to. It nipped at the sensitive skin beneath her ears. Tell me what you want, Quinlan.

[Therian]

All of it. There was no doubt in her. None. Hunt dragged his teeth along the side of her neck and she panted, her entire consciousness narrowing to the sensation.

[E]

All of it.

[Therian]

She slid her hand down his front to his pants, the hard, considerable length straining against them. Erd spare her. She palmed his cock, eliciting a hiss from him. All of it.

[Natalie Jean]

Athelar.

[E]

Think. Fuck.

[Natalie Jean]

He.

[Therian]

He breathed against her neck and she laughed. Her laugh died as he put his mouth on hers again, as if he needed to taste the sound too.

[E]

Tongues and teeth and breath. His hands artfully unhooked her bra under her dress.

[Therian]

She wound up straddling his lap, wound up grinding herself over that beautiful, perfect hardness in his lap, wound up with her dress peeled down to her waist, her bra gone. And then Hunt's mouth and teeth were around her breast, suckling and biting and kissing and nothing, nothing, nothing had ever, ever felt this good, this right. Bryce didn't care that she was moaning loud enough for every demon in the.

[E]

Pit to hear, not as Hunt switched to her other breast, sucking her nipple deep into his mouth.

[Therian]

She drove her hips down on his knees, releasing already a rising wave in her.

[E]

Bryce, he murmured against her breast.

[Therian]

She only dove her hand beneath the waist of his pants.

[Natalie Jean]

Pants.

[E]

His hand wrapped around her wrist, though.

[Therian]

Halted her millimeters from what she'd wanted in her hands, her mouth, her body for weeks. Not yet, he growled, dragging his tongue along the underside of her breast, content to feast on her.

[E]

Not until I've had my turn.

[Natalie Jean]

Please read up until Part four the Ravine for next week. Wow. Incredible. Amazing. Lumify Redness Reliever Eye drops really work. They dramatically reduce redness in one minute. I love how my eyes look white.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And brighter and it lasts for up to eight hours.

[Natalie Jean]

They make my eyes look refreshed. Lumify. It's kind of amazing.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It was love at first sight with Lumify. Try it for yourself.

[Natalie Jean]

Learn more@lumify eyes.com.

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