Blood and Ash, #2
A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Contents
Chapter Thirty-Three
Overview
Poppy and Casteel clash over the expected match with Gianna, exposing rifts around secrets, trust, and what their intimacy means. Casteel insists he never promised marriage, demands honesty, and confesses how Poppy makes him forget his burdens, unlike Shea. Their breakthrough is cut short when Emil warns the sky is on fire.
Summary
Woken by Casteel in her room, Poppy bristles over his intrusion and the revelation that he was expected to marry Gianna. Their flirtation turns tense as Poppy challenges his presence and motives, while Casteel needles her denials of desire and attempts to confirm her feelings.
When Poppy pointedly suggests he visit Gianna’s bed instead, Casteel recoils, and the simmering conflict erupts. He clarifies he never promised marriage, that the expectation came from his father to anchor him and end his search for Malik. Poppy counters that he withholds truths, listing unanswered questions about his past, the throne, Spessa’s End, the Joining, Gianna, and the woman he once loved.
Pressed, Casteel explains he came to learn if Poppy’s dinner admissions were real—that she chose him then and now, and that she feels she betrays her fallen. He demands “everything,” while Poppy admits she is overwhelmed and confused. Casteel confesses his plans derailed from the moment of the Red Pearl; with Poppy he forgets the kingdom’s burdens and Malik’s torment, a stark contrast to Shea, with whom he never forgot his obligations.
His admission lays bare pain, guilt, and depth of feeling, shaking Poppy’s assumptions about his past and intentions. As the emotional impasse begins to crack, Emil pounds on the door with urgent news, and Casteel warns him away. Emil forces the interruption: the sky is on fire.
Who Appears
- Poppy (Penellaphe)Confronts Casteel about Gianna, demands honest answers, admits confusion, and challenges his secrecy and motives.
- Casteel Da’NeerDenies any promise to Gianna, seeks confirmation of Poppy’s feelings, demands full honesty, and confesses how she unmoors him.
- EmilInterrupts the confrontation with an urgent warning that the sky is on fire.
- GiannaOff-page; central to the conflict as Casteel’s long-expected match, prompting questions of trust and commitment.
- SheaOff-page; Casteel contrasts his past love with Poppy, revealing he never forgot obligations with Shea.