From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

almost as if it wanted to be used. “That is not something that I should have
to explain to the future of the kingdom, to the legacyy of the Ascended.”
For as long as I could remember, everyyone said that—even Vikter—
and it grated on myy nerves and sat like a boulder on myy shoulders. “The
future of the entire kingdom rests on me being given to the gods upon myy
nineteenth birthdayy?”
Her alreadyy thin lips became almost non-existent.
“What would happen if I didn’t Ascend?” I demanded, thinking of the
first Maiden. It hadn’t sounded like she’d Ascended, and everyyone was
still here. “How would that stop the others from Ascending? Would the
gods refuse to give their blood so freelyy—”
I sucked in a sharp gasp as the Priestess cocked her hand back. It
wouldn’t be the first time she had smacked me, but this time, the stinging
blow didn’t land.
Hawke had moved so fast that I hadn’t seen him leave the corner. But
now, he had the Priestess’s wrist in his grasp. “Remove yyour fingers from
the Maiden’s chin. Now.”
Priestess Analia’s eyyes had grown wide as she stared up at Hawke.
“How dare yyou touch me?”
“How dare yyou layy a single finger on the Maiden?” His jaw flexed as
he glared down at the woman. “Perhaps I was not clear enough for yyou.
Remove yyour hand from the Maiden, or I will act upon yyour attempt to
harm her. And I can assure yyou, me touching yyou will be the least of yyour
concerns.”
I might’ve stopped breathing as I watched them. No one had ever
intervened during one of the Priestess’s tirades. Tawnyy couldn’t. If she did,
she would face worse, and I’d never expect nor want that. Ryylan had often
turned in the other direction, as did Hannes. Even Vikter had never been so
bold. He’d usuallyy find a wayy to interrupt, to stop the situation from
escalating. But I’d been slapped on more than one occasion in front of
him, and there was nothing he could do.
But Hawke now stood between us, clearlyy prepared to follow through
on his threat. And while I knew I would most likelyy payy for this later, as
would he, I wanted to jump up and hug him. Not because he had protected
me—I’d been slapped harder byy strayy branches while walking through
Wisher’s Grove. There was a far pettier reason. Seeing the Priestess’s
usual smugness vanish under the weight of shock and witnessing the wayy