Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2)

by Rebecca Yarros

It was never our continent. From the very beginning, it was theirs, and we were simply allowed to live here.

“How long do you think it takes for someone to fall out of love?” He studies the skyline. “A day? A month? I’m asking because I don’t have any experience with it.”

“Less than a minute,” Xaden whispers as Sgaeyl moves toward him—toward us. “That’s how long it took for you to fall out of love with me.”

“My love isn’t fickle.”

“I love you,” Xaden says as the wyvern closest to me banks away from the wards, falling into a turning dive, only to gain speed and climb again, leveling out behind the lead two before flying straight

“Even if you believe nothing else I ever say, please believe that.” “Do not speak to her as if death is a possibility,” Tairn snaps,

“Let me in. If only for a second, please let me in.”

what appears to be onyx marked with a complex rune I couldn’t even begin to replicate. And the damned thing is humming.

“You’re capable of hurting me in ways I’m not sure you’ve even begun to fathom, Violet. I might be skilled enough to land a death blow, but you alone have the power to fucking destroy me.”

“Sure as hell not in our bedroom.” His knee separates mine. “We don’t fight in there.” “Since when?” That’s the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever heard. It’s the only private space we have in this entire house. “Since right now. I just made that rule. No fighting in our bedroom.” “That’s not how this works.”

“I love you,” I whisper. “You could throw my entire world into upheaval, and I would still love you. You could keep secrets, run a revolution, frustrate the shit out of me, probably ruin me, and I would still love you. I can’t make it stop. I don’t want to. You’re my gravity. Nothing in my world works without you.” “Gravity,” he whispers, a slow, beautiful smile curving his mouth. “The one force we can never escape,” I tease. Then my smile falls. “I mean it, though.” I lift my brows at him. “You have to let me all the way in, or all the love in the world won’t hold this together. I am a person who needs information to center myself.”

“Tell me we’re all right. Tell me this didn’t break us.” “Promise you won’t use it on me again.” I hold his gaze and curl my fingers into the fabric of his shirt. “I promise,” he whispers, then kisses me softly. “Now, do you want your presents?” “Presents?” I arch my body up against his. “You lost two of your daggers fighting Solas. I had two new ones made.” A slow smile spreads across his face. “Just have to disarm me, and they’re yours.” I slide my hand down his chest and do just that.

It’s where I fell in love with Xaden and learned just how much had been omitted

At its core, magic demands balance. Whatever you take will be recouped, and it is not the wielder who determines the price.

My ass hits the desk and I hold tighter, kiss him harder as he slants his mouth over mine again and again, taking everything I offer and giving it right back. This isn’t the slow exploration we’d shared last night, lingering on every touch, knowing it might be the last time. It’s frantic and wild, hot and desperate. My hand spears into his hair, holding him closer, like I still have Andarna’s ability to stop time, like I can hold us in this moment if I just keep kissing him. He groans into my mouth and his fingers work the buttons

Though there is some debate, it is greatly believed that turning venin heightens one of the dark wielder’s senses. It is this scholar’s belief that the one responsible for the death of King Grethwild developed keener eyesight. For not even the best of His Majesty’s royal fliers could see through the darkness the venin hid within to slay our beloved king. —Major Edvard Tiller’s Unaccredited Study of the Venin

“I love you. The world does not exist for me beyond you.” Leaning

“Even Malek himself couldn’t keep me from you.”

“You will turn for something much more dangerous…” Wasn’t that what he said in the nightmare?

“I’m buying her the time she needs,” Xaden answers, and my stomach sinks. “And they won’t attack. Not yet. They’re still waiting.” “What the fuck for?” Melgren snaps. Xaden’s hand tightens around mine. “Me.”

You’re going to love Violet. She’s smart and stubborn. Reminds me a lot of you, actually. You just have to remember when you meet her: she’s not her mother. —Recovered Correspondence of Cadet Liam Mairi to Sloane Mairi

“But your home…” It’s softer than a whisper. “You are my home. And if we all die here today, then the knowledge dies with us anyway. Ward Basgiath.” “You’re sure?” My heart beats like the second hand

don’t want to leave you, and I have about a million questions as to why you think they’re coming for you, but if I don’t…” Every fiber of my being rebels at the notion of leaving him.

He kisses me hard and quick, then looks at me like this will be the last time he ever sees me. “I love you.” Oh…gods. No. I refuse to accept the goodbye in his tone. “You will stay alive,” I order Xaden, then glance to the waiting horde, the figure of the Sage who is nearly to the ground, taking his time as if this is all a game he’s already won, and finally to Tairn. “Stay with him.” Tairn growls, raising his lip over his fangs. “Stay with him for me. Don’t you dare let him die!”

My chest tightens, and I think of Xaden. Xaden, and the scent of thunderstorms, and books.

You would have the mind of a scribe and the heart of a rider. You would be mine.” She leans into my hand. “You are as unique as I am. We want the same things.”

“I chose you not as my next, but as my last, and should you fall, then I will follow.”

“Your friends are dying, Cadet Mairi. Tyrrendor’s heir is fighting for his life, and you can stop it. You can save them all.” She picks up her free hand, and to my dread, Sloane doesn’t drop the other from the stone.

“Xaden’s dying,” I whisper. Sloane’s

But it will be worth it to save the one I love. Violet. “Fight!” I scream down the bond at all three of them, shouting past blood and vengeance. Wrath and fire. The sour taste of wyvern flesh between her teeth. “You can do this,” Mom says, her voice soothing.

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you safe. Do you understand? Everything was to get you to this moment, when you’d be strong enough—” She falls to her knees but doesn’t let go of Sloane.

Most generals dream of dying in service to their kingdom. But you know me better than that, my love. When I fall, it will be for one reason only: to protect our children.

What is it about me that fails the females in my life?

“I told you once that you’d turn for love,” he says, holding his arms out. “And so you shall.”

“A Sage?” He laughs. “I am a general.”

Satisfaction courses through me in a high better than churam. “Generals die the same as soldiers.” I fight with my own arms to get them to move, but they don’t obey, having gone into muscle failure long before he hefted me into the sky.

“You cannot!” Sgaeyl shrieks. “I chose you!” But Violet chose me, too. I reach.

“I love you,” I whisper, just because I can, and then I climb from the bed as quietly as possible and dress quickly in the

I’d just murdered everyone who stood between me and Violet. It’s ironic that’s the cell I end

“All this time, you’ve been convincing everyone you’re the hero, and now you’ll be the villain…especially in her story. Welcome to our fucked-up family. Guess we’re brothers now.”