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

by Stacia Stark

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

While I had no problem saying no when her safety was at risk, my instinct with her was always to say yes. To see her eyes light up. To make her smile.

never wanted her to feel alone like I had. Loneliness could swallow you until you were nothing but misery and rage.

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.

He lifted the woman in the way men did when they considered them precious.

Her cheeks flushed, those amber eyes burned, and I almost groaned. My entire body turned hard, and it took everything in me not to strip her shirt over her head and show her just how incredible sex would be when she was in this mood. I clamped my hand around the back of her neck, shoving down the urge to drag her to me. To make her listen.

Every woman eventually understood the truth of powerful men. She had more than enough winters behind her to learn such a lesson.

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

He leaned down, his mouth finding mine, and I twined my arms around his shoulders, holding him close. “Missed this,” he mumbled against my lips.

His grin was very male. And very smug. That grin said he was certain I was his once more.

I’d never felt safer than when I was wrapped in his arms.

You will find it is surprisingly easy for someone to use a population’s fear of the unknown—and their poor education—to control them with lies.”

I wasn’t entirely sure when this woman had become as necessary to me as the air in my lungs.

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.

“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.”

He leaned forward, caging me against the railing, and pressed a kiss to my neck. I arched for him.

My heart thumped erratically, my stomach tumbled, and my knees went a little weak. I wanted to drag him below deck and have my way with him. Would it always be this way between us?

He was surrounded by friends and family, and yet in this moment, he looked alone. I knew what that was like. I’d spent my life feeling alone in my village.

And then I was hauled into Lorian’s arms, and he was carrying me away from the ladder, pressing kisses to my face. “I take it you missed me.”

“I’m beginning to learn that pain left untended doesn’t fade—it festers.

Within moments, I was slamming the door behind us, locking it with a flick of my wrist, and placing Prisca on the floor in front of me. My hand was suddenly buried in her hair, my mouth covering hers, swallowing her surprised yelp. She pushed my shirt up, and I chuckled, enjoying how desperate she was for me. Only for me.

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.”

“Mine,” he said again. I narrowed my eyes, but he was already tightening his hand in my hair, holding me steady as he plundered my mouth. He kissed me like it was the last time we’d ever be together, and I kissed him back, basking in the feel of him. His tongue slid into my mouth, and I licked it with mine.

I was clamping around him, and he circled my throat with his hand. My gaze jumped to his. Lorian’s eyes were so dark they were almost black in the dim light, and the way he watched me…

My breath dried up, denial slowly giving way to realization. One side of his face was covered with a spider web. The mark glowed black and gold beneath his skin. The king’s web.