Fearless

The next day, Kitt tells the court about Paedyn’s first Trial. Paedyn’s heart races. She’s unsure if she’ll survive and tries to summon a stronger version of herself.

Paedyn braves the Scorches, or caves, where she’s meant to find the crown. The further she goes, the darker it gets. She tries to dispel her memories and fears to focus on her mission. Finally, she reaches the darkest cave. Bats fly out of the dark and attack her. Once she escapes them, she fumbles through the dark until she finds Queen Mareena’s coffin. She feels around inside and is horrified when she touches Mareena’s remains. Finally, she grasps and extracts the crown.

Kai waits anxiously for Paedyn to return from the Trial. Nervous, he finds Kitt to distract himself. They start talking about Edric, who abused Kai, and Iris, who wasn’t Kai’s biological mother. (His mother is Myla, Edric’s second wife.) Kai tries to be understanding when Kitt talks mournfully about his parents. The conversation shifts to their childhood, and they tease each other about their old rivalry and games.

Afterward, Kai goes to see Myla, his mother, in the infirmary. She’s been sick ever since Edric’s death. She warns him about getting too close to Paedyn and reminds him of his and Kitt’s bond.

Paedyn struggles out of the caves with the crown. At the top, she runs into bandits, who try stealing it from her. She kills them both and flees. She hates that she had to use violence but applauds her own bravery as she races back to the castle.

In the throne room, Kai drinks glass after glass of wine. He can’t stop thinking about Myla’s words and worrying about Paedyn. Finally, Paedyn returns, covered in blood but clutching the crown. Kai smiles proudly when she puts it on her own head. Still, he feels jealous when she looks at Kitt and not him.

Kitt ushers an exhausted Paedyn out of the throne room, noticing that her diamond is on the wrong finger. Kai then leads Paedyn back to her room, where he helps her undress and wash up. He congratulates her success in the Trial and urges her to be proud of herself. She admits that donning the crown “made [her] feel powerful” (168). They hug and kiss. Paedyn imagines professing her love but decides against it.

Edric was horrified when Iris died in childbirth with her second child. He was even more furious when the Silencer informed him that the baby girl was an Ordinary.

Paedyn wakes up shortly after Kai sneaks out of her room. Ellie helps her get ready, teasing her about Kai. She says that their relationship reminds her of Adena and her boyfriend’s relationship. Paedyn is shocked because Adena never mentioned a lover. Ellie explains that Adena didn’t want to distract Paedyn from the Trials.

Paedyn attends the ball in celebration of her first Trial’s completion. Feeling positive, she has several glasses of wine and dances with Kitt. Her mood changes when she sees Blair enter the room. She lunges for Blair, but Lenny and Kai stop her from attacking.

Kai finds Paedyn’s shoes, which she discarded during the ball. Then, he and Kitt meet up and talk intimately. They discuss their relationship and Kitt’s future with Paedyn.

Paedyn notices Kitt and Kai talking on the edge of the ballroom and joins them. Pleased to see the brothers getting along, she pulls them onto the dance floor and insists that they all dance together. At the end of the night, Kai leads Paedyn back to her room. He returns her shoes, and she realizes how much he loves her.

The next morning, Paedyn wakes up to Kitt sitting by her bedside with a hangover tonic. They chat about the previous night. Kitt warns Paedyn about attacking Blair again and explains her next Trial. To prove her benevolence, she will cross the Shallows Sea and deliver roses to Izram, a neighboring kingdom, to solidify a trade agreement. After he leaves, Ellie helps Paedyn prepare for the day. In the courtroom, Kitt formally announces Paedyn’s next Trial.

Kai meets with Paedyn, Kitt, and Kitt’s advisors, Calum and Easel. Kai insists on accompanying Paedyn on her voyage. He thinks it’s too dangerous and wants to protect her from the sailors. The other men agree.

While packing, Paedyn mentally prepares for her upcoming voyage. She’s terrified of what might happen. She goes to Kitt’s room, and they spend the evening chatting and eating chocolate. Paedyn is glad for their friendly dynamic. She asks for Kitt’s forgiveness for killing Edric; she regrets hurting Kitt by taking his father but doesn’t regret killing a tyrant. They agree that life is difficult, that they’re both changing, and that they want peace for Ilya.

Paedyn and Kai set out across the Shallows Sea. Before leaving, Calum pulls Paedyn aside to encourage her. He gives her books that he recovered from Adam’s home after his death. They hug before parting ways.

Paedyn, Kai, and his retinue board the Reckoning with Captain Torri. They meet the crew and settle in their cabins. Alone, Kai promises to protect Paedyn no matter what.

Unable to sleep, Kai leaves his cabin to join Paedyn. They talk intimately about their relationship and future. Then, Paedyn reads aloud to Kai. They start kissing until they hear a “chorus of stomps” up above (233). Realizing that the crew is dancing, they join them on deck.

When Edric learned that his daughter was an Ordinary, he had his men expel her from the kingdom. He didn’t want anyone to know that an Ordinary killed Iris, who was a powerful Elite. He demanded that his Mind Reader seal the records regarding the child.