Leaning forward, I breathe her scent in, relish in the heat emanating from her skin. “Forgive me,” I whisper, because I loathe myself for what I’m about to do—for taking the choice away from her. But when it comes to her life, I can’t just sit back and let her sacrifice herself. Not for me.
My lips press against hers, even now, the supple warmth of them enough to take me to my knees. The moment she parts her mouth for me, I breathe out the rotted power within me. I let it sink in past her lips, feel it slip down her throat and root beneath her skin.
Her power wavers at the sudden intrusion, but the look of fear in her eyes nearly kills me.
“Forgive me,” I say again, because she’s scared of me. But she’s weak, so fucking weak, and I’m out of time.
With another push of power, I force her body to languish, even as my instincts scream that this is wrong. My own magic wars with me as I force her in a stasis between life and decay, as I make my power rot her from within. But I’m scared, so fucking scared that I could hurt her, that I could somehow do something wrong, push too hard.
“Forgive me,” I whisper for a third time, but I know she can no longer hear me. Please let this work, I implore silently. Please let her be okay.
When her aura is nothing but a wisp, she finally slumps, letting out a single, dusty breath as I catch her in my arms.
Without her consciousness to direct it, the wave of gold comes crashing to the floor. Taking a limp Auren in my arms, I run out of the archway just as a loud smash sounds. But even in the hall, more insipid gold is dropping from the ceiling and solidifying against the floor in uneven waves, nearly making me trip.
I dodge and duck, my spikes digging beneath my skin in a protective surge, wanting to come breaking out, but I grit my teeth and suppress it.
Gold floods the floor, splashing against the stairs, an unsuspecting servant crying out from somewhere behind me.
“Over here!”
I find Osrik waving me forward, and I skid to the right, trying to keep from jostling Auren too much as he leads me out.
The entire castle seems to groan, and I realize that more gold than just what was in the ballroom is rioting without Auren conscious to direct it.
No wonder she fucking drained herself. It’s like she brought every piece of gold in the castle to life.
“Out here,” Osrik grunts, just before he takes a sharp right, where a doorway is being propped open by Ryatt.
The moment we make it out, Ry lets the door slam shut, and not three seconds later, something hard slams against the door, splintering the wood. We all back up on instinct, watching as gold curls through the break. But much to my relief, it gives one last shake before it solidifies, its movement stiffening to a stop.
The crashing and crackling of the rest of Ranhold Castle dies down too, until bleak, unnatural silence bleeds through the air.
“Shit,” Lu says, letting out a low whistle.
Osrik looks down at Auren. “Is she okay?”
My stomach churns, a tic jumping in my jaw. “I don’t know.”
Shockwaves go through my Wrath, and then a hobbling Digby comes pushing past them to check on Auren. When he sees the state of her, he brings a pair of glaring eyes up to me. “You’d better fix her. You hear me, boy? Fix. Her.”
I blink at the fierceness in his tone. I don’t think anyone has ever dared to call me boy, even when I was one. Yet I’m too damn terrified to even be bothered. I have no idea if I did more harm than good by using my power to keep her in this paused state, but I need to get her out of here. Far away, where there is no gold to grip her.
I turn and start stalking off, the others hurrying to match my step as I head for my army’s camp.
“What do you want to do, Slade?” Ry asks at my side.
My eyes harden with my resolve, only softening when they drop down to Auren’s face.
I’m going to fix her. She’s going to be alright.
I won’t accept anything else. I won’t even consider it.
Shouting voices from the front of the castle carry across the night air, making my steps quicken.
“We need to leave. Right fucking now,” I reply grimly. “Get the army back to Fourth.”
As soon as the panic abates, the survivors and witnesses are going to be talking. Accusing. Pointing fingers. They’re going to want answers and demand atonement. Because the dead can’t say what transpired in that ballroom.
But Queen Kaila can.
She and her group were in there. They saw what happened, and they saw that it was Auren who made it so.
It’s just a matter of time before they come for her.
But I’ll be fucking ready.
Golden Gold
Vine
Part Three
Oh, this miser did prize her,
this golden gold vine.
He couldn’t stop now,
so he sat at her shrine.
He had to cut, to cull, and to bleed.
For her to keep growing, that was the creed.
Whenever he plucked
her vine until bare,
he’d sit by her stems,
into skin he would tear.
Losing himself, as he sat and he flayed.
Yielding himself, as he laid in her shade.
He soon gave up his toes, his fingers, mere stumps.
His teeth, he yanked out, in white and red clumps.
Dropped into soil,
like rain for her roots.
Up grew her blossoms,
inedible fruits.
The gold was his blanket,
his prize, and his gloat.
The thorns for his teeth,
the leaves as his coat.
He took what she made,
and reaped what she sowed.
Addicted, entitled, thinking—
wealth he was owed.
But bitter her roots
became as she bloomed.
This golden gold vine,
resented and fumed.
So blinded by gleam,
he just couldn’t see
what he became
by demands he decreed.
When he first found her
along that plain road,
he didn’t yet know
what he picked when he trode.
For it wasn’t just her
that he took on that day.
Greed was the weed
he invited to stay.
In his house the gold took up all of the room.
He thought it a triumph. (But it was a tomb.)
Tangled and knitted,
every corner, leaves spewed.
Still, he wanted more
—Oh! Just a few!
No hair or nails, no eyes or nose.
No fingers or ears, nor any toes.
Yet he'd satisfy himself with his own greedy prose.
He was the richest alive! Anything he could buy!
(Yes, it was true, that wasn't a lie.)
Though he did not realize, no he could not conceive,
that his obsession for gold was what made him unweave.
The old miser lived on,
a sorry state of affairs.
Sacrificing his tongue,
his legs, arms—both in pairs.
He couldn’t touch or talk, nor could he see.
But what did that matter, when what mattered was he
was alone with his vine, his treasure sublime.
No need for his senses or to walk or to sign,
when all that he wanted was her opulent shine.
And all the while, this old miser clung to the vine.
His mute mouth empty, but still miming, "mine.”
The vine did outgrow his little house on the hill.
Winding down to the forest, all twine and twill.
She’d grown so large, while he'd withered down to a pulp.
Until finally, she took the last of him, in one final gulp.
His stumped and stubbed pieces,
now taken inside her.
This golden gold greed,
like a web from a spider.
And upon his death,
the vine did slowly die back.
It shrunk from forest to yard,
its gold gone to lack.
The only bit that remained,
on that house on the hill
was a flicker of gleam
against a cracked windowsill.
And there right beneath,
under a pile of rubble,
was one golden vine,
its short thorns like stubble.
It glistened and shone,
so small with one leaf.
It sat there, undiscovered,
a prize for a thief.
This vine as golden as a small piece of sun,
it waited right there for someone to come.
And when someone did, (for there would always be one)
she perked up and straightened,
she showed off her shine.
And he stole and he smiled,
and whispered greedily, "mine.”
Thank You For Reading
Thank you so much for reading Gleam!
I really hope you’ve enjoyed the journey so far. I wanted to be really mindful of Auren’s progression as she went from full-blown Stockholm Syndrome, to stepping out of her cage, to then realizing not only what life and love can really be like, but to come face-to-face with her own potential. In a lot of ways, this is just the beginning. I have so much more in store for these characters and this world. And I’m excited for more #Aurip in the next book!
If you can, I would so appreciate you hopping over to leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads!
The preorder for book 4 is already available here.
If I can move up the release date, I will!
For updates, teasers, and giveaways, join my reader group and follow me on Instagram.
Thank you to everyone who reviews, recommends, and posts about this series! I couldn’t do this without you.
Acknowledgements
I’m just going to jump right in and admit that this book was incredibly difficult to write. I struggled many times, wondering if I was getting any of the words right, if I was portraying Auren honestly. Not only is this the longest book I’ve written to date, but it was also the most complex. I think I had more loose strands to weave than Midas did. I lost hold of them several times, got them all tangled, wanted to give up. If it weren’t for the people in my life, I wouldn’t have been able to keep hold of the strings.
To my husband, my steady, my home: Thank you for handling everything in the real world, while I dealt with this fictional one. I love you forever and always. Also, you’re cute and funny, and you bring me treats, so I like you.
To my daughter who reminds me to breathe and to play: You are my heart.
To my family: Your constant encouragement and pride is what started this all, and I’m so damn lucky to have you guys.
I have so many people in the book world that have made all the difference for me.
Firstly, I’m just blown away by the kindness and support from the Bookstagrammers and BookTokers who have promoted these books. Every single time I get tagged in another gorgeous photo or fun video, it just reminds me how awesome bookish people are. Special shout out to Candice on her Instagram @canxdancexreads because since the moment you read Gild, you have helped to spread the word about this series and been my most epic hype girl. Thank you!
To Sarah Finger Parker: I’m not even sure I can explain how thankful I am. You seriously dragged me over the finish line kicking and screaming (and sometimes bribing) and I love you for it. Thank you for your friendship, and for all the times you woke up at 4 AM in Australia just so you could meet me in the sprint room or help me brainstorm. You’re the best sprint partner ever, and this book (and this Raven) would’ve fallen apart so many times if it weren’t for you. 10/10 would recommend.
To Ivy Asher and Ann Denton: How the hell did I get so lucky to land you ladies? This book world would be so lonely and difficult without you. I couldn’t ask for more loyal, kind, funny, and just all-around awesome people to have in my squad. Thank you for always beta reading even though you always have a million other things on your plate. And I’m glad we embraced TikTok and now make up entire conversations with videos. I’m here for it.
To Helayna: I’m convinced you’re a magical unicorn. This book was rough, and I missed so many deadlines, and still, you worked your magic and stuck with me even though I was a mess. I sent you this book in THIRTEEN different clumps. (I know, I counted.) But somehow, you wrangled me in and polished this beast of a book that just wouldn’t end. Thank you for being your magical, patient, understanding self.
To Amy: Thank you for all of your hard work with the formatting of this series. I couldn’t ask for an easier person to work with!
To Aubrey: Thank you for all of the gorgeous graphics and designs you make for this series. I’m blown away every single time you send me something.
To Lisa, Cheria, and Reagan: Thank you for moderating my reader group! I never have to worry, because you ladies take care of everything while I’m stuck in the writing cave.
And thank you to my readers.
Every single one of you.
I can’t believe how much love I’ve gotten for this series, or the overall support as an author. I’m so grateful that I get to have this job, because it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. So thank you for every sentence you read, every review you leave, every post you make. Thank you for taking a chance on a golden girl with ribbons on her back and a fae with spikes on his arms. You guys are pure gold.
—Raven
Also By Raven Kennedy
Shifter Romance:
Addie: Pack of Misfits Book 1
Reese: Pack of Misfits Book 2
Jetta: Pack of Misfits Book 3
Rabid: The Savage Spirit of Seneca Rain
Paranormal Reverse Harem:
Grave Mistakes: Hellgate Guardians Book 1
Grave Consequences: Hellgate Guardians Book 2
Grave Decisions: Hellgate Guardians Book 3
Grave Signs: Hellgate Guardians Book 4
Void
Wicked Webs
Fantasy Reverse Harem Romcom:
Signs of Cupidity: Book 1
Bonds of Cupidity: Book 2
Crimes of Cupidity: Book 3
For the Love of Cupidity: Book 4
Cupidity Box Set
Romantic Comedy Stand-Alones:
Can’t Fix Cupid
April’s Fools
Conveniently Convicted
Dark Romance:
The Girl Who Cries Colors
Cruel: Savannah Heirs Book 1
Tame: Savannah Heirs Book 2
Wild: Savannah Heirs Book 3
About the Author
Raven Kennedy is a tea and dark chocolate kind of girl, and can often be found binge-watching The Office or The Great British Baking Show. She enjoys writing all kinds of books, because each one brings a different experience. Whatever the genre, she hopes she creates characters you can root for.
When she’s not reading or writing, she’s with her family, probably messing up a recipe or going on a hike that she thinks she can do, but in reality is way too hard because she remembers that all she does is sit at a computer all day and write her heart out.
You can find Raven at any of the social media sites below:
er: grayscale(100%); -o-filter: grayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share
Gleam (The Plated Prisoner Series Book 3) Page 51