I've read These Hollow Vows two months ago, but I forgot to post this fanart, inspired by @nattrook on Instagram 🌻. This is Brie, the protagonist of the story!
If I had a nickel for every time a main character had two love interests and they turned out to be half-brothers, I'd have two nickels. Which isn’t alot, but it's weird that it happened twice.
This is from Dartan and Amaya's story after they have reached the palace, which is where I'm currently writing the 1st draft
“She doesn’t want to be bound to you or you do not wish to be bound to her? After all, Dartan, she was not the one who abandoned you to death in the forest. I do believe that was your doing.” The sarcastic tone in Abriella’s voice and the sardonic smile on her face spoke well of her feelings towards the warlock before her. “Trust me, warlock, if I had the power to separate you, it would so be done. She does not deserve to be bound to one such of you whose ego creates such a vacuous space around you that I’m surprised that even light can escape its gravitational pull. While she may have made a mistake in the casting of her spell, I do believe that being saddled with you for eternity is a punishment that far exceeds that crime. In fact, I’m not sure what crime would befit such a punishment. So, no, at present no one here can save her from the fate of being your wife. But do trust that wherever such remedy is found, it will be immediately enacted so she can be free of you.” With that, Brie exited the room before she used her Horseman powers in ways that would not befitting her station as Queen of the Realm.
THE IMPERIUM CHRONICLES TAG (SO YOU SEE THE SNIPET) - @writingpotato07, @ceph-the-ghost-writer, @kjscottwrites, @careful-pyromancer, @saltysupercomputer
As Delilah watched the others get matched up, she became more nervous. While she knew that these weren’t supposed to be romantic matchings, there was something about them that also kind of felt that way. That was one area where she had always sucked. She was the one that guys never gave a second glance to. The computer nerd, the too tall one at almost six feet tall, the weapons expert who was a better shot than they were, it seemed she was always firmly in the friend zone. Being an extreme introvert after her parents’ death and dealing with the PTSD from that didn’t help.
Dreya had understood. Dreya, everyone loved her. She’d had her pick of men, and women if she’d wanted them. They’d been like sisters and it had been Dreya that had helped her start her tech and armaments company. Then as they were doing work for Dreya’s mercenary company, someone took out Dreya, right in front of her. Some nights she could still see the bullet impact Dreya’s skull in slow motion, feel the warm spray of blood before the impact of her friend’s brains on her face. She couldn’t forget. Would never forget.
Back then, she hadn’t know what Abriella and her friends were. She’d known they had bought tech and weapons from her company, a LOT of tech and weapons, but not what they did with them or why they needed so many. Many of the organizations and governments that she had worked with were black ops, and she learned not to ask questions early on. She had become friends with Abriella though, and it was she that Delilah called from the hospital as she sat in shock after being taken there for evaluation by the ambulance that responded to the scene of Dreya’s murder.
She should have known something was up when it was less than a half hour till the beautiful brunette strutted into the hospital with her brother and obviously held command of the entire ER. Delilah was still in such a state of shock that it wouldn’t occur to her til days later that it was off. By then, she’d met Arch and knew about magic, a plantation house in the Louisiana bayou that made the T.A.R.D.I.S. seem a little dilapidated, and that there were beings amongst humans that weren’t. More surprises came later, including being granted her own immortality.
That was one thing that her guide that Abriella was going to give her was supposed to help with. Unlike everyone else sitting at the table, she had only been immortal less than two months. Annabella had been a complete doll, understanding what being a new immortal was like. She’d introduced her to her good friend Jean Pierre and his husband Armaund who had helped her through her initial transition. They were amazing too. However she was still grappling with everything. So, as Abriella drew close, Delilah grew nervous, very nervous.
For Abriella’s part, she was feeling pretty confident after three successes under her belt in pairing up her friends with other friends that could help them. Now she was coming up on another one that she felt might be the best match of all. When it came to the statuesque redhead that she adored and wanted to help heal from deep wounds and pain, there was only one person who came to mind. “Delilah, you were worried about coming and sticking out being so new to immortality and your life having been so different than everyone here. As you can see, even those who were born immortal have their share of issues and problems that they’re needing help with. You’ve had your own battles, not unlike the others, and not unlike those who have lived in Imperium for some time. After all, that is how we met, we needed something you had and that you did better than what some of us could do.” Abriella gave her a warm and affectionate smile. How she wished she could take the pain and worry from her friend, but that would not solve things. Some things had to be worked through, not just erased.
“Now you too are immortal and I can think of no one better to guide you through not only your introduction to Imperium but immortality than a dear friend of mine, Talon. A demi-god who has learned in the last few years that his life wasn’t exactly what he thought it was. So, starting over and discovering who he truly is, well that’s something he is very experienced in.” Dez chuckled and so did Deacon, then nodded in agreement. Talon had proven himself over the preceding months of navigating discovering that Thinius was his father, to handling all of the fallout from Talia’s insanity and ensuing drama when she had betrayed them all. Having to deal with learning that the first half of his life had been one big lie from his mother without ending up like his sister was something a few still were impressed by.
Tech nerd and weapons guru, how could Talon have asked for anyone better? It was like Abriella had given him the ultimate gift for not absolutely losing his shit since they’d been reunited. He’d have to make sure to get her a bomb gift later if he got along with Delilah. It seemed his life had been one twist or turn after another, but he’d somehow kept his footing with the help of his friends who were more like family. He was a mix between how his dad was dressed and Deacon, which fit him. He WAS like a mix of the two. Jeans and a button down shirt, sans tie. Ties were nooses you willingly put on. He wasn’t too formal, not too relaxed. All swagger as he crossed the room, fuck yeah…he was a demi-god after all.
He had to hand it to Abriella, her friend was HOT. No complaints from him in that department at all. Talon stopped in on the opposite side of the table from Delilah and gave her a wink. Then came a couple introductions. “He’s my dad,” he pointed to Thinius, who looked more like he could have been his brother, and who also gave her a short wave. “And he”, he pointed to Deacon, “is my best friend.” Deacon chuckled and gave a short mock salute. “So you’ve been warned. I can be a little crazy around those two especially, but I tend to be kinda down to earth round the rest of these assholes. And I slay at Gears of War, so you better be able to keep up, gamer girl.” He saw Del’s eyes light up and he knew he’d already scored a brownie point. Hot gamer girls were his thing and now he got one that was on this side of the screen, not a bad deal if he had to say so. He might have overhard she was single. Single for now? Possibly. He was a demi-god, who could resist?
She had to be dreaming. Had. To. Be. THIS was who Abriella was going to have working with her, and he was FLIRTING with her? Talon was drop dead fucking gorgeous and a gamer? She’d think Abriella was playing a joke on her, but had it been anyone else she would not have believed any of this was real. Del almost wanted to cry, she was so happy. Hopefully he had some kinda hot immortal friend who needed a girlfriend too. She was sure Talon already had one. Men like him didn’t walk around without one, not in her experience anyway. And that was fine. She could look, appreciate, and not touch. She’d just like one of her own eventually. Hell, it wasn’t like any of the men sitting at the table were bad looking. Of course Abriella had all the luck.
“That’s fine…I think you’ll be the one keeping up with me, few can.” She smirked up at him and winked. “I’ll be the judge of how good you are, pretty boy.” She had no idea where that self confidence came from, since she wasn’t sitting on another side of the screen with a headset on. There were laughs around the table, and Talon just grinned. No awkwardness at all as he came around and plopped down next to her and threw his arm on the back of her chair and gave the back of her hair a light tousle.
Abriella tried not to just stare at the newest pairing. They were getting along better that she could have even hoped. Delilah tended to be on the shy side. Talon could be as well, but he HAD been excited to meet her. He’d never even asked what she looked like. Tech, weapons, and a gaming setup was all he had to hear to be on board and excited. Those were the things he asked about, along with her personality. Maybe that’s why they were hitting it off, they were peas in a pod.
It did seem that things were going well and the arrangements were getting better with each one, and Yael was even smiling now, her hand more wrapped around Leandre’s than Deacon’s. Not that Brie was surprised. She knew that Yael needed a guardian, and Lee was definitely that. A Knight of Imperium and a member of her Royal Guard, his duty was just that, to guard and protect first and foremost. She had no doubt, he would do likewise for Yael.
Two more friends to go and she was trying to decide which one to do next. She decided to leave the most surprising for last. It was the one that she was most sure of, and the one that Div was as well, which still surprised her. However, it was also the one that they had told no one else about. Since everyone other than Cruz, Div, and Arch had been gathered in the same room, no one knew who would get called and she doubted anyone had been brave enough to ask. She looked forward to seeing the looks on everyone’s faces.
**Since I'm still dealing with some persnickety muses, I thought I'd share a piece from the past to give you a glimpse of what came before. This was a picture challenge from when I was RP'ing Abriella on Facebook as well as writing a solo story for her. I hope you enjoy.**
As Brie moved through the woods her footfalls were nie on silent. The soft leather soles of her boots conformed to the terrain below her feet as they also cushioned the impact of her strides. Her brother had returned that morning from his trip to the Conclave for a meeting on the current state of affairs with the worldwide demon uprising that they had all been facing. While he hadn’t said it, she could tell that something was weighing heavily upon his mind and that troubled her.
Since the Demonic Pixie incident in Chicago, Cruz had been more open with her regarding his concerns, thoughts, and plans. For him now to be silent was troublesome and made her worry that there was more going on that she would like to believe. What is it that could trouble him so that he would not share his ruminations with her? Even if she did not know, she was sure that whatever it was that did so occupy his thoughts, it could not be good.
The longer she lived within the confines of Sanctuary, the more she learned of her elder brother. She, like many who first encountered him, had thought him cold and distant when first they met. Now, she had discovered that through the years of loss, betrayal, and struggle he had learned to keep much to himself since the enemy took every opportunity to exploit even the slightest weakness that one would give indication of. As they had grown to know one another, then learned of their shared destiny, she had learned there was much more behind his hard set eyes and abrasive demeanor than one could ever guess.
As she neared a placid lake, she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up and a vibration of raw Divine power rolled over her skin. Divine as it may be, Brie was immediately on her guard. There was no reason that any Angel should be visiting her at this time, let alone while she was in the woods without accompaniment. Her hand on the hilt of the dagger that was sheathed at her hip, she tensed as she turned a slow circle. All of her senses were on high alert for detection of from which direction the angel would approach and if it were alone. As a normal course of action, Angels other than Deacon’s father did not often visit them.
From the woods stepped Nuriel, the flame-keeper of the Eternal Flame in Heaven and Olly’s father. Brie’s motion stilled as she watched the tall, powerful Angel walk towards her. Her head tilted and a look of slight confusion and wariness overtook the fine features of her face. “To what do I owe the honor of your presence Nuriel? My cousin is back with the rest of the Clave at Sanctuary, this is one of my rare moments alone.” Her tone held the reservation she felt as the male drew nearer, her hand still resting on the hilt of her dagger. She would not back down, nor would she bow to the Angel, she did not fear him as others did. Was it bravery or stupidity? Sometimes she could not say herself.
“I did not come to see my son, Gabrielle. I came to talk to she who has the confidence of War. For there are none others he will listen to, nor that he would confide in.” At the mention of her brother Brie tensed more, her fingers actually curling around the dagger’s hilt. It was known by all that the Angels did not trust her brother; but as to why, no one was sure. There had been rumors and stories, but she had never asked her brother the veracity of such.
“Fear not my child; I do not come to do you or him harm. Walk with me and I shall tell you what it is that weighs so heavily on your brother and why it is that you must keep him true.” Nuriel motioned along the path towards a stone bridge that lay at the other end of the lake and the path to it as he drew even nearer to the Nephilim. “I swear unto you that you shall not need that dagger that you now grip. For if harm were to befall you, I would face a fate far worse than being attacked by you.” His head inclined towards the path now and Brie turned to regard it further.
“As you wish, Nuriel. I will listen to what it is you have to say, but I cannot guarantee there is a thing I can do about anything to do with my brother. As you have known him longer than I, I am sure that you are aware that he is of his own mind and changing it even in the slightest is a monumental task. Not even his sister holds that kind of sway over him.” Her posture relaxed, however her hand remained on the dagger even as he came alongside her and they began to walk together along the dirt path that had been worn down over years of Nephilim feet treading over it.
As they walked, Nuriel began to recount the incident that had happened at the Conclave House while Cruz was there. While he did not know it, the Angelic parents of all the Horsemen had been watching. Forbidden from interfering they had only been allowed to observe what had transpired and bear witness to it into the future for others who doubted the events. As she listened, Brie still did not grasp the implications of the visitation since many times they had been relentlessly taunted by demons since they had been made Riders.
Finally Nuriel pulled her to a stop as they neared the bridge. He could sense she did not realize the peril that her brother’s soul and mind was in. “He has not spoken of his past, has he?” The Angel asked looking down at Brie. A slight shake of the head and a once again perplexed look were his only answer. “I see, I was hoping that one day he would confide in another so the burden could be lifted from him carrying it alone. Many centuries ago, your brother stumbled. He was aware of the darkness that flowed within his veins and had resisted it for almost 1,000 years by that time. The death of another that he felt responsible for him caused him to act out in rage and wrath. He called upon your Grandfather, the demons who served him, and the very Source of all Darkness to bring about retribution on his soul. It put a stain on his soul, on his aura, that no amount of servitude to the light can ever erase. Brie, he killed innocents in his quest for vengeance and the magic he used to do it damned their souls to Hell for all eternity, even if they were just and righteous people. He was lost in his pain, in his rage, and in his quest for ultimate retribution. He did accomplish it, but it changed him profoundly. Now evil has a greater chance of being able to take hold and pull him once again into the darkness of his mine and bloodline. The call of your Grandfather is no longer just a whisper in the background, but a loud and booming voice that often masquerades as his own. While he was able to reject the call of evil and the taunts of demons this time, it is the fear of those that serve the Divine that if continues to feel isolated from all his brethren that he shall eventually fall to the darkness.”
Nuriel gestured towards the bridge, “Do you see how the bridge reflects in the water to form a perfect circle? It is simply a reflection, not an actual circle. It is much how your brother is seeing things presently. The actual bridge is the past, but your brother is seeing the present and future like you see the reflection. It is his fear that he shall continue through similar happenings to what brought him to the darkness before and he shall again fall. It would be a complete circle, a complete failure, if he were to return again to calling upon the darkness for power and revenge. He does not see your current battle as different than that which he has always done and must be made to see reality instead of a reflection. His vision must be made right lest he fall into the trap that your Grandfather has set for him.”
Brie remained silent as she studied the bridge and listened to the Angel’s words. They were deep and profound. Now that she knew what her brother had done, what had happened to him to lead him down that path, she worried for his very soul. She now understood why he closed himself off, fearing rebuke, condemnation, and further alienation from his brethren whom she knew he would die to protect and save. It now weighed upon her own heart that he had been carrying the guilt and burden of what had happened for so long. Regardless of their partial divinity, they were no more perfect than any other being. She could not believe it was anything other than extreme pain that would have led him down the path to calling upon the Source of Darkness for help.
Turning to face Nuriel with a somber face she nodded slowly. “I shall speak to him; I will not allow him to fall into the darkness, Nuriel. He is who saved me, even when I tried to run from what I am. No matter what I have put him through, he has never given up on me, and I refuse to even consider giving up on him. While you may all be worried and concerned, I am not. For while he may have done that in the past, he is no longer that Nephilim and I will ensure that he never again will be.” Her voice and her face spoke of her resolution to ensure that Cruz would not fall. She’d face down her Grandfather himself, go into the very bowels of Hell, do whatever it took to ensure that he never felt alone with his burden again and to keep him safe from the evil she now knew stalked him. That’s what family does.
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These Hollow Vows & These Twisted Bonds by Lexi Ryan
Finally got around to reading the These Hollow Vows duology after having them on my shelf for months now. I've seen the series recommend everywhere and it ticked a lot of my fantasy series boxes.
To start, there was a lot I liked about these books! But this is not a series that I'll likely return to or put in the pantheon of my all time favorites... not by a long shot.
They're easy reads that go surprisingly quick, but the story comes to a close so fast that it kind of gave me whiplash. The second book in particular feels like where the story loses steam. I was a fan of the love interest and the romance plot. The side characters were all kind of inconsequential (especially the twin). Ultimately, the richness of the world building fell short when the uneven speed of the story prevented me from falling fully into it.
There are some great lines and interesting twists. If you want a high fantasy fae-focused series that isn't as dense as your average SJM, then maybe give these a whirl.
“No matter how hopeless I feel, there's always a little more hope inside me. No matter how faithless I think I am, there is always something to believe in.” - These Hollow Vows
But, I did have fun goofing around and designing something for this little quote. Jut something to amuse me while documenting all these fantasy books I'm reading.
