Cane23

Richard is a particularly special case - his father being like, "Why can't you be gay like everyone else?!" 😂

As long as it was boys being horny teenagers and experimenting in EVERY position and, on the other hand politics and all the crazy combinations...it didn't sound so desperate... But now that feelings are involved, everything has become much more complicated. You really surprised me with Ser Tomas. I never expected him to fall for Atreus, but then again, I probably shouldn't have - @Topher Lydon - you're a master of creating overcomplicated relationships and then making them even more complicated! 😁 Which brings me to the point where I'm now more concerned about broken hearts than broken heads or the witch's zealots in this story.

This sounds like it's going to be the most explosive polyamory in history. Darien, Wylan, and Ishan are pure vanilla by comparison (even though there were two mages involved there, and only one here). 😁

And if Dieter joins in one moment too...💥

I understand that Richard's father has to secure his borders, but his plan is hilarious. 😄 Nevertheless, ever since they met, I think a genuine friendship and bond have been growing between Darien and the Lord of Bellême. Like father, like son... times two! 😁

Hmm... I'm wondering... What if it was never about jealousy, rivalry, or fighting for affection at all? What if Lukas uncovered secrets about Veridien that were never meant to be revealed?

Seems that King Casimir's court is going to be very much somewhere over the rainbow... 😁

King's order!

The only salvation for Tomas is to be adopted by Darien!

Is Henri of Lothar going to join the gang? 😉

Michel sounds like some medieval communist! 😁 By the way, did you write in Seb last night too?! 😁

But this 👉 "I am perfectly pink, Father ... and this 👉 I barely have enough Frisian wine to keep the French drunk! Where in the nine hells am I supposed to put the English?!" 🤣😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

What is interesting about Tommy’s character is that, on the surface, it may look like he is the one who never moved on while Brian went on living his life. But the opposite is actually true. Tommy’s love for Brian has changed over the years. It is no longer the overwhelming teenage feeling that defines him; it has become something more mature - a mixture of love, memory, tenderness, and a little sadness. It remains important, but it does not control his life anymore. The most remarkable thing about Tommy is his dignity. He never chases Brian, never floods him with messages, never demands explanations or tries to force his way back into Brian’s life. Even after Brian disappears for years and then returns only to leave again, Tommy respects his choices. That does not mean he is indifferent - it means he understands that love is not ownership. He can love someone deeply without trying to possess them. This is the biggest difference between Tommy and Brian. Brian’s instinct is always to decide for both of them - when they are close, when they need distance, how much of himself Tommy is allowed to have. Even when his intentions come from fear or a desire to protect Tommy, he still takes away Tommy’s choice. He decides that leaving is better, that distance is necessary, that he knows what Tommy needs. Tommy eventually learns something Brian never fully does - loving someone does not mean sacrificing yourself for them forever. The younger Tommy would have waited, chased, and tried to repair what was broken. The older Tommy can look Brian in the eye and say he still loves him, while also accepting that it may never be the same. That is why the reunion is so powerful. Tommy is no longer the boy who needed Brian to choose him. He is an adult who knows his own worth. He does not need Brian to confirm that what they had was real. Brian survived cancer, but Tommy survived losing Brian.

Maybe he has the potential to change after learning a good lesson...to understand what respect and honor truly mean (just like Count Guy in Book 1). As for humility, I'm not so sure.

Ahahaha...actually, that's the moment I knew Casimir is going to be ok! 🤣

Despite Radoslav's initial surprise at Casimir's recovery, it seems that everyone who arrived still fails to notice the true improvement in his condition. To them, he remains not a player in this game, but merely a dying boy - a pawn on the chessboard. But Atreus saw his real strength. Now all eyes are on Atreus. Is that part of the strategy? A way to keep Casimir's emergence from the shadows unnoticed? The perfect distraction?

Amazing chapter - emotional, tender, and also heartbreaking because of the trauma Taggert still carries from his past. This new ranch has become a sanctuary for him, but the time will come when he'll have to confront his family. The difference is that this time, he won't be alone. Ash will be by his side, along with his new cowboy friends.

Some lessons can only be learned through experience, not through words. They have to be learned the hard way.

I know... another reason to write another book!😄 By the way, is the scene with the pirate kidnappers from this book?

Eric, Sab, and their family are really missed at this gathering! How could you not include them?! 😁

"Caring" is a beautiful English word, but Brian made it sound cheap. This relationship is just as unhealthy as Brian himself. Whether Brian eventually dies or disappears forever, I hope Tommy values himself enough to move on and put his own well-being first.

Aww, the first kiss!

"Who was this man?" 😂 I asked myself the same thing! I was so confused for a moment that I had to go back to the beginning of the chapter to check whether I'd mixed up the characters! 😁 Anyway, it looks like the plan is working out well so far. I hope the boys will be settled and prepared by the time Albert finds out!

My first surprise was the word 'gay' in book 1. After that, I caught on to the writing style.

What kind of opera are we talking about at the beginning of the 12th century? I thought the term Frankish opera was one of the @Topher Lydon's playful jokes with 'modern' terms... 😁