All This Twisted Glory (This Woven Kingdom, #3)

by Tahereh Mafi

Heavens. For as long as she could remember, someone had been trying to kill her. She was, quite frankly, tired of it.

“I’m not mad at you,” he said, his voice hard. “I’m mad that someone tried to kill you. I simply don’t understand why you’d put yourself in so dangerous a position—”

offer you my kingdom,” he said, the rasp of his voice unrecognizable, “in exchange for your hand in marriage. And I vow never to touch you unless you should desire that I do. Once I’m discharged of my debt to the devil, I offer you my life. You are free to kill me then at your discretion, for I will die willingly at your hand.”

Should you choose to accept my oath, my blood is yours to claim. Wear my pledge upon your back, then speak aloud my name.

“The bond is too fresh.” Hazan shook his head. “I’m afraid you can only quiet his pain at the moment. He will endure this agony regardless; it’s only a matter of how much.”

“Cyrus?” She was panicking now. “Cyrus, can you speak?” “It’s best if you don’t force him,” said Hazan quietly. “For him, the hell of this night has only just begun.”

“I’ll be here,” she said. “I’m not going anywhere.” Then, softer, her lips grazing the curve of his ear: “You can’t lie to me forever, Cyrus. I’m going to find out the truth about you, and when I do, I promise you this: I’ll ruin him. I’ll make the devil regret the day he was born.”