The Never List

Part 4 brings greater nuance to the stakes that the previous sections have established for Rylee and the Legends. The central scene that develops the novel’s major themes comes in Chapter 31, when Pierce’s father, Brooks, corners Rylee at the teashop. Brooks is characterized as one of the more benevolent kings, but as someone who goes along with what the crueler kings’ desires, his true motives are uncertain. When they meet in this section, Rylee is uncertain of what to make of him. The power imbalance in their interaction, emphasized by Brooks’s calm yet coercive tone, underlines the text’s interest in how institutional authority can masquerade as paternal concern. She observes that Brooks is not unlike the Legends, as he threatens her with violence if she hurts his son. Both Rylee and the text do not frame this as unwarranted; rather, the novel plays with the moral elasticity of vengeance, positioning it as a natural extension of love. In this universe, violence becomes a proxy for protection, suggesting that Love as Risk and Redemption exceeds any strict moral value regarding the impropriety of violence.

When Rylee rejects Brooks’ offer, she is surprised to discover that she is unable to walk away from the Legends, even if staying means risking her own life, and thereby her sister’s life. Her internal conflict illustrates the degree to which love has altered her understanding of loyalty and risk, and this moment of decision marks a turning point in her identity as a character who acts out of desire rather than a need to go undetected within a flawed system. Even though her relationship with Jax is still uncertain, she knows that she will undergo the dangerous Athanry, as she sees the potential future with her partners as worth the risk of being discovered for her secrets and even dying in the Athanry’s tests. Brooks, however, sees this devotion as insufficient in making her a suitable queen of Lumathyst—a position he sees as more important, and different, than the role of the Legends’ romantic partner. When he says Rylee is “lacking,” he doesn’t say she is unworthy of the Legends’ love; instead, he feels she does not have the necessary qualities to rule Lumathyst. The veiled critique in his language draws attention to how women in power are often evaluated not by their capabilities but by their adherence to unspoken codes of class, decorum, and pedigree. The qualities that Rylee lacks are not because of her character or person, but because of the refinement that he sees as coming from a certain social status. This snobbery separates Brooks from his son and the other Legends: Brooks holds no value in Using Privilege to Benefit the Less Fortunate. Instead, he sees the poor as unworthy of decent treatment. His inability to imagine a monarchy reshaped by Rylee’s empathy and outsider status highlights the novel’s ongoing critique of entrenched hierarchies and the dangers of static power. This cements the novel’s attention to The Corruption of Power Through Immortality, as Brooks, who has been on the throne beyond a normal lifespan, fails to see the benefits of change.

Brooks’ efforts to drive Rylee and the Legends apart has the opposite effect, however, as Rylee’s realization that she intends to undergo the Athanry no matter what happens with Jax lead her to open herself up to Pierce. This is a significant demonstration of trust for Rylee, who still holds her secrets close to her chest. In allowing Pierce to witness the truth directly, Rylee both asserts control over her narrative and dismantles the wall that has kept her emotionally distant. That Pierce rewards this openness with a promise that he will care for her no matter her secrets indicates the growing relationship between the two, even though they spend the least time together on the page. Their quiet, slow-building intimacy stands in contrast to her more public or dramatic connections with the other Legends, subtly reinforcing that emotional safety can be a form of passion, too.

When Pierce uses his mind control powers on Rylee during sex in Chapter 34, it highlights the way Presley uses sex scenes to explore different emotional needs within the “why choose” format. Pierce and Rylee’s telepathic sex provides an analogy for the intimacy that comes with sex, as the two are temporarily of one mind. This fusion of mental and physical connection elevates their bond, offering a fantastical visualization of what it means to be seen and understood without shame. This emphasizes the metaphoric resonance of past sexual encounters, as well—Rylee’s mid-flight sex with Kal is about adventure, while their mutual appreciation for public sex highlights how being with the Legends helps Rylee feel freer to live her life out in the open. Each sexual encounter becomes not only a moment of desire but a window into character: Kal affirms her boldness, Axl her need for affirmation, Pierce her longing for emotional transparency.

Even the choice to delay sex for several chapters in this section becomes narratively significant. The slow burn between Rylee and Pierce is about the weight of emotional buildup. Their eventual union feels earned—an accumulation of small acts of care, honesty, and mutual risk. In that sense, Presley uses erotic pacing to map character growth, letting emotional vulnerability take center stage before physical release. This layering enriches the thematic arc of Love as Risk and Redemption, positioning sex not just as pleasure but as proof of transformation.

Part 4 also sets up the emotional terrain for Rylee’s eventual union with Jax, who remains the most guarded of the Legends. While their connection has yet to fully unfold, Pierce assures Rylee that Jax is more emotionally invested than he appears—a promise that creates anticipation for what’s to come. Rylee’s quiet decision to tell Pierce to stop searching for Erin marks another important shift. While it reads as surrender on her part, the Legends’ refusal to give up reflects their belief that Rylee deserves rest and healing, even if they must carry that burden alone. That Pierce then reminds Rylee that she is free to go where she wishes—prompting her to reconnect with her friends—further reinforces the idea that true loyalty empowers rather than restricts. Together, these moments expand the novel’s investment in restorative love and hint at a new chapter of self-discovery for Rylee that will intersect with her evolving bond with Jax.