A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty (Kingdom of Lies, #2)

by Stacia Stark

The wildcat was mine, and I would protect her until she came to that exact realization.

In my darkest moments, when I missed her the most—even as she sat right next to me—I listed what I did know. And I wondered if those small details would be enough to carry me through the rest of my life.

“You can tell yourself whatever makes it easier for you to hate me, wildcat. But it was real. All of it.”

“Hate me, rage against me, refuse to admit what you feel. But don’t you dare treat me like a stranger.”

“But that doesn’t mean I won’t wish for you with every fucking breath for the rest of my life.”

I was tired of fighting it. It was time to make sure my wildcat knew I’d wanted her from the start. And I would want her until the end.

“Why?” “I told you why. Because you’re mine.” He said the words as if he were commenting on the weather. As if they were simply fact.

“I’ve gone my whole life feeling like I’m holding my breath. Like my lungs are burning. Like I’m desperately fighting for each gasp of air. But when you’re around, I can…breathe. And I’m furious at you, because when that ends…when we’re forced apart, I don’t know how I’ll take a full breath without you.”

“Oh, wildcat. Don’t you know by now? I would have found you. No matter what happens, I will always find you.”

“I’ll take everything from you, wildcat. You’re mine.”

“I once told you that until you faced up to the reality of your life, you would continue to be a victim to it. And my reality is this—I’m in love with you.”