The Never List

Kal kisses her in an alley. They have manual and oral sex, both enjoying the thrill of knowing they could easily be discovered. Afterward, Kal invites her to tour more of the city, though he worries that he is becoming prematurely attached to Rylee.

Rylee is shaken by her intense physical reaction to Kal. They spend the afternoon sightseeing before meeting the other three Legends for dinner. Rylee is shocked at how relieved she is to see them and wonders if this is a side effect of the strange magic surrounding the Choosing. Axl greets her happily, and Pierce is polite, but Jax remains standoffish. Rylee resents that this makes her feel desperate for his approval. She listens to the four converse, marveling at the intense effect of all four of their powers in a confined space.

The other Legends are shocked when Rylee teases Jax, but they quickly return to their friendly banter. Rylee invites Mirren to join them, a sentiment echoed by the Legends, but Mirren demurs—Baydel would react poorly to this. The mood shifts suddenly when an enforcer tells the princes that “it’s happened again,” remaining vague to hide his meaning from Rylee (158). In the next chapter, Mirren explains there has been an attack by a dissident group called the Faders. Rylee protests when Kal leaves her behind, worrying that this is a test, though he reassures her that it isn’t. As Mirren takes Rylee to Kal’s estate, Rylee presses for information, but the Occuli still hover, leaving Mirren unable to tell her anything.

Rylee admires Kal’s home, relieved when the Occuli remain outside the gates. She finds the splendor uncomfortable, however, as it reminds her of the income inequality in Lumathyst. Rylee presses Mirren for information about the Legends’ sudden departure. Her fate is now linked with those of the Legends, and she doesn’t want them to come to harm.

Mirren observes that past potentials didn’t inquire about the business of ruling, but she confides that there have been recent attacks by a group of rebels called the Faders. Some of the Faders are from Lumathyst; others from Erithmore. The Faders’ goal is unknown. The kings have prevented news of this unrest from reaching the cities, lest dissent strengthen. Mirren comments that the Faders are well-trained and “blend in like shadows in the corners” (167). The Faders are presumed demis, but this is unconfirmed, as one has never been caught alive.

This information worries Rylee, who frets that demis will become more ostracized or that the Legends will think her a spy for the Faders if her origins are discovered. Mirren is pleased that Rylee cares about the princes beyond their power and wealth. When Mirren leaves, Rylee decides to follow the Legends, angry they have left her behind.

Rylee races into the hallway just as Kal returns home. She demands an explanation, then shifts to demanding he let her tend him when she realizes he is injured. Rylee fusses over burn wounds as Kal explains that he will not die of illness or old age, but that he can be killed despite his immortality. As Rylee watches, Kal’s wounds heal in an instant, part of his powers. Rylee grows upset that Kal left her behind, something that reminds her of her sister’s disappearance. Kal wishes to protect her, but Rylee contends that she is strong enough to stand by them.

Kal shares more details about the magical contract the goddesses made for their sons. The Legends must give some of their power to their mothers to maintain the protective wards. When the goddesses mated with the kings, they learned that the kings could siphon their powers. To prevent the conflict from affecting the Legends, the goddesses created magical “locks” that limit the Legends’ power. Only their one mate can “unlock” this and grant them access to their full potential. Bound by one mate, the four Legends would not be able to fight one another like the four kings did.

Rylee is shocked by the revelation that the Choosing has real magical implications and isn’t just royal pageantry. She feels a faint sense of guilt that her deceit might be keeping the Legends from their fated mate and thus their power. Kal promises not to leave her behind again but warns her that she may see upsetting things.

They have manual and oral sex, and Rylee likes when Kal pauses to reaffirm her consent before they have penetrative sex. Kal loses control of his powers during their encounter, causing them to levitate off the bed. This thrills Rylee, who worries she will reveal too much of herself to the Legends.

Rylee spends three pleasurable weeks with Kal in the Ruby Aire. She asks about the disconnect between what she has learned about him and the stories that circulate around the Legends. He urges her to share the recent stories. She hesitates, particularly when he seems upset by the cruel stories, but relays several. Kal doesn’t directly refute these stories but asks if Rylee thinks them true. She confides that they do not strike her as likely given what she knows about Kal, but she has not gotten similar insight on the other three Legends.

Kal explains that all four Legends care about what happens in their own territories, but he wishes he could be more active in lower cities, an area that includes both Rylee’s true and feigned homes. He admits to sometimes being ruthless with his powers, but he has worked to ensure that anyone in his city, regardless of status, knows they can approach him for aid. He confirms that the brutal treatment from one of the stories is real, but the man who was punished earned such treatment by abusing his wife and child. The kings reported that the true crime was theft to dissuade anyone from trying to steal. Kal is unbothered that the false story leads many to think the Legends monstrous, which he sees as a small price for crime deterrent, particularly as the people who matter to him know the truth. Rylee is uncertain if she should trust his words.

They stroll through the city, and the welcoming way Kal’s people treat him affirms his comments about his rulership. They pass a community art installment. Rylee recognizes a cat drawing as Erin’s work. She grows upset when she sees “forget me” next to the cat. The painting is less than six months old, Kal reports. Rylee tries to hide her emotional reaction to the news that her sister was still alive and free six months prior. She fears that her sister’s message means that Erin is in trouble and wants Rylee to stay away.

Rylee asks to see another art gallery at the city library. Kal is called away to speak to a citizen, and she explores. When she tries to go through a door marked only for royal use, an Occuli stops her with its magic, releasing her when Kal arrives. Kal promises she won’t be bothered by the Occuli again. As they kiss, Rylee notes that she feels safe with Kal.

The other Legends quiz Kal about his feelings for Rylee. Kal reports that he feels more optimistic about Rylee than he did the other potentials. He is hopeful that Jax’s clear unrest regarding Rylee means that he will let her in. Kal is confident that Rylee won’t leave, though she is permitted to now that it has been a month. Kal feels Rylee is like them in that she genuinely wants change in Lumathyst. He worries about the Athanry, though he knows this is premature.

Pierce reports that the Faders have been quiet since the last attack. There is no new information about their weaponry, either. They muse that demis are unlikely to be organized enough to cause such unrest. Just as they comment how “the Ashlanders have always been a problem,” Rylee enters the room (206). She quickly tries to leave, but Kal urges her to stay. She is surprised to hear them discussing the Ashlanders, as she contends that the Legends are not responsible for most of the unjust penalties against the Ashland people—the kings put those in place before the Legends were born. She laughs at the idea that the Ashlanders, who are forced to scrape by just to survive, could afford advanced magical weapons. Rylee offers to help them however she is able, something that rouses the Legends’ interest.

Axl embraces Rylee as he leaves, promising to see her in two days in his territory. Kal admires the sight of them together and looks forward to group sexual encounters. Kal reports that they will dine with the kings the following evening; she will have one such dinner at the end of every month in each city. He has a surprise for their last night together.

Rylee and Kal marvel at how quickly their month together has gone by. Rylee is torn between her admiration for the way Kal works to better the lives of his people and the way the Ashlanders, who mine the rubies brought to the Rube Aire to pay homage to Neph, are not afforded the same rights and dignities. She finds it alarming that she wants to stay with the Legends.

When Rylee and Kal dance, he asks about the night of the Choosing with Jax. He’s surprised that Jax asked her to dance. She confesses that she dislikes Jax’s apparent dislike, and Kal explains that Jax’s ability to sense emotions leads him to maintain distance from those he does not trust. She considers asking Kal for help finding Erin, but decides against it, still too afraid to tell the truth.

Rylee confides that she will miss Kal when she goes to Sapphire Cove. He offers to accompany her, confident it will not bother Axl. He similarly contends that he will not be offended whatever she chooses. Kal uses his powers to levitate them high in the air, which Rylee finds thrilling. They have sex while floating in the air. Rylee marvels at how much she wants to continue a relationship with Kal.

For the last night in the Ruby Aire, Rylee wears red, much to Mirren’s approval. Mirren gives Rylee her next dose of contraceptive, then sends her off to dinner with Kal and the kings. Rylee is anxious about seeing the kings, particularly Baydel. She invites Kal to come to Axl’s city with her the following day; he agrees. He offers her his token, the first time he has ever done so for a potential. She worries that he will angrily take the gift back once he learns the truth about her origins.

Over dinner, Jullian is friendly, Baydel openly lascivious, and Brooks and Lucas apathetic. Baydel seeks to antagonize her, but Rylee makes clear that her allegiance is with the Legends and that she will not be bullied. This earns her Jullian and Brooks’ approval. During dessert, an enforcer brings Baydel an envelope that contains research into Rylee’s background. Rylee fears that her ruse is about to collapse.

Baydel reads information that is contrary to Rylee’s knowledge; he contends that her parents were arrested for not paying taxes, not crossing forbidden borders, and that they are deceased. Erin, he claims, “volunteered for a Never List mission” and is still active in that mission (235). Rylee is shocked when the report indicates that she was born in Cedar and Silk and offers a legitimate lottery number for her Choosing invitation; she assumes Ivy forged the document at great personal risk.

When Kal reveals that he didn’t know Rylee had a sister, Baydel tries to use this to create distance between them. Rylee admits, truthfully, that it pains her to speak of her sister, whom she fears she will never see again. Baydel suddenly has his guards drag a man forward and orders Rylee to choose between execution and life imprisonment. Baydel reports that the man is a demi who used his powers to steal from the crown. When detected, he tried to kill Baydel.

Rylee, seeing her potential future in the man, recommends the dungeons. Baydel insists the man must die, then uses his powers to force the man to leap out the window. Baydel insists on escorting Rylee back to her rooms. He makes a veiled threat that if Rylee challenges him again, Baydel will find Erin and hurt her.