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. So, I’d give her the time she needed—just enough time for her to understand she belonged with me.

And if she ever learned just how close she was to having the Bloodthirsty Prince wrapped around her finger, she would likely laugh until she was breathless.

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 easiest for you to hate me, wildcat. But it was real. All of it.”

“When it comes to your survival, you cheat,” he snarled. “You cheat and you lie. You fight dirty. And you do whatever else it takes to stay alive.”

“Stop. I never want you to feel like you’re not enough for me. Gods, you were enough the moment you took my hand in that dungeon while Tibris was healing me.

I’ll find you. Wherever you are. Even if you’re in Hubur. I’ll make my way to the underworld, and I’ll drag you back.”

I wasn’t entirely sure when this woman had become as necessary to me as the air in my lungs. Maybe it was when she finally understood how to use her power—and used it to freeze me in place so she could kick me in the balls. Perhaps it was the moment I realized she’d never gotten on that ship. And she was instead in the most dangerous place she could possibly have been as she fought to free her best friend. It might have been when I saw her dying in that fucking castle and realized I was so completely out of my mind, it might as well have been me who was poisoned. Maybe it was the way her voice had shaken with rage when she’d learned of my life in that camp when I’d only seen nine winters. Her fury that she couldn’t turn back time and rescue the boy I’d been. There were so many moments that had shown me who she was. Had demonstrated her bravery, loyalty, and cunning. 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.

“You can raise all the walls between us that you like. I’ll knock them down one by one. In the end, it will be us, wildcat.”

“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.”

“I’m afraid,” I admitted. His huge hand cupped my cheek. “I know. It’s how you act despite your fear that counts.”

Her eyes filled. “I know. But if we blame ourselves, if we allow it to cripple us, he wins. You’re allowed to feel like shit. You’re allowed to sleep for a couple of days and shut out the world. But then you have to get up and keep moving. Because we’re all counting on you.”

“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.”