To Ashes and Dust (Shadow and Moonlight, #3)

by Luna Laurier

“I will destroy you,” she growled, her body quaking, her voice venom, her promise a curse. A chill swept over me, and I steadied my bow, Arion’s body tensing beneath me. “And when I’ve destroyed you.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she lifted her murderous onyx gaze to me, and the sky seemed to darken. “I shall come for everyone you love, everything you hold dear… and you will watch as I make them suffer.”

I would die alone… but I’d be damned if I didn’t take out as many as I could when I fell.

If only she knew I didn’t call her my moon as a simple term of endearment. She was truly the light in my life, the light in the darkness guiding me forward. She’d named me her sun, without whom she could not glow as brightly in the darkness. And I would bask in her glow until the end of time.

“There will never be a right time for bad news, but you will be there for him, and he can be there for you. He would want to share your pain, no matter how horrible that may sound.”

don’t know which is worse; that Barrett and Zephyr are betting over my courage to headbutt a darkling, or that you think I’m dumb enough to try.”

There will come a time when we don’t have the luxury to celebrate the little victories. So, while we can, we celebrate. We bask in what little joys we find. We may live to regret it if we don’t savor the time we have left.”

War won or lost... I won’t lose you again.”

“To our little spitfire.” I rolled my eyes as Barrett spoke. “May she rain hell on the darklings and bring a peace like no other.”

Desire burned in those eyes, a flame so hot it might burn me, dancing under her skin. And Gods, I’d dance in those flames, let them consume me.

“If only I could find the words to express that it’s me who’s the lucky one—to have finally found you again.”

For too long, have these Kyrios gone without the rule of a queen. Prove to these males that, though beautiful, you are lethal.

“Sometimes, our laws are easily abused by those who aren’t as kind as you or me,

“I would change barbaric and misogynistic practices that hinder our people and do nothing to help our efforts.”

“We’ll take it down together or we’ll fall together.”

I love you too, mea sol. Always. If we fall... I swallowed. We’ll find each other again, just as we always have.

But I’d rather them be safe and happy than know who I am.”

Sometimes, I fear you’re too strong, mea luna, that you’re willing to sacrifice too much for others. I don’t want you to suffer any more than you already have, and to see someone you love and them not see you, not know you... It’s more painful than words can describe.”

“If you wanted on top, all you had to do was ask,”

“You’re just cute when you’re around books. You get this look in your eyes,”

“Would my company be an encouragement? Or a distraction?”

“Shift for me. Show me that pretty owl I’ve heard so much about,”

“Fly, spitfire.”

“I’ve lived my entire life dealing with doctors, nurses, and family members treating me like I’m fragile, breakable. I’m not glass, Damien. I don’t have much time left, but I’ll be damned if I live it sheltered. I’ve regretted every decision I’ve made in minding my parents’ caution, letting them keep me home, keep me from school, from... everything.”

“When we met, you treated me like a normal person. You saw me, not my illness—you treated me the way I’d always wanted to be treated.

“No matter how little time we have left, I’d rather spend it together as a bonded pair, as one. Nothing would ever change that.”

“Well, maybe she’s not important to you, Selene, but she’s everything to me! You may not be willing to, but if it meant dying for her, I’d do it, and I will.”

“I vow to protect you. My goddess. My queen. My mate,” he said, and my heart fluttered, his thumb brushing over mine as he continued. “Until the end of everything. Until the sun burns up and the moon crumbles to dust. I will always love you. I will always be at your side. I will always be yours.”

“From this day, until my last, I vow to remain at your side.” My heart fluttered as his intense gaze pierced through me, his hand bracing mine to his chest. “To help carry your burdens and soothe your sorrows.” I drew a sharp breath as the skin beneath my palm grew warm, and my eyes fell to his chest. “I vow to be your strength when you are at your weakest.” The shadows inked into his skin shifted and moved, something fading into view in the gaps of his tattoo. “And your confidence when you feel doubt.” “I vow to protect you. My goddess... My queen... My mate,” he said, and new runes formed amidst the others. “Until the end of everything. Until the sun burns up and the moon crumbles to dust. I will always love you. I will always be at your side. I will always be yours.”

“My life was never meant to last, and that I was able to meet you, if only for this brief time...” I lifted my eyes back to his, my lips quivering as I spoke. “It’s more than I could’ve ever asked for.”

I didn’t care what it cost, didn’t care who suffered. I would burn the world to ashes and dust if it meant she lived.