Reckless

Paedyn and Kai fall asleep after dancing. The next morning, Paedyn wakes up to find that Kai was injured by the stable hand they stole a horse from, so she dresses his wound with a piece of cloth. Once they’re ready to leave, she asks him to teach her how to ride the horse.

Kitt leaves his study for the first time in weeks and, despite still feeling overwhelmed by his new position, pretends to be collected and regal. He visits Gail in the kitchen, who is happy to see him and concerned about his well-being. He manages to appear well until she reminds him that he missed Ava’s birthday, at which point he flees the kitchen.

Paedyn and Kai have been collecting lost arrows from the deserted terrain, and Paedyn is learning to steer the horse. When Paedyn notices a glint coming from a higher boulder, she and Kai climb up to investigate and retrieve an abandoned bow. On the other side of the rocks, they find a beautiful, lush oasis and decide to bathe in the clear pool at the center of it. They get flustered when they remove their clothes and continue their banter and flirting. As it starts raining, they remind each other that they can keep pretending that they aren’t bound by their respective positions and give in to their impulses, kissing for the third time.

The downpour forces Paedyn and Kai to leave the grove, but their horse ran away, spooked by the thunder. They find shelter and collect wood, but it’s too damp to start a fire. When Kai asks Paedyn if she has any paper, she remembers her father’s journal. She tears up pages containing information about illnesses and remedies to help start a fire and then realizes that the journal also contains her father’s personal notes. Paedyn and Kai read them together, shocked by what they learn. The king was bribing Healers to lie about a supposed illness spread by the Ordinaries in order to justify killing them. Paedyn is elated to finally find proof of the lie, but Kai realizes that he has been forced to kill innocent people. They also learn about the beginnings of the Resistance, which Paedyn’s father helped start, and she reads that her mother died during childbirth along with her newborn but that a second baby was abandoned on her father’s doorstep soon after. Realizing that she was adopted, Paedyn struggles to reconcile the truth of her identity. Kai comforts her, pointing out that her father loved her despite his true relationship to her.

Kai and Paedyn reflect on everything they’ve learned and how those revelations impact their relationship. Kai now knows that Paedyn isn’t diseased, while Paedyn’s beliefs about the unfairness of the Ordinaries’ condition are vindicated. As they start admitting their true feelings about each other, they’re interrupted by bandits shooting arrows at them.

An arrow pierces Kai’s arm, and Paedyn helps him find shelter. She then uses the bow and arrows they found to kill four of the bandits. When she’s done, she panics because she has now murdered seven people. Kai comforts her again, and they resume walking, but a fifth bandit unexpectedly appears. The man is about to shoot Kai, so Paedyn jumps in front of him and knocks the arrow away. Kai then throws a knife at the man’s chest to keep Paedyn from having to kill once more, and she thanks him. Kai and Paedyn then find their way to a cave, where Paedyn tends to the prince’s wounds. While she does so, Kai confesses that he can’t hate her and that he dreamed of killing the king himself before she did. As she washes his blood away, Paedyn becomes overwhelmed because of the symbolic weight of her loved ones’ bloody deaths. She asks Kai to cut off her long braid, which is now covered in blood. Kai does so, and Paedyn feels like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders.

Kitt visits the ailing queen, who has been secluded in her tower since the king died. There, he runs into Jax, his adopted younger brother, who greets him warmly. Kitt has a short conversation with the queen, his stepmother, who assures him that he’ll make his father proud. She also tells him that the king left Kitt some letters to guide him in his new role.

Kai plans to show Paedyn’s father’s notes to Kitt and try to investigate the truth of the claims himself. Paedyn and Kai resume their journey, nearing “the field,” which lies between the Sanctuary of Souls and Ilya. Paedyn is amazed by the beauty of the large field, which is covered in bright poppies. She and Kai enjoy one last day of freedom and pretending, running playfully through the flowers and teasing each other. They dance again and share a tender moment before he takes her back to his brother.

Paedyn and Kai are making flower crowns when he suddenly notices the scar above her heart. She initially gets defensive and blocks the prince from seeing it, but the prince refuses to fight her, instead pleading to know what it is. Eventually, Paedyn relents and shows him the “O” that the king carved above her heart as a reminder of her status as an Ordinary. He’s angry about the king’s actions and tells her that the scar is only a reminder of her strength and resilience. They fall asleep on their last night of freedom.

As they wake up together on the morning that will seal their fates, Paedyn and Kai discuss their relationship. Paedyn wishes she could hate Kai because it would make it easier to accept her fate. However, Kai finally confesses that he can’t hate Paedyn because he’s in love with her.

After Kai’s confession, Paedyn admits her feelings too, and they give in to their desire to be with each other. They kiss in relief, but he suddenly detects Imperials coming toward them. He urges her to play along and pretend to be his prisoner.

Kai greets the Imperials as the Enforcer, cruel and distant. The soldiers lead them back to the palace, and Paedyn wonders what fate awaits her but trusts Kai with her life. As they pass through the streets of the city, people recognize Paedyn and throw insults at her for killing their king and betraying her people.

Kai and Paedyn are led to the throne room, where a crowd has gathered to witness the event. Kitt is now sitting on the throne and greets his brother coldly, ensuring that Kai hasn’t betrayed his promise.

Kitt then turns to Paedyn and introduces her to the crown as an Ordinary, a traitor, and a murderer. Paedyn owns up to her crimes and expects to be punished, but Kitt unexpectedly takes a small box out of his pocket. He reassures his subjects that he’ll tell them more about his decision later. He then takes out a ring and commands Paedyn to be his bride.

The Epilogue reveals Kai’s internal monologue as he reels from the shock of losing Paedyn to his brother.