LPN Deep Dives: HOSAB / Episode 34: Boom Boom Bridge

Summary

LPN Deep Dives: Crescent City

Episode 34: Boom Boom Bridge

Date: January 27, 2026
Hosts: Natalie Jean & Jackie Zebrowski
Special Guest: Holden McNeely (for “Dudes Grappling with Erotica” segment)

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Overview

In this episode, Natalie and Jackie bring their signature humor and insight to the build-up of the explosive final act in Sarah J. Maas’s "House of Sky and Breath" (Crescent City #2). They deep-dive into chapters 67–71, focusing on Tharion’s desperate pact with the Viper Queen, Ethan’s quest to rescue a lost Fenrir wolf, and the preparations of Bryce, Hunt, and Ruhn as they head toward a high-stakes infiltration of the Crystal Palace. The hosts also indulge in tangents about cosplay, monster sex tropes, and why nostalgia is a trap, before closing out with a raucous dramatic reading of an NSFW Hunt and Bryce scene.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Vibes, Cosplay, and Tangents (02:49–12:45)

• Natalie and Jackie's banter opens with jokes about costuming, "artistically" wearing uncomfortable clothing, and the logistics of dressing as Viper Queen or Ariadne.
• Cats & Jellicle Lore: Jackie (05:54) reflects on watching Cats (again) and the weirdness of CGI cats, sending the duo into an extended bit about cats as post-apocalyptic soul-eaters.
  • Quote (Jackie, 06:29): “That's why, don't trust the cats. The cats are waiting for us to get raptured...so they can eat the sinners and absorb their souls.”
• Morally gray vs morally green (07:36): The duo riff on the infamous “morally gray” fantasy archetype, proposing “morally green” as the Viper Queen’s proper descriptor.

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2. Tharion’s Transformation: Making a Devil’s Bargain (12:44–26:49)

• Recap: Tharion, desperate to escape the River Queen’s wrath, runs to the Viper Queen’s lair and offers himself into her service.
• Comic relief as Natalie and Jackie speculate on snake reproduction, referencing Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom for snake knowledge (15:13).
• The pact scene:
  • Tharion accepts the Viper Queen’s venom via wrist bite, entering into magical compelled servitude (“Her eyes glowed green...He’d crawl through coals to fulfill her orders,” Jackie, 24:35).
  • Insight (Natalie, 24:47): “You return to me.”
• Addiction & Power: Comparison of her venom’s effect to both drugs and enslavement, discussing parallels with real-life addiction and manipulative relationships.
  • Quote (Jackie, 25:00): “You shouldn’t be in control of your dick fin anymore. You need to be punished a little bit.”
• Costume talk continues: Green lipstick that stains tongues, and cosplay woes turning into a tangent about sex toy design ("alien eggs" kink, 27:48).

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3. Ethan’s Dilemma: Saving the Forgotten Wolf (28:34–34:51)

• Ethan’s Next Mission: Having learned the wolf imprisoned in the Astronomer’s lair is likely a lost Fenrir heir, Ethan feels torn about aiding the rescue vs. helping the main group.
• Sabine’s Ruthlessness: Ethan worries Sabine will slaughter the captive wolf out of political self-interest.
• Past Trauma & Family Secrets: Reflection on how wolf lineage and magic inheritance work, with brief comparison to toxic families and secret siblings.
  • Quote (Jackie, 30:23): “Imagine how many the prime has ejaculated into. There’s gotta be half wolves all over Lunatheion.”
• Comparison to Willow’s rat spell in Buffy (33:56): Jackie points out the ongoing theme of “magically imprisoned” women and the lack of closure for such characters.

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4. The Starborn Romance: Ruhn & Day at Boom Boom Bridge (39:46–48:36)

• Ruhn and Day’s Meeting:
  • Day (Lidia) tries to end the affair, fearing for their safety, but is drawn back to him.
  • Ruhn insists on their bond, and they finally share a physically intimate moment—yes, on the bridge (45:12).
    • Quote (Jackie, 42:42): “Your fate is bound to mine.”
  • Their intimacy is interrupted by magical danger—Day is snatched away, presumed captured.
• Meta commentary: The hosts debate whether anyone in SJM’s worlds should trust the good sex or the “fated mate” trope—it's always a prelude to danger.

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5. Planning the Heist: The Crystal Palace Assault (50:16–61:00)

• Team Chaos Reassembles:
  • Bryce, Hunt, and Ruhn frantically strategize after Ruhn bursts in with news of Day’s capture.
  • The group summons Cormac and Tharion for an emergency plan to infiltrate the palace while triggering a diversion (using rebel Pippa’s upcoming raid).
• Sibling banter: Run and Bryce mock and challenge each other’s loyalty to their partners, making analogies to siblings’ ability to cut to the “core truth” (52:02).
• Moral stakes: The group admits the plan will likely involve casualties. Bryce privately mourns the past, realizing nostalgia glosses over real pain.
  • Quote (Natalie, 60:53): “The idea of the reminiscing on past times is just that. You’re thinking about it in fantasy. It’s not really like it was ever good.”
• Existential Reflections:
  • Bryce muses on the immense, world-changing consequences of overthrowing the Asteri and the uncertainty that follows revolution.
  • Hunt reassures her: “We need to know what Sophie discovered. There will be no moving forward if we stay in the dark.”

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6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jackie (25:00): “You shouldn’t be in control of your dick fin anymore. You need to be punished a little bit.”
• Natalie (24:47, as the Viper Queen): “You return to me.”
• Jackie (41:36): “All I’m thinking about Adidas all day. I dream about sex, man. I wrote that on every pair of Adidas I had.”
• Jackie (63:41): “I’ll follow you into the dark.”
• Natalie (60:53): “The idea of the reminiscing on past times is just that… You’re thinking about it in fantasy.”
• Jackie (58:38): “In for a penny, babes.” (on the YOLO energy of the heist plan)
• Jackie (65:29): “We don’t know who’s going to make it. It’s going to be explosive, fo sho.”

---

7. Dudes Grappling With Erotica: The Hunt & Bryce Scene (66:27–72:49)

Timestamps: 66:27–72:49

• Holden McNeely and Jake Young dramatically read Hunt’s oral sex scene with Bryce, with over-the-top asides about pubic hair and Taco Bell.
• Quote (Holden, 69:57): “I knew you’d taste like this.”
• Quote (Jackie, 71:51): “Bryce was screaming the words a little death, yes, Hunt’s wings still cocooning them as she came, hard enough that she arced clean off the counter…”
• Meta-humor: Hosts tease Holden about riffing too much and generally giggle through descriptions of angelic cunnilingus.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|--------------| | Cosplay/Cats/Tangents | 02:49–12:45 | | Tharion & Viper Queen | 12:44–26:49 | | Ethan & Hypaxia Wolf Rescue | 28:34–34:51 | | Ruhn & Day: Boom Boom Bridge | 39:46–48:36 | | Palace Heist Planning | 50:16–61:00 | | Existential Realness / Reflections | 60:53–63:41 | | “Dudes Grappling with Erotica” Segment | 66:27–72:49 |

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Tone & Style

The episode is irreverent, witty, and candid, filled with pop-culture references, sexual innuendo, and feminist commentary. Natalie and Jackie play off each other’s tangents, keeping the deep dive fun even when approaching heavier topics (trauma, addiction, revolution). They maintain empathy for the characters while poking fun at fantasy tropes, always circling back to their own fannish enthusiasm.

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Summary

Episode 34, "Boom Boom Bridge," walks listeners through pivotal late-stage moments in HOSAB: dangerous bargains, complicated relationships, and the shadow of revolution. Tharion becomes magically enslaved to the Viper Queen, Ethan plots to rescue a forgotten wolf, the team assembles for a do-or-die palace job, and Ruhn/Day’s romance ignites—briefly—before disaster strikes.

Along the way, listeners get musings on monster fuckers, nostalgia, cosplay, snake biology, and the messiness of both real and fantasy heroism. The episode concludes with a now-traditional, hilariously NSFW dramatic reading that is equal parts celebration and sendup of Maas’s purple prose.

Next week: Read through chapter 72. Action is imminent.

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For listeners craving Crescent City snark, sexy deep-dives, and honest, unfiltered fun—this episode is not to be missed.

Transcript

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[Natalie Jean]

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

We'Re excited to announce that we're going to Prythian and Valbara and Basgaeth.

[Natalie Jean]

If you're nasty and you can too.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Join us in spring of 2026 at the Dreamers and Readers Festival. A three day event chock full of choose your own adventures.

[Natalie Jean]

Multiple Fae balls, fashion shows, photo shoots, Hoteez Everybody. At least 15 different events at the otherworldly Gaylord Texan Resort that you can customize to make the perfect trip fit your Fantasy Dreams.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Visit fantastiquecollection.com and use our code Faybayes at checkout to receive $10 off of any of these events.

[Natalie Jean]

Dreamers and readers Night 1 and 2.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Mythical Creatures, Masquerade, Fantastique, Starfo Ball and the Farewell Fae Bash.

[Natalie Jean]

Not only that, but if you use our code faybays at checkout for those events and you will receive an exclusive swag bag from the Weeknd.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'll do anything for a swag bag, Natalie.

[Natalie Jean]

That's where it gets me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes, that's right. Use our code Faybase F A E B A e [e-mail] to get your $10 off of any of these events.

[Natalie Jean]

Dreamers and readers. Baby, I cannot wait for this.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Gimme, gimme. Give me that swee. Welcome to Crescent City with your hosts Natalie Jean and Jackie Zabrowski.

[Natalie Jean]

Every day when I get up, I.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Think when you put on your makeup.

[Holden McNeely]

Mm mm.

[Natalie Jean]

I think what will make it difficult to sit in a chair for an hour or breathe? And then I put that on and then I go. Perfect. Natalie, time to record a podcast. This thing that's around your neck that's lightly strangling you adds to the. The. The artistry. Yes, the artistry.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. The allure. I will definitely say. I'm sure our audio producers love it when you wear a big plastic things strapped to your full body. And it's like. It's kind of nice because like with the rustle of the plastic, it's just like reminding you that Hunt's always there for you. Babe. Yeah. Hey, babe.

[Natalie Jean]

What's going on in here?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

God, I just. How much would you not be able to. He'd be like when you can't find your sunball hat and you gotta come get Bryce and Bryce is in the middle of like trying to talk to an under king and you're just like, where's my hat?

[Natalie Jean]

I'm just trying to find my hat.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I can't leave. It was just right there. You did you move my hat, babe? I know, babe.

[Natalie Jean]

I need my hat for the gym.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know, the fit isn't all the way fitting. If that hat ain't on, I sweat in my eyes. Yeah. And he can't wear a headband or else everyone's going to think he's Olivia Newton John. And I every time I'm looking at this guy and I'm like, whoa.

[Natalie Jean]

More like Olivia Fay Newton John.

[Holden McNeely]

Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, you're right. Yes.

[Natalie Jean]

And Olivia Newton John.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Although, you know, I guess I don't know what happened to her. Maybe she got splashed with water because that Faye ain't here no more. Sorry. Rips, Rips and chat. Rips goes out to Olivia.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean fair. That's. She died too young.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, she died too young. Especially if she were a Fae.

[Natalie Jean]

Especially if she were.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh my God. She had so much more time to get physical out there. She wanted to get physical with this big O right here. Actually, you know what? Not to bring up cats. And I did threaten you with bringing up cats at the top of this. But right now with where your muscle chest plate hits, you actually are really given Grizabella right now. Because in when she's singing memory and it has the tied up on her face. It is crazy because they CGI all the way around but they see they don't CGI her neck. So she's got a human neck. She's got human hands with like rings on and fake nails on which some of them kind of have paws. But you know, I feel like right now you're just given cgi, man. Just from the neck up.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Most people would look at this and say cats.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Holden McNeely]

Oh yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh yeah. Jellicle much?

[Natalie Jean]

Could it be that you watched the movie Cats twice in a row last night, and that's why you're seeing that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. And I, it's not going to be my last reference for the day, probably, and I want to apologize. But also, I mean, when you find out that the Mr. Mustafa song that you sang over and over again on tour is actually a song to revivify a dead fucking prophet cat, then, yeah, I got to go speak to the mountains about this.

[Natalie Jean]

I, I, this is what happens when you start watching a movie over and over again. You start to see the little messages inside of it, which is why you probably shouldn't do that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And that's why don't trust the cats. The cats are waiting for us to get raptured and waiting for the sinners to be left on Earth so that the sinners can die, so they can eat all the sinners, so they can absorb their souls, so they can become humanoid. This, I mean, why I'm trying, I'm just gonna sell it. Because think of all the billionaires that listen to the show that are gonna be like, aha, that's it. And they're gonna call me up. Steven Spielberg, I'm looking at you.

[Natalie Jean]

Is he a billionaire?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know. He's got more money than I've got.

[Natalie Jean]

Get these billionaires out of here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, get them in here. I want them producing our stuff.

[Natalie Jean]

No, I want to boot them into the sky and then we'll go.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you, Musk. Yes, Mosk. We needed this abomination of caverns.

[Natalie Jean]

I'll never say that I don't care how much money he gives me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But if you're gonna make my cat's dreams come true, I'll be evil, obviously. Look at me, I'm Viper Queen.

[Natalie Jean]

That's all it took. Yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I, I, I, I've got a green.

[Natalie Jean]

You are. You are vibe queen right now.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. So I'm ready to slither my way into your purses.

[Natalie Jean]

Morally gray over here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. Morally green. Oh, two different ones.

[Natalie Jean]

Ways.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wow.

[Natalie Jean]

Wait, what did you say? Morally green.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Morally green.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, I am. Morally green is fun too, though.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, but I think I'm both. I can be. I, I can contain snake multitudes.

[Natalie Jean]

That's right.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

Okay, where are we?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I bet you want to be sucking and you want to be right now. And I know you want to be sucking and on me, but you can't as Hunt.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, he only sees Bryce's sweet ass right now, but, I mean, you do look very good.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You know, he's thought about it.

[Natalie Jean]

Of course he thought about it. The Viper Queen. Come on.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's so powerful. You don't know where she's got her. Sly. That.

[Natalie Jean]

Different jumpsuits.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yes, but this is a dress. This is. I got this dress when we did our last fantastique. Yeah. Ball when I dress up as Viper Queen. And I have just been wanting a reason to wear this dress again, and I haven't had a reason. So here it is. It's me being the Viper Queen again.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. It looks. I mean, this looks amazing on you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you. And every time I put on this green lipstick, I always forget. Makes my tongue green.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't know why that happens to you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I guess I'm always, like, sucking on my lips.

[Natalie Jean]

I never noticed that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I guess they just so big and pillowy. They fall into my mouth. They fall in. What if. Oh, my God. What if. Oh, it would be horrible if your esophagus became reverse hose and started sucking in your mouth instead. That would suck, I think, a lot.

[Natalie Jean]

Literally, a lot of problems if that happened. Yeah, I think you would implode, I guess.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, you would suck into your.

[Natalie Jean]

Suck into some sort of vortex.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Although that doesn't happen. It didn't happen in the Chuck Palahniuk book when they just kept talking about the pink sock and the. So that if that ain't turning your ass inside out from the things sucked up your ass, pulling out your intestines, because you're doing it for fun, you.

[Natalie Jean]

Know, I love him as a writer, but I have a hard time getting through some of his books. It is that sort of the body horror that he does is one of the hard ones for me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, but it seems like they were having a good time up until they were having a bad time.

[Natalie Jean]

Isn't that always the way, though?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I hear there's a smile button up.

[Natalie Jean]

There close to the sun.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, you can't. And that's why. Esophagus. Please, if we could talk about this. Please don't reverse on me today. Give me a couple of more days.

[Natalie Jean]

Please don't give this intrusive thought to people.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God. And then I turned inside out. And then I was just sitting here inside out.

[Natalie Jean]

Like the Nickelodeon shorts. Remember those?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes. Oh, my God, yes.

[Natalie Jean]

Is this entertaining to you guys? Would you like to see more of it? Well, guess what? Now we are introducing our. Our content onto. We have a new TikTok and we have a new Instagram. We usually just go under last podcast networks, but we have developed our own because you guys have asked us to be separate. And so we are starting the journey of telling you to please, like and follow.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes.

[Natalie Jean]

Isn't that what everybody loves the most? Yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We're gonna be in your tiktoks, and we're gonna be in your reels.

[Natalie Jean]

We have so much stuff coming up, too. We've got some big changes. It's pretty exciting.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And we're gonna be at the Dreamers and Readers Festival in March. So if you haven't gotten your tickets, ugh, use our Code Faye Baes at.

[Natalie Jean]

Checkout and check out our unbo that we got to welcome us to it. I can't wait. I'm like, I'm legitimately psyched.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry. We can't even talk about what's inside of it because we haven't done the unboxing video yet. So we haven't opened the boxes.

[Natalie Jean]

So by the time this comes out, we will have.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, we will.

[Natalie Jean]

And we're gonna be blown away.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And I bet my tongue is also going to be green for that too, so that's something to look forward to.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, let's get back in to where we have left off in chapter six. 67.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, six, seven. Oh, we're the babies out there. Six, seven. We get it. That's what kids say.

[Natalie Jean]

Not anymore, because we said it. Hi. Take it from you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Take it from their little takeaways.

[Natalie Jean]

Suck it away from your youth. Ah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Who's the esophagus tube Now?

[Natalie Jean]

That's what they call the kids call me Big old sucking esophagus tube. Sucking away all the joy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So also, sorry, I am bringing it back to cats because I couldn't remember the old Sir Ian McKellen's cat's name. And it was probably like, oh, flabble gooser or some shit. And then everybody in chat was like, it's Gus. And I was like, that's a stupid regular name for a Jellicle cat. But then I found out it's short for asparagus. Oh, cute. But still, if there's skimble shanks and there's all these gringly glops, why is there just asparagus? Sorry. We can continue.

[Natalie Jean]

No, no, I love it. I think we should all be named after vegetables. We return to Therians.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Panicked. What do you want to be, carrot? You want to be a broccoli okra? Oh, okay. Fried or boiled, whatever you please.

[Natalie Jean]

I eat them raw.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're crazy. I know. I've seen you. You go to town on them.

[Natalie Jean]

I eat them anyway. Really? I love okra.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay, Okra bitch.

[Natalie Jean]

Or returning to Therian's panicked ass looking for a good hiding place after he has awakened the wrath of the River Queen and made no plan.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh my God. Shock. He was too busy thinking with his fin.

[Natalie Jean]

So we'll recall he finally kind of broke up with the River Queen's daughter. But mostly was just like, I don't want. I don't like you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And he didn't even say like, I shouldn't have fucked you that one time. He never does. He doesn't say even just for a moment, he's not apologetic at all. Which is why partly at this point, the book was just like, well, you're going to get whatever comes to you.

[Natalie Jean]

Huh? And fortunately, I can see the younger version of me immediately forgiving him. And I still. I mean in book form, I do, because he's in my mind.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He's just very attractive and he can't help himself.

[Natalie Jean]

And we get into his thoughts and we know how tortured he is, but he doesn't say it as an actual person. On earth, this would be very. Not. This is.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't put up with this shit.

[Natalie Jean]

This is the kind of guy who gets away with this shit over and over again until he falls apart and.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Then, and then someone's going to put him back together. Don't they always?

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, eventually I'm thinking of one person in particular who I don't none of you would know of whatsoever, but my friend's ex, who eventually completely lost his mind and is now stalking her. So yeah, yay. But that's what happens when a very.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Good looking gentleman don't trust anyone attractive ever. Yes, that's what I've learned.

[Natalie Jean]

So he is now making a run for a safe harbor, no pun intended, because the River Queen is coming. As you may or may have not figured out by the last chapter, Tharion is bursting into the Viper Queen's lair at the start of chapter 67. The closest, scariest lady in town.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh my God. You want some of my eggs? They're full of snakes, I guess. Are they always snake full?

[Natalie Jean]

I don't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Inside of the egg.

[Blue Buffalo Advertiser]

Do they have eggs?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Do they come out of their mouth?

[Natalie Jean]

I thought they just gave birth to babies.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, whoa. Or do they? Is it like a bunch of like a school of fish? I'm using extremes out of them.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm exclusively using the reference from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as my knowledge of what snake babies are.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Did they go into snake reproduction?

[Natalie Jean]

No, they cut them open. And snake.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Snakes are always sitting on eggs, don't they? Have, like, penguin problems.

[Natalie Jean]

I know they eat.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I guess the opposite. Because they're not like, they don't have the egg on their feet because they don't have any feet as well that we know of.

[Natalie Jean]

All right, this is important for us to all know. Snakes give birth in three main ways. Laying eggs, giving live birth from a placenta. What? Or hatching eggs internally and then giving birth to live young. So they have.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't you be cracking my eggs on the inside.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, don't bark, boil me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

My eggs are all loose. Don't smash them inside of me and make me give birth to snakes. That's what you're trying to do, isn't this? This is what you're trying to do with all this. You've been trying to get to this point, Natalie. You've been trying to get us all to break our eggs on the inside of us so that all the snakes can be on the inside so that we can squeeze them out our holes.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't even know what you said, but oopsie.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

See, Never trust someone attractive.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I mean, look at this fucking guy. I mean, he's trouble right here.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, your neck is strapped to your body.

[Natalie Jean]

It's very tight.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You probably could release the clamp. Natalie has a literal clamp on the back of her neck like she's Kylie Jenner.

[Natalie Jean]

It'll be like the dino from Jurassic Park.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Aww. But then you can spit all over me. Your new home is now ready.

[Natalie Jean]

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

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[Natalie Jean]

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

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[Natalie Jean]

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[Natalie Jean]

So he is bursting in to the Viper queen's lair. And as he's running in to the he's gotten past the guards. He sees Ariadne, who Is there. We already know this, but doesn't have any time to ask questions. Ariadne is being super brat in this scene. Reading a book on her belly. I think nude on the floor. Which. Yes, please.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I, you know, I did want to dress as Ariadne, but you know, it's.

[Natalie Jean]

A hard costume because she has red scales coming from under her skin.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Very difficult.

[Natalie Jean]

Also, she's naked a lot.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think we've both tried to dress as Ariadne and both times we did it. But you're right, she is covered in scales and nude often. So it's hard to cosplay. I mean, I guess it's pretty easy to cosplay, but yeah, that'd be a.

[Natalie Jean]

Fun like long term costume. Like maybe we should. One of us should wear that to one of the dreamers and readers daytimes. Okay, now I'm thinking. And so she's on the floor nearby, but he passes by her. Even the Viper Queen seems confused when Tharion throws himself at her, offering to fight in her underground ring. Not understanding his predicament, she tells him she's not interested in freelance fighters. Like, what are you talking about? But no, he tells her he is looking to be bought, owned in. In that servitude that provides a certain protection for him from, I don't know, some other queens and stuff. This doesn't really take away his threat of danger very much. But he is getting away from the River Queen. He will then have to fight for his life every day, but he won't have to be under water forever or being killed by her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, so I guess that sounds pretty nice.

[Natalie Jean]

It's a strange enough request that the Viper Queen actually looks up from the work in front of her. You know, she's always unbothered, but she takes the time to look up and analyze Sari and why he's asking this strange request, suggesting he must be hiding from his leader if he's so desperate to become a slave. Slave. He doesn't deny it. And she finds that somewhat amusing. After considering it for a few moments and confirming that they do in fact have a tub in the meat market for the other mer who have become slaves.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You could be in the slave tub.

[Natalie Jean]

He's like the only. His only deal breaker was like, if he loses his fins completely.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So he's saying, so he's got to get wet.

[Natalie Jean]

I got to get wet. She's like, we already have a bunch of mer slaves. Don't worry about it. She accepts after thinking about it for a minute by holding her arm out to him, commanding him to drink.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, not me, Natalie. No, I'm not there. Sorry, Hunt. You're gonna have to do it in his stead. If somebody's not sucking. I'm not given.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

A tattoo of a snake twining around a crescent moon lay there. She lifted her wrist to her mouth and bit. And blood darker than usual, weld where her teeth had been.

[Natalie Jean]

Drink.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, I want the tattoo, obviously.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. And then you're gonna make people bite you all the time.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, Everywhere I have a snake, so I'm gonna have to get multiple. I mean, the ouroboros is, like, the sign of my home, so that's why I'm wearing an ouroboros bracelet right now. And I do have a lot of snake stuff. And I think it's just difficult because I no two people in my life that are so scared of snakes, even cartoon snakes, that I'm actually worried about getting a snake tattoo.

[Natalie Jean]

I know I prevent snakes in our house more because of that, because I care about my friends, but I don't.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Have a lot of snakes in the house. But on my person, you know, I.

[Natalie Jean]

Have literally stopped myself from buying, like, snake clothes and stuff because I don't want to freak them out because I know how. I love spiders. I'm not afraid of seeing them. I actually love studying spiders. So I love when I see them in houses, when they're in decoration. I just can't have them touch me like real ones. I lose my mind.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't go to Tallahassee. Them swamp spiders are big.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, man. Otherwise, I was gonna move to Tallahassee.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And now everybody's always like, ugh, get me to the capital of Florida.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it's great there. So she holds her wrist out, and it's obvious that this is how she contains the people she enslaves. However, the very ground begins to shake, and Tharion knows it's the River Queen's power rushing towards the Viper Queen's lair. Knowing he only has moments to spare, he pushes away his own warning thoughts.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He didn't ask, didn't doubt it, as he laid his lips on her wrist and her blood filled his mouth, burned his mouth, his throat.

[Natalie Jean]

He's overcome by a feeling of suffocation. For a minute, pretty sure she has poisoned him. But then a feeling of calm and numbness overrides his fear.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's so cool. And this is. You know, it's why I want to be a vampire, because I want super blood. But then in this, you get to be a snake bitch. You get to have all this control and you get to keep slaves just on your blood alone. I mean, she's one of the coolest characters. She's up there for me with like a Jesiba and a Fury.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. Your blood is essentially an eight ball.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Cool. Oh, my God. See, this would be the problem, though. I can't have that kind of stuff. Like, in the same way, if you were a hot dog, would you eat yourself? I'd try to be sucking on myself and it probably wouldn't work on me.

[Natalie Jean]

Was that a Harry Carey?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It was a Harry Carey reference.

[Natalie Jean]

20, 30 years ago. I love that character. Hi. So this feeling of calm and numbness overrides his fear. This is likely what afflicts all of the Viper Queen's servants and slaves who follow her like faithful robots. Her venom is addictive. Pleased with herself, the Viper Queen tells him, go ahead now. You're one of mine. Go rest, because your first fight is tonight. He has enough wherewithal left in him to tell her that he needs one night to help his friends. She seems to know what he's talking about immediately. She knows a lot of things. She's like, oh, you're ophion things. Though she taunts him by saying he should have included that in the bargain, she eventually relents and gives him leave for this last mission before returning to her to be pummeled nightly.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She laughed softly.

[Natalie Jean]

Fine. Therian ghettos, help your friends. But when you are done.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Her eyes glowed green and his body turned distant. Her will was his. Her desires, his own. He'd crawl through coals to fulfill her orders.

[Natalie Jean]

You return to me.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know that we shouldn't want that control over a person.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, he deserves it. This is his punishment. In my opinion, yes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think that after a time. Sorry, you shouldn't be in control of your dick fin anymore. You need to be punished a little bit. And you know, you're not gonna like the punishment from the River Queen.

[Natalie Jean]

No.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So, I mean, I don't think you're gonna like this either, but at least there's like a heroine esque, something to. Except that doesn't make you want to fight. You know, it's like. I feel like that's not.

[Natalie Jean]

That's why I think it's like a.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And then she goes uppers, uppers, and down the uppers. And I feel like she. I feel like her blood is the heroin and she sells the upper. Like, I feel like it's part of that.

[Natalie Jean]

Maybe.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

These dirty drug dealers. Yeah, they're so Good at getting us addicted.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, well, yeah, I. That's kind of. I feel as though what he might deserve right now also.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

None of my drug dealers ever looked like this. I couldn't imagine. I like the control they had. Like the closest I had was this guy that everybody called Yoda and he had a bunny named Butters. And you had to deal with Butters shitting all over you just so you could get your swag weed. So that was it.

[Natalie Jean]

We got a lot of our dirt shake weed from a guy named Naked Mark who was often naked.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Naked. Yeah, yeah. At least you know it lets you know before you get there.

[Natalie Jean]

It's true. You can be prepared for it. Yeah. So now he. She has put this into his body, he feels compelled to agree to return. He doesn't really have a choice. Now that the venom is coursing through his blood. He would do literally anything to follow her orders. This deal done, the Viper Queen dismisses Tharion to go upon his mission, leaving her to deal with the River Queen's ire herself, which is a trade off. She's going to deal with the River Queen.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So you've got eggs and I've got eggs. Thank you.

[Natalie Jean]

My eggs are currently shedding out of my body and I wish it would end.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Whoa. See, if you thought about them as snakes, have you thought about like you're a pound puppy if you get a bunch of snakes and you put them inside of you and you start slowly pushing out the snakes and then it's like you're the mother of snakes rather than just having your period.

[Natalie Jean]

What's that to do with pound puppies?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Because you would have to shove the puppies inside of them and then rip them open to get the puppies out. Remember they had Velcro bellies where the puppies would come out?

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yes, I do remember that. Getting us ready for childbirth.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. So that we can have our bellies ripped open and then we have more puppies.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, more puppies.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The problem is at the end of our childbirth is that you have a child instead of a puppy.

[Natalie Jean]

I know, it's unfortunate.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Have they thought about changing that?

[Natalie Jean]

I don't know. I think that they. We should send a letter.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm bringing in Mr. Mistoffeles. I'll tell you what, if you can magic a cat back to life, you can magic snakes into my eggs. Oh, God.

[Natalie Jean]

One of my, my friends who has passed was working with a sex toy company that was based around like cryptid kind of like sex toys.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, would they lay eggs inside of you?

[Natalie Jean]

And there was one, the alien one. It had eggs in it, and you could squeeze it and it would pop the eggs inside of you and then you could have the eggs.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'm trying to not kink. Shame. I don't want to. I feel like I'd want to try it just to see.

[Holden McNeely]

Like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I wouldn't. I don't think I'd want it in a sexual situation, but I feel like I'd get one. Just be like. I mean, Jeff, watch. I mean, we got it. We gotta try. I feel like this is.

[Blue Buffalo Advertiser]

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[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's like a fun time.

[Natalie Jean]

The eggs were squishy and everything. It seemed like it wouldn't. It wouldn't feel good to me. But I would be fine. I'd be neutral about it, I think.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Or you'd feel really powerful because you've got aliens inside of you.

[Natalie Jean]

It's true. I wish I. I'm sorry, I don't remember the company's name right now. So this deal is done. He is left to go upon his new invisible leash in that trails after him wherever he goes. But he is given leave to go do this. We cut over to Ethan, who was mulling over the new information he has received from the prime, which we learned last time that the trapped wolf in the Astronomer's lair is a Fendir, meaning a possible heir to the Wolf dynasty in Lunathian Hypaxia is still with.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry. I just imagined them all as Duck Dynasty. And then I was thinking about them like, oh, you'll get that wolf out of that rhyme. We gotta get that wolf out of that rhyme. What was his name? Like Bub Bub or something?

[Natalie Jean]

No, I just know that they're.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, no, they're all bad. No, it's all bad. Do you think their politics were good? Watching? Sometimes.

[Natalie Jean]

Sometimes hillbillies have incredible politics.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Right.

[Natalie Jean]

You're right. So we're with Ethan. And Hypaxia is also still with him. They. The two of them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And he's taking care of her.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. And the two of them sit on a bench outside of the wolf's den, away a few blocks from it. Kind of just like reconvening and talking about what he just learned. He tells her that he is thinking that he may have just put the wolf in greater danger because he thinks Sabine may have figured out who this mystery wolf is. Essentially saying his meeting with the prime and Sabine warning them about this wolf being in the. The chamber is then Sabine going, wait a second. I knew there was another vendeer and I thought I got rid of that wolf. That's just maybe what he's surmising from that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But also, man, think of how easy it was so easy for men not that long ago to have whole sacred families. Imagine how many the prime has ejaculated into. I mean, there's gotta be half wolves all over Lunatheon.

[Natalie Jean]

The only saving grace of that is it seems like most vanir struggle with producing children. A lot of the time they have a hard time. So maybe.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, I remember when she's like, I gotta give birth to the wings. All the wings are gonna rip me in half. Oh, the other one, the other one, the other one.

[Natalie Jean]

So now he has this new worry. He wonders in his thoughts how she possibly could have ended up in that tank. Originally, the prime certainly didn't direct it. But before he could explain any further, because the prime was the one who revealed that that's probably the lost heir. Because of his elderly state and his sort of like losing his mind, he lost track of his thoughts and seemed confused. So he couldn't explain to Ethan any further. Hypaxia uses some of her magic to help him rest. And then they leave.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Sorry. I feel like. Yeah, Every man, when you're like, where's the secret family? They start going, I can. Who am I? Am I a wolf? It's just like, hey, get back here. You know you have a secret family. Tell me about secret family.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, what. Who am you? Who am you?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So we. It's the oldest trick in the book.

[Holden McNeely]

Yep.

[Natalie Jean]

So Betty did it. It worked. They lay him down, he goes back to sleep.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Just. You know what? Sh. They put a blanket over his head.

[Natalie Jean]

They do. They discuss who this wolf might be. Ithan doesn't think this is a sister or daughter of Sabine's. He knows of only one sibling that Sabine had who was a brother whom she had defeated in a battle for the Alpha spot long ago. He had always thought that her brother had died, but was never told that. He just kind of guessed. Perhaps instead of dying, he was banished and had had children. Maybe this is one of his children. Hypaxia can tell. Ethan is troubled and asks if he needs to go. She seems to have guessed what he was thinking, that he needs to stay here and free this wolf. Instead of going to the Asterisk palace with the others on this mission to get into the mystery room, the wolf.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Has been held captive for a very long time at this point. Why don't you just go help out your friends? You can do this later.

[Natalie Jean]

I think he's worried that Sabine is going to go kill the wolf.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Kill the wolf, Lord knows. And what would happen, you know, if Sabine goes and kills the wolf that he just found out existed, but now he has to go and protect her.

[Natalie Jean]

I think that it's better if he doesn't go to.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know nobody wants him around. They're like, yeah, go get the wolf, I guess. Go. Go become a slave to the Viper Queen. Just be away from us.

[Natalie Jean]

Poor Ethan. Why?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And Hypaxi is like, why do I have to deal with him? You know I'm a necromancer, right? Like, why do I have to now be his babysitter?

[Natalie Jean]

Well, she's going to get freedom here because Ethan thinks that if he acts immediately, that perhaps he can free the wolf, convince her to challenge Sabine, and possibly provide a different future for the wolves. Though we don't actually know if this wolf will turn out to be a huge piece of shit either. Not to mention, like, you know, all the. The trauma of being in a water coffin for maybe decades. I don't know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I try to not bring up Buffy all the time, but there is. Right now, we're upset with Willow because in many seasons ago, there was a bad witch and they turned the witch into a rat. We have not heard anything about this rat since then. Cut to seasons later, they have the rat in a cage. And so Willow decides in her bad magic era, decides to turn the rat back into a person. And wouldn't you think that, like, that's the la. Like if someone lived as a rat for years in a prison, that you releasing them to be a human, where everyone in their life thinks they're dead, that they don't know what happened to them. Like, is that good for a rat witch?

[Natalie Jean]

Does that rat witch become evil?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Time will tell.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, okay, okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Time will tell.

[Natalie Jean]

We don't know. We don't know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I just feel like people are really imprisoning out here often in these things, and nobody, you know, it's just. It's just commonplace.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, none of us, I think actually a lot of us have forgotten about the woman, the. The female, the bottom of the ocean.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

In that box, man, she's still screaming. She lives forever. She's in that box. And they never go back to her. Sjm. If you don't go back to her in the fourth of this book, there's.

[Natalie Jean]

Still time in the fourth book. Please, somebody do.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I don't know if you saw SJM schedule and everyone's like, oh, it's gonna be this year. We're gonna get an acotar and then her schedule. And it's like there ain't nothing coming out anytime. Like nothing's happening. I think maybe it was like the publisher or something. Oh, really? I just saw it in book talk that everyone's like sjn. Like they're really. I know you can't rush. You can't rush somebody really can't rush an artist.

[Natalie Jean]

Even the six isn't gonna come out this year.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That at least that was the on the ticks.

[Natalie Jean]

We'll see.

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[Natalie Jean]

So that gives her time to think about bringing.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Getting that.

[Natalie Jean]

That female out of that box. Box in the ocean. So. Oh my God, what's her name now?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I feel like an asshole. Victoria.

[Natalie Jean]

Victoria.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Victoria. Oh, God, is it also Victoria? I keep calling her Veronica and cats too, but her name is Veronica. I think her name is also Veronica. Veronica. Very nice. That is a reference from the Santa.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Claus.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Because he was looking at the hot girls on the sidewalks and he was saying whether they were nice or naughty. And he goes, veronica, very nice. As a hot woman passes him and she turns around and he goes, in your dream, sleigh boy. I think about that moment too often. Hey, am I broken?

[Natalie Jean]

We all are. Don't worry. We're all broken right now, babe. It is Victoria. Anyway, we don't know what's gonna happen with her getting out of that coffin thing, but again, not my problem. So he also says that if he breaks her out, he's going to need to guard her, which we know.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Okay, sure. Like you're guarding Hypaxia right now. Okay, yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

And Hypaxia sort of pats him on the shoulder and thanks him for protecting her. It's clear that she likes him, but is not super concerned that he's no longer going to be guarding her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I think she's treating him kind of like he's simple yellow. Think that she's just going, good wolf. Yeah, yeah, you have been a wolf, huh?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. She also tells him she understands. And Ethan asks her not to tell the others about the very specific revelation about this being a Fendir especially.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Don't worry, no one else will care right now.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, if. I feel like if Bryce did find out, she would then feel like she needed to interfere in some way. So he's like, just don't tell her. As he begins to sprint away from the bench, he pulls his phone out, texting Bryce that he has some other emergency business to attend to and that hypaxia will fill her in. Though he's already asked her to refrain from telling her about the fender part, knowing that this could possibly be their last communications ever. He adds a thank you to Bryce for not hating him after the long freeze out and for having his back.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She replied immediately, always will. She added a few hearts that had his own cracking. He's just destined. He just. He wants connection. He wants. He wants a love connection so bad that even. That even just the. The reply. And he's like, aha, a lady's talking to me. Your heart's cracking, son. Jesus Christ. Calm down.

[Natalie Jean]

I'm starting to feel bad for you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You should feel bad for him, all right? Because he's in over his head.

[Natalie Jean]

He puts his phone away and shifts. It's the first time in a while that doing so didn't feel awful to him. We're with Ruhn as he stares across the bridge a day. This is the first time they've seen each other since the evening of the ball. The last time they were together, they had kissed. And then Day was pulled away by the male who she shares a bed with, with whom she shares a bed.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And now she knows who Ruhn is. But Ruhn doesn't know who Day is.

[Natalie Jean]

She tells him she can't see him anymore. Ruhn tenses and asks why. She tells him the risk of people's lives is too great, that she was being reckless by entertaining this in the first place. But Ruhn isn't having it. He finds whatever switch in his mind that has instinctively covered him with stars that in that first meeting. And he flips it so that he Ruhn is fully clear.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I do love that. It's like. It's this like mystical bridge. And then all of a sudden she's like, okay, yeah, no, he can also flip that off. Like he's like, yeah, let's flip off Bridge, look. Sure, yeah, take that filter off. And then. Oh, just, just the fae.

[Holden McNeely]

Okay.

[Natalie Jean]

Just the boy. She knows who he is anyway. And he is not going to make this an easy detachment for her. So he's just like, I'm. Hey, it's me, Ruhn. I'm Ruhn. Look at me. Are you sure?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I am hot. You know, it's like, I mean, that definitely would make me think about it for a second.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. He asks if kissing him is the threat she is afraid of. It seems to rattle Day, who jumps up and starts pacing, explaining that whatever she's feeling is distracting her from the very important work she' response she's responsible for in this war. Which is like to say all I'm thinking about Adidas all day.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I dream about sex, man. I wrote that on every pair of Adidas's I had.

[Natalie Jean]

It was pretty.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

God, it would just piss my mom off. Do you think about that now? I'm like, I. I never understood back then. I was like, why are you getting upset? They're my shoes. Like my mom spent the money on those shoes. And you're writing on them.

[Natalie Jean]

It's your art, Jackie.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, I have to write it somewhere.

[Natalie Jean]

Literally have to write it somewhere.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I have to write it all day I dream about sex. Or else nobody knows that all day.

[Natalie Jean]

I dream about sex and that I am so edgy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

So she's basically saying, I can't think about you anymore. She looks at him and tells him that she wasn't lying, that she felt alive when she was with him, but seems to insinuate that this is a bad thing right now. Almost an impossibility. She adds that the male who pulls her from their meetings will torture and kill him if they are discovered and force her to watch it. Ruhn again tenses at the idea of D being threatened. She says bitterly that her fate is sealed to him. Almost angrily, Ruhn retorts, your fate is bound to mine.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The words echoed into the darkness.

[Natalie Jean]

It's pretty hot. Even as she pushes away from him with her words, she has somehow drifted closer to run. She's sort of going like, no, I can.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Because like, let's be real here. They probably could have gotten like a different. They kind of. She could have tagged somebody else in to be doing this, to show up.

[Natalie Jean]

As day, you know, she didn't want to be here. She could have figured out another way.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She's.

[Natalie Jean]

She doth protest too much, so she lets him take her hand. He tells her that they found each other without the comm crystals, far away from one another, even in the most harrowing of times, that. That must mean something. He wraps around her and whispers that he is going to find her after this war, no matter what. She doesn't argue.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's just. Ugh. It's like, I know who wants to live forever? But if you can be like, can I catch you in a different generation? Great.

[Natalie Jean]

That would be nice.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

God, it would be really wonderful.

[Natalie Jean]

Probably also complicated. Complicates a lot of things. Yeah. So as he holds her, she whispers to him. She's kind of already relented that the bedtime story that she told him. What are you doing? Sorry.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I was doing my slither tongue. Just because my tongue's all green, so I feel like it's also a snake also.

[Natalie Jean]

If you are a snake, I guess sometimes you just. That's how you scent, I think.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. I wanted to smell. I wanted to smell the room.

[Natalie Jean]

What is. How's it. How's it going?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I just keep my tongue hanging out all the time.

[Natalie Jean]

How does it smell in here?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Smells warm.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, warm. Okay. It's not bad. So as he holds her, this is what she says. She tells him about the bedtime story. That she had spoken out to him to get him to rest that first time when he laid his head in her lap. And that she didn't finish before the forest witch who had become a monster to defend herself and kill the prince who chased her. She ended up staying a monster for a hundred years until one day a warrior came across her in the wilderness. He had actually been seeking out this monster because everyone said it could not be killed. And he said, I can do it. And he goes out to slay it. But when they saw each other, the warrior looked at the monster with such little fear that it brought back the memory of who the witch was to herself. And she transformed back into her true hot ass witch form.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is that the story of the first monster fucker?

[Natalie Jean]

Perhaps. Whoa.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This is the bible for us monster fuckers out there.

[Natalie Jean]

Wow. Okay.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And he knew he wanted to fuck her as a river. A forest witch as well as a monster.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. Maybe she can go back and forth.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

God, that would be great.

[Natalie Jean]

And guess what? Day doesn't have as much of a will to walk away from night. Because you can guess where this leads.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Boom Boom room.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah. Boom boom bridge.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Boom bridge.

[Natalie Jean]

Exactly. So they. She doesn't actually want to stop seeing him. Obviously. After this scene is completed to completion.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I Shall say we hope both of them. You know, it sounds like it was pretty good.

[Natalie Jean]

We'll find out. They're both laying together, enjoying their closeness, when Run casually throws out. Oh yeah, the whole war thing, that's coming. I'm coming to your neck of the woods. Yeah, we're gonna infiltrate the asterisk palace. You know, we're gonna get some possible planet altering information or something. I don't know. Do you want to have sex again?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

This is the pillow talk we're all looking for. I want war plans immediately after I come. That's the only time to really get the true vision from inside of your brain is when it's all cleared out.

[Natalie Jean]

It's true. So she is shocked. And when he asks her to supply any intel about the layout that she might have, she. He's like, so, yeah, babe, like, if there's any, like, info you give me about the palace, that'd be sick. She freaks out. She grabs his face and tells him they are not to go there. That will be instant death. She flies into a panic. They begin to argue. She has pulled back the flame on her body. So in that sex scene, which you'll hear about, she keeps the flames on her face, but then, like, reveals her body to him, which is pretty nice of her to do. But then as this argument happens, she pulls all the flame back on her body and stands and covers herself again. A barrier both physically and emotionally.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's so cool. Flame face, bitch. Yeah, I want to bang a flame face on the boom boom bridge.

[Natalie Jean]

Me too, girl. She tells him that she won't be able to risk helping him or a sister if they are caught, so that her kind of, like, icy exterior has kind of returned. Although it's fiery, I guess. Fiery exterior saying, I can't help you. He starts to argue back. When she tries to explain, however, her why she's saying these things, she is cut off again.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That awful hiss of surprise and pain. That glance behind her to him. The male run. Grabbed her hand like she could stay with him. But she began panting, wild and frantic, terrified.

[Blue Buffalo Advertiser]

Run.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

They know I. Her voice cut out for a moment.

[Natalie Jean]

The dungeons.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

She vanished like she'd been snatched away.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, all right, guys, we are really ramping up to the end. It is gonna be actiony.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah. You know how SJM loves to squirt out a big old egg right at the very end. Carton. Yeah, man. This egg, it's bigger than the rest. It's a little bit of an ostrich. And this ostrich is Ready to kill.

[Natalie Jean]

There's gonna be a lot of ostrich eggs in the.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Is that the sound?

[Natalie Jean]

I. It sounds right. Should we find out?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Nah, I think that that's just my.

[Natalie Jean]

That was actually a really. That sounded like a bird.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Thank you. Oh my God, thank you so much.

[Natalie Jean]

It reminded me more of a goose.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Well, I've been working on my nose honk because of slash fic. Because I'm playing this killer seductive harlequin clown. And in it it's this joke that she wishes her now her nose would honk. So she keeps trying to see if her nose will honk, but I have to make a honk that sounds like a honk but is actually just coming from me. And so I think that's where. So I have been working on my ostrich noises via honk.

[Natalie Jean]

Babe, what are you talking about?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I know, hun, you're. We're not with you for you to get what goes on inside of our brain. All right, babe.

[Natalie Jean]

You're pretty though.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yep. Thank you. You know, just keep your mouth.

[Natalie Jean]

Let go of your shapes.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Just keep it closed. You know, we don't need to. It's better when you're not talking. All right.

[Natalie Jean]

At chapter 68, Bryce is scarfing down coffee in her apartment as she and Hunt try to keep up with runes Manic Panic hair dye. After he BARGES in at 4am that morning, she's listening to Hunt try to process the news that Rune has been dating. The concept of a person who he talks to in his mind and is possibly a high ranking member of the opposition. What we run. Slow down, bro. What are you saying? I even have my thinking hat on and I can't understand what you're talking about.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Subtitles like, Hunt's the kind of guy that needs to read it so that he can really get it, you know?

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah. I like the idea that he just woke up with Bryce and he had to put his hat on to hear.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

To hear anything, to understand.

[Natalie Jean]

It's like his coffee. I like, I've moved the hair out the front. It's like.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, it looks good.

[Natalie Jean]

More F boy. A little bit.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's more flippy flap. Honestly, it's definitely. I feel like Declan would have done that to his hair before. And he's like, wait, let me like. Yeah, let me like make you look better. Wait, that's perfect.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, that's it. Whoa.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh my God. Gel it like that.

[Natalie Jean]

She's gonna lose it. Yeah. So they're trying to understand why Ruhn has busted into their apartment before dawn. Ruhn is impatient, telling them they need to go to the palace now. His fear, based around what might be happening today, is palpable. When Bryce pushes back and says that he. What are you talking about, Ruhn? You barely know this person. It's crazy to risk your life for her.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He kissed on the. And we had boom, boom on the bridge.

[Natalie Jean]

True. He fairly, however, snaps back that she offered to sell herself into slavery when she barely knew Hunt for longer.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That is an interesting truth.

[Natalie Jean]

Harsh truth. Bryce. Bryce changes tactic.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

It's also just like. Makes sense. Like, that's such a siblings, you know, it's like you're able to really cut right to the core.

[Holden McNeely]

Sure.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce changes tactics, I guess, to try to have one of her boys be safe. She's like, okay, well, if you're gonna come and help us do this, Hunt, you can stay here and Rune and I will just go deal with all of this. Which girl, please? Like, Hunt's gonna be like, okay, all.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Right, I'll stay here.

[Natalie Jean]

He's like, immediately laughs in her face and says, no. And obvious also, I have to. By the way, Aya is Hunt. What are you gonna do with my lightning?

[Jackie Zabrowski]

That's the thing. They. You together. You guys are a super. Like, what do you. Why would you not bring him lightning fingers?

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Jade.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You'Re gonna set all my drugs on fire.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, you're drunk.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, yeah. Because, yeah, I just imagine she just got him laying around.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, I think she kind of does.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

My drugs. My drugs are not safe in here. So obviously he has to go run. Tries not to watch too closely because Bryce is like, no, you can't. He tries to, like, look away as Hunt gets in front of her on his knees before Bryce, taking her hands, telling her he is going and it is for their future. And he kind of like, does this, like, on I'm. I'm unbended knee girl. Bryce.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, just like boys to men.

[Natalie Jean]

Just like boys.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, my God.

[Natalie Jean]

B2M. If.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

If boys to men were on their knees, if they were on bended knee in front of you, I would do. Do anything for those flat tops.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, it worked on Bryce. It convinced her enough. It softened her to see the need to protect her, that it convinces her that they will all go face this future together. All of them.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

He's down on bended knees. Come on. Oh, if he could also sing four part harmony, but all by himself because he's an angel. So I feel like they've got like, angel chorus qualities.

[Natalie Jean]

Scary. If he had six voices at once. Whoa. So they're all going to go together? Team, you run offers.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wow. Did you put on your thinking cap as well?

[Natalie Jean]

It's very clever. They all smile at this. No more cowering before the archangels or the Asteri. With that decided, Hunt gestures to the map that Fury has drawn for them. A rudimentary blueprint for the palace.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

From her memory, this is where really the montage begins. Right? Sisters are doing it for themselves.

[Natalie Jean]

See, I put that in the following episode. That. It's the melody. I mean, the medley.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

The medley? Really? Wait, the medley of that song?

[Natalie Jean]

No, I did it. Of west side Story.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Oh, okay. All right, I'll take it. All right. As long as we know that we got a good montage coming up.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. Yeah. So he suggests they all start studying this map. Since they're all wide awake, they discuss causing a distraction big enough to give them time to get both Day and to get to the secret room. Based on Day's parting words, they assume she has been taken to the dungeons. Hunt assures a panicked rune that they would have kept her alive, that the Hind would likely be sent to interrogate her, which isn't really a comfort.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No.

[Natalie Jean]

But at least Hunt feels sure that she's not dead, because he knows their methods.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Ruhn's stomach churned. He couldn't get the sound of Da's panicked voice out of his mind. His very blood roared to go to her. Find her.

[Natalie Jean]

Bryce, now having accepted this as part of the mission, assures Ruhn that they will get her. They go over their options. They discuss the fact that Day has given them enough intel to know that Pippa and her squadron has something major planned in the near future, Some kind of attack. Though they're not necessarily allied with Ophion anymore, they wonder if they can trigger Pippa to somehow start the strike that day. The next day that is like the day after, where they're having this meeting.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Lots of triangulation. You know, they did it in the last one, and now they're like, okay, now we're also going to use the other people to come on, and Even though we don't trust nuns of them, but, you know, a gun's a gun, I guess.

[Natalie Jean]

Yeah, it's enough chaos to c. To give cloud cover, essentially. So they're trying to cause this huge issue so that when they go to the mystery room, everyone else is distracted. Within hours, they have summoned Cormac and Tharion to the apartment. We're with Bryce in this section. And she notices that that Therian scent seems off but doesn't comment on it. They have enough going on. Not her problem again. Cormac has some intel also that he had gotten good authority that last night Pippa had been planning a raid in a few weeks on the Panjaran lab where the asterisk engineers and scientists work, where they made the new mech prototype. So he got intel that this lab that's very near where the Crystal palace is, there's going to be an attack on it. So that she's planning this raid. This is what they're talking about. They want to try to boost Pippa's raid to the next day by sort of like sprinkling intel from them to her people.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Turn up the fire. We gotta get it. Berlin, you know, gotta get it.

[Natalie Jean]

Chaotic. Cormac is still rightly pretty pissed at Bryce and Hunt and angrily informs them that he. He's been attempting to convince his father to allow him to remain in Lunathean by saying he's trying to woo her back. So Cormac is there, he's their ally, but he's obviously angry that they did that to him. And he's basically saying, I've had to degrade myself now because of the fact that you didn't inform me you're going to do this. They all discuss this information about Pippa and Tharian devises a plan of sorts. Of this is going to likely end poorly, but it's a big old smokescreen, which is what they're asking for. I think a lot of them have already kind of decided that they might all die, but they're going to try anyway.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So, I mean, at the top of the book, they swore they weren't going to get in any trouble, you know, so it's just like at this point, In For a Penny, babes.

[Natalie Jean]

I mean, there. Yeah, it's kind of the YOLO situation. You're just going to go do it.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I mean, you're on Team Fuck you. So.

[Natalie Jean]

Yep. Take that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Wow.

[Natalie Jean]

So he.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

We're team you and we're here to. I just imagine them with like wooden swords. You know, the angels are just like. And it just ripped them to shreds.

[Natalie Jean]

They're just like, oh, baby. Oh, that's.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

You're scaring me.

[Natalie Jean]

Oh, yeah.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

So scary.

[Natalie Jean]

So basically he gives the idea that they're going to take the plan first, if that makes sense. That's confusing. But they're going to get the info to Pippa's people that they heard about her plan and they're going to do it first, which will then Send Pippa out that day. The Lightfall squad would, you know, come the Crystal palace, come to the labs, which would also send a bunch of dread wolves to the lab where team you plan to act out their plan. There you go. Kind of makes sense.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah.

[Natalie Jean]

So they discuss how to keep casualties at a minimum, which solidifies the reality that they're facing. Bryce asks them to give her a minute. She seems a little bit overwhelmed because they are talking about the fact they're going to probably end up taking lives tomorrow whether they want to or not. She walks away into her. Her bedroom and closes the door. She goes to a photo that she has up on her nightstand of her with the gals from back in the White Raven days. After a few minutes, Hunt joins her to find out if she's okay. She reminisces with him about a simpler time. And then she stops herself, points out that this looks like good old days, but in reality, the good old days are always filled with her own traumas. You have to take off those rose glasses. And Fury was still a mercenary doing God knows what. God knows what. At the time, Juniper was secretly in love with her. Her, Danika was an entirely different person than the one Bryce knew, with a star crossed lover and one secret after another. So that's to say that the idea of the reminiscing on past times is just that you are. You're thinking about it in fantasy. It's not really like it was ever good.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, well, hindsight is 20 20, girl. All right? That's how we grow. That's how we learn. We got to make mistakes, but also.

[Natalie Jean]

Accept that in the now, the problems that exist now were still there. So trying to dream about going backwards is never going to solve anything. It's about going forward.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

No, weirdly enough, I was just talking to a friend about this that was like, at a coffee shop and overheard these like, late 20 somethings talking about, like the weekend and how they got drunk and like, it was one of their 30th birthdays coming up and like, talking about. And she was texting me and she's like, wasn't it like, do you remember back then when, like, things just didn't seem as, like, imperative as. As like looming as dooming. And I was like, what are you fucking talking about? All we were was drunk and we would cry like you. I was like, no, you're thinking of the, the drunk screen that we put on. Everything was like, in reality, we weren't dealing with anything. So instead we were just drinking and pretending like none of it was a problem. So I was like, I don't look at that and be like, I wish I could go. It's like, no, it was also difficult then. It's difficult. Growing up is difficult.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. Plus, you're able to look back at that, knowing that you survived and you made it out right at the time, you don't know what's going to happen to you. And so it's not a pleasant feeling. You're looking back going, well, I did make it out, so that was fun. You're like, well, at the time, you.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Were kind of scared, a little scary.

[Natalie Jean]

And you didn't know if you were going to make it or survive, so. Exactly. She's kind of going through this. This feeling, and it's making her feel a little stupid. She's having a bit of an existential crisis with Hunt in her room during the scene, not knowing who she is, but questioning the violence about to occur. If they actually succeed in overthrowing the Asteri, what then? That's when the story usually ends. But. And we have this real issue in human land. What comes after? How do you rebuild? How do you stop the next dictator? What if their actions cause even more death and war? It's not as easy as just getting the bad guy. There's all of the repercussions from that.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But that's why we read the books, you know? Then we read the books, and then we're like, well, there's gonna be an answer somewhere in the book.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes, it's true.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

But I do don't think about it in real life. All right? Just think about it with the book.

[Natalie Jean]

Yes. But I do appreciate her presenting these issues because they are things that we do have to think about in the real world. Hunt embraces her and tells her to focus on the present, that they will have to take it one day at a time. And that's all he can say. He tells her that they need to do this. They need to know what Sophie discovered, that there will be no moving forward, no progress, if they stay in the dark. They hold each other and both admit that they are scared.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

I'll follow you into the dark.

[Natalie Jean]

I don't want to hear that song right now.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

God, I love that song so much. You love that song?

[Natalie Jean]

He fills her in on what was covered since she took that break in her room. Declan is going to hack the security system and move the cameras away from them manually. They will have to follow a specific pathway so that he can move the cameras discreetly enough to not be noticed. So having to know where they're going to go so he can gently move the cameras as each hallway they pass. Flynn is going to stay with Declan to help. Bryce asks what happens if they need to change course. He says Declan will try to follow them, but they need to try to stick to a very specific planned pathway. Hunt kisses her cheek when he sees the fear on her face. He tells her to take her own time, as much as she needs and closes the door to continue to plan with the others. She looks back at the photo of the gals and pulls out her phone. She calls June. She's not surprised that June doesn't answer, but she leaves a voicemail. Tells her how sorry she is, that she interfered, that she didn't think it through before she acted, that she will love June forever. And that she knows she was never the same supportive person that June was to her and that she's sorry for that too. Holding back tears, she hangs up. She knows this very well could be her goodbye to June. She takes the photo of the four of them out of the frame and puts it in the pocket of her jacket. And that is the lead up to Action Town.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah, we are on the precipice of a bunch of shit.

[Natalie Jean]

A lot of people are trying to get their closure in the moment beforehand.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Uh huh. We don't know who's going to make it. Make it, who's going to get through and it's going to be explosive. Fo show.

[Natalie Jean]

Thankfully I have this very thick neck to protect.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yes, me and everyone else. And also I just want to say thank you because I feel like if I had been having sex on a brain bridge one time and then I was like, we gotta break into this palace so we can save my new buddy. I feel like you guys might talk me down from it. And I just want to say thank you in advance for you doing that in the future.

[Natalie Jean]

The buddy.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Yeah. Because I don't know if the boy's worth it.

[Natalie Jean]

Well, I mean, they rarely are, but maybe Fay boy. Hey. Probably not. Probably not.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

And now, dudes, Grappling with erotica. Featuring Holden McNeely and Jake Young reading from chapter 27.

[Holden McNeely]

But then he kissed her left thigh, beginning a downward trajectory, pulling her underwear away as he went. And when the thong was completely gone, when she was bared to the world, Hunt's wings splayed above him, blocking her from the world's view. Only his to see, his to devour. Her breathing turned jagged as his mouth reached her left ankle, kissing again. And then he was sliding back Up. He halted with his head between her thighs, though, took her feet and propped them onto the counter, spread her legs wide.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Bryce moaned softly as Hunt surveyed her, the light glowing through his wings, making him look like an avenging angel lit with inner fire.

[Holden McNeely]

Look at you, he murmured, voice guttural with need.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

She'd never felt so naked, yet so seen and cherished. Not as Hunt slid a finger between her wetness. Fuck yeah, he growled, more to himself than to her, and she really, truly couldn't breathe. As he knelt again, head poised where.

[Holden McNeely]

She needed him most, Hunt softly, reverently laid a hand on her, opening her for his own personal tasting. His tongue swept along her in an introductory hi, nice to you, flit. She bit her lip, panting through her nose. Her yet hunt, like a filthy dog. Yet Hunt bowed his head, brow resting just above her mound as his hand slid to her thighs once more, breathing in her pubic hair, one tendril getting. I once got a pubic hair. Like, caught my nose. It came out the next day.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

This is not canon. You are. You can't. You can't riff during this scene.

[Holden McNeely]

Sorry, please.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

The original vision of the Creator.

[Holden McNeely]

I just remember I ate a pussy out and then the next day I was like, what is that? And I pulled out a whole ass pubic hair, and it was just covered in books.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Listen, we're supposed to be reading moss, but you're giving moss, as in too much. He inhaled and exhaled, shuddering, and she had no idea if he was savoring her scent or really needed a moment to calm the hell down. One or two more licks and she knew she'd lose her mind entirely.

[Holden McNeely]

Then Hunt pressed a kiss to the.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Top of her sack, and another, as if he couldn't help it.

[Holden McNeely]

His hands caressed her thighs. He kissed her a third time, raised wings twitching, and then his mouth drifted south, one hand with it again, he parted her and pressed his tongue flat against her as he dragged it up.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Stars sparked behind Bryce's eyes, her breasts aching so much she arched into the air as if seeking invisible hands to touch them. That's it, hunt said against her, and flicked his tongue over her clit with lethal precision. She couldn't endure this, couldn't handle one more second of this torture.

[Holden McNeely]

His tongue pushed into her, curling deep, and she bucked. You taste like God's damn paradise, he.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Growled, pulling back enough for her to note her wetness on his mouth, his chin.

[Holden McNeely]

I knew you'd taste like this.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Bryce clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from shouting as Hunt drove his tongue back into her and then dragged it all the way up to her clit.

[Holden McNeely]

His teeth clamped down gently and her eyes rolled back in her head. Did I find it? He asked. I'm really bad at locating it.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Burning solace and merciful Kathona Hunt, she managed to say, voice strangled.

[Holden McNeely]

He paused, ready to halt should she give the word, but that was the.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Last thing she wanted. Bryce met Hunt's burning gaze, her chest heaving, head a dizzy, starry mess. She said the only thing in her head, her mind, her soul. I love you. She regretted the words the moment they left her mouth. She never said them to any male, hadn't even thought the words about Hunt, though she'd known for a while why they came out then she had no idea. But. But his eyes darkened again.

[Holden McNeely]

His fingers tightened on her leg.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Oh God, she'd fucked everything up. She was a stupid, horny idiot. What the fuck had she been thinking telling him when they were even dating, for fuck's sake?

[Holden McNeely]

Hunt unleashed himself, dipped his head back down between her thighs and feasted on her.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

Bryce could have sworn thunderstorms rumbled in the room. It was answer and acceptance of what she'd said, like he was beyond words now, tongue and teeth purring all combined into a maelstrom of pleasure that had Bryce grinding against him. Hunt gripped her thighs hard enough to bruise, and she loved it, needed it. She drove her hips into his face, pushing his tongue into her, and then something zapped right at her clit as if cunt had summoned a spark of lightning and her brain and body lit up like white fire and oh gods, oh gods, oh gods.

[Holden McNeely]

Are you dying? Bryce thought. Bryce was screaming the or. Hunt thought. Bryce was screaming the words a little death, yes, Hunt's wings still cocooning them as she came, hard enough that she arced clean off the counter, fingers scrabbling in his hair, pulling hard. She was flaring with light, inside and out, like a living beacon.

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

She could have sworn they fell through time and space, could have sworn they tumbled towards something, but she wanted to stay here with him, in this body and this place.

[Holden McNeely]

Hunt licked her through every ripple, and when the climax eased, when the light she'd erupted with had faded and that falling sensation had steadied, he lifted his head. He met her stare from between her thighs, panting against her bare skin, lightning in his eyes. I love you too, Quinlan. And then he said, liv Moss Live. Sarah J. Moss, Crescent City Quesaritos Coming to Taco Bell this summer?

[Adobe Acrobat Advertiser]

I mean, he definitely had a fourth meal just then.

[Jackie Zabrowski]

Please read up until chapter 72 for next week.

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