Cold Palaces, Hot Tension — Quicksilver Part 2

Chapters 7-12

Check out the playlist that I think fit the Quicksilver vibe

Tarot Cards of the Day: The High Priestess & Page of Swords

Before we even get into the chaos, the court politics, or the “OMG he’s hot” moments, I pulled two cards for today — and honestly, they couldn’t fit these chapters better. The High Priestess brings that deep, intuitive, “there’s more going on here” energy that absolutely matches the vibe of Yvelia. Secrets everywhere. Half‑truths. You know they’re hiding knives behind their backs.

And then there’s the Page of Swords, which is basically Saeris in card form right now. Curious. Sharp. Asking questions she probably shouldn’t ask. Learning fast. Poking at things (and people… looking at you, Kingfisher) just to see what happens. It’s that restless, hungry‑for‑answers energy that pushes her deeper into alchemy, deeper into the court’s mess, and deeper into her own identity.

Together, these cards set the perfect tone for today’s chapters:

Trust your instincts. Stay curious. And don’t be afraid to dig beneath the surface — even if what you find changes everything.

Buckle up book besties. There’s a lot to get through today.

Entering Yvelia’s Cold, Glittering World

Stepping into Yvelia feels like stepping into a completely different spectrum of existence for Saeris. After the scorching brutality of Zilvaren’s twin suns, the single sun and cool jewel‑toned landscape of Yvelia feel almost unreal. There’s actual night and day here, and even the air seems gentler, though Saeris is freezing, and as an Arizona girl with family that lives in Ohio, I felt that in my soul. Everlayne teasing her for wanting another layer had me laughing, especially since the Winter Palace’s “comfortable” temperature is anything but for our girl.

The Grand Hall of the Yvelian Court is breathtaking in a way that borders on intimidating. Fifty rows of seating filled with fae line the hall on each side, all watching, all assessing. The labradorite dais (yes, I Googled what the hell labradorite is. And it is so pretty! Apparently its very popular among crystal enthusiasts. I need to get one. Have I seen this before and just don’t know what it is?) and the massive skull of the dragon Omnamshacry hanging over the dais added an air of mystery. If it’s in the pronunciation guide, it’s important. I’m watching that skull.

Labradorite

Labradorite is a mystical gemstone known for its iridescent optical effect called labradorescence, displaying a range of colors including blue, green, yellow, orange, red, and purple. It is a type of feldspar mineral first discovered in Labrador, Canada, and is believed to possess powerful healing properties and meanings, often used in meditation and spiritual practices. Labradorite is found in various locations, including the United States, Canada, Madagascar, and Russia. It is valued not only for its beauty but also for its metaphysical properties, making it popular among crystal enthusiasts.

King Belikon Enters the Chat

He’s every inch the formidable warrior‑king. He holds the sword Saeris pulled from the Hall of Mirrors, but only with a gloved hand, which immediately raises some questions for me. Is there a reason why he can’t hold the sword with his bare hands?

Saeris, being Saeris, shows very little respect to the court, and Belikon lets it slide… for now. But when he mentions that the fae are praying a “holy position” hasn’t fallen to “unholy blood,” when they find out a human has awakened the quicksilver, it’s another loud hint that Saeris’s parentage is far from simple.

And then he summons “the dog,” who turns out to be Death who carried Saeris into the pool of quiksilver, who turns out to be Kingfisher—and he arrives absolutely feral. Belikon calls for his head immediately, but the Oracle, Malwae, steps in with a prophecy that stops everything cold. The moment the pendant is placed around Kingfisher’s neck, he calms, and he’s assigned to help Saeris. Its a bit suspicious that King Belikon wants the sword and the pendent.

When Saeris finally gets a good look at him—jade green eyes with silver filaments forming a metallic corona around his pupil—it’s clear he’s one of those devastatingly beautiful fantasy men who’s going to cause problems. Yes. Please.

Snow, Libraries, and Lingering Suspicion

As Saeris explores Yvelia, the landscape continues to surprise her. Things that she’s never seen before. Mountains, lush trees. Snow. The fae aren’t exactly welcoming, but the world itself is stunning. We learn her mother was a librarian, which raises questions about how someone from the third ward learned to read so well. What is her true social status? Then there’s Rusarius, the Winter Palace librarian, who seems pleasant enough but gives off a faintly suspicious vibe I can’t shake.

Meanwhile, Kingfisher is armored like he expects an assassination attempt at any moment, and his sword, Nimerelle, was made by alchemists. The sword that Saeris pulled from the quicksilver pool is named Solace. It is the same blade Madra used to seal the pathways between worlds. The more we learn, the more tangled everything becomes.

Curses, Blood, and Family Secrets

Kingfisher eventually gives Saeris a crash course in Yvelian history, and it’s… a lot. Humans used to be common here but as of this moment she is the only living human. The fae once had a curse that forced them to drink human blood to maintain immortality. The curse is gone, but the fangs remain. And then Everlayne casually drops the bomb that she and Kingfisher are siblings. The reactions in the room say everything—they weren’t supposed to say that part out loud. Hmmmmmmmm. That’s suspicious.

Kingfisher’s pendant was a gift from his mother. She gave it to him the night before they came to the Winter Palace. It’s one of the strongest relics. I’m thinking there’s something stronger out there since they didn’t flat out say that it was. Or are we foreshadowing???

He was forced to travel a pathway without it, and the quicksilver overtook him. A healer removed most of it, but some remains—his eye.

We get a glimpse of Fisher’s magic. Not only does he clean, but he repairs the forge with darkness. Literal shadow‑daddy energy. Saeris is furious because they spent hours cleaning it manually.

Alchemy Lessons and the First Word of Power

Saeris’s first alchemy lesson reveals that alchemy is a form of magic—ancient, forgotten, and long dead. There were once three branches: immortality seekers, metalworkers and inventors (Saeris’s branch), and healers. She asks why she can understand the language, and the answer is simple and unsettling: Madra. The language is common fae.

Everlayne is 1,486 years old, Kingfisher is 1,733, and they look like they’re in their 20s and 30s. Fae longevity is wild. Despite their friendliness, Ren and Everlayne haven’t really told Saeris much of anything. She only learns things by eavesdropping. Kingfisher promised answers, so she asks him about the town he razed. He refuses to tell her anything about the incident.

Kingfisher throws her into the deep end when it comes to learning how to get the quicksilver to listen to her. First she has to listen to it. She hears a single word: Annorath Mor. I have so many questions.

What does it mean?

Who is it connected to?

Why did the quicksilver choose that word?

Dresses, Drama, and Rising Heat

Everlayne keeps dressing Saeris in gowns she hates, even though plenty of fae women wear pants. Saeris points this out, but Everlayne insists she’s “too pretty” for them, which makes me think that Everlayne is absolutely treating Saeris like a dress up doll.

We also learn the truth about Kingfisher and Everlayne’s parentage, and it only complicates things further.

Everlayne and Kingfisher have the same mother. Their mother was married to a southern lord named Finran, who was trapped in Zilvaren when the quicksilver stilled. Finran was Fishers dad. Belikon blamed him for the quicksilver stilling, declared him a traitor. Less than a year later, Belikon forced their mother into marriage to prove she isn’t a traitor as well. There’s also talk that he did it for her wealth. I’m going to call BS on that one. Could it have been a factor? Absolutely. But there is definitely more to it than that. She died giving birth to Everlayne, and Belikon blames Kingfisher for it. Saying that he used up their mother when he was born. He also blames Kingfisher for Everlayne being a girl. As with all books that I’ve read about Fae, Having children is rare. They still haven’t said WHY Belikon hates Kingfisher so much!

And then there’s the sexual tension. Kingfisher turns Saeris on and he knows it. Fae can smell arousal.

Did I mention that the banter in this book is elite!

Oath Bound Fae, Relics, and a Fox in the Forge

Kingfisher drops a fascinating line: humans aren’t bound by the same laws as the Oath Bound Fae. Capitalized. Deliberate. Loaded with meaning but he doesn’t elaborate. Are they all Oath Bound and cannot lie?

He’s on a mission now that he knows for certain Saeris is an Alchemist. He wants to bind it to an object and create another relic for safe travel. Which makes me wonder if something is wrong with one of the relics he already wears.

Then we get the fox‑in‑the‑forge scene, which is hands‑down the funniest moment so far. And when Kingfisher conjures new clothes for Saeris—clothes she actually likes—it feels like a small but meaningful shift between them. He listens to her, knows she is uncomfortable in the clothes his sister forces her to wear, and the clothes are also a direct reflection of him. Swoon.

And then that final scene… whew. The heat level went from simmer to full boil in seconds. If this is where we are before the halfway mark, I’m ready!

Spill the Tea

• What do you think “Annorath Mor” means?

• Do you trust Everlayne and Renfis?

• What’s your theory on Kingfisher’s past and why Belikon hates him so much?

Poll time! Which mystery are you most desperate to unravel?

• Saeris’s parentage

• Kingfisher’s past

• Belikon’s obsession with the pathways

• The truth about the Oath Bound Fae

Final Thoughts from the Winter Palace Balcony

Day 2 pulled us deeper into Yvelia’s secrets, its messy royal family, and the volatile magic of the quicksilver. Saeris is learning fast, pushing boundaries, and accidentally flirting with a fae warrior who can smell her emotions. Tomorrow, in chapters 13–18, hopefully we’ll peel back even more layers — alchemy, prophecy, and the growing storm around Saeris’s identity.

I’d love for you to keep reading with me.