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.

“Why would you do this?” Because I was tired of seeing the shadows beneath her eyes. Tired of seeing my wildcat grow depressed and withdrawn. I wanted to see her smile just once, even if she would never again smile at me.

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.”

Nothing hardened a woman like betrayal from a man she’d trusted. And then men had the audacity to call us cold.

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

I swallowed around the lump currently burning a hole through my throat. “This is never going to work. You and I. We’re doomed. You know that.” He sighed, and I closed my eyes, basking in the feel of his breath against my neck. “I know.” He slowly drew back. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t wish for you with every fucking breath for the rest of my life.”

We were both stressed, and we’d used each other. I’d made it clear it was a one-time occurrence, to combat some stress. I’d…slipped. That was all it was. Yes, you slipped right onto his cock.

I sucked in a deep breath, and the words came out in a rush. “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.”