Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2)

by Rebecca Yarros

Love doesn’t even have the decency to die. It just transforms into abject misery.

Because love, at its root, is hope. Hope for tomorrow. Hope for what could be. Hope that the someone you’ve entrusted your everything to will cradle and protect it. And hope? That shit is harder to kill than a dragon.

“I’m fine. I promise. You guys have a great time.” I force a smile. “I’ll let you know if I need your help burying a body later.”

“We are the weapons, and this place is the stone they use to sharpen us.”

“I can handle pain.” I turn toward her. “I live in pain. I practically built a house there and set up a whole economy. I can take whatever they dish out.”

I’ll be ready to talk when the sight of you doesn’t make me want to bury my knife in your chest all the way to the fucking hilt.”

I think we’re better off killing him again.” “I’m down with that plan,”

I don’t have the option of not being all right.

I want to be the only person he unravels for.

“Me? Argue with you about books?” He shakes his head, sliding his hand to my cheek. “I only pick fights I can win.”

“There’s nowhere in existence you could go that I wouldn’t find you, remember?”

I just killed the vice commandant of the quadrant. What the fuck am I supposed to do now? Go back to class?

I warned you. I’m not sweet or soft or kind, and you fell anyway. This is what you get, Violet—me. The good, the bad, the unforgivable. All of it. I am yours.”

“You want to know something true? Something real? I love you. I’m in love with you. I have been since the night the snow fell in your hair and you kissed me for the first time. I’m grateful my life is tied to yours because it means I won’t have to face a day without you in it. My heart only beats as long as yours does, and when you die, I’ll meet Malek at your side. It’s a damned good thing that you love me, too, because you’re stuck with me in this life and every other that could possibly follow.”

“Try again. And this time, let’s try the revolutionary tactic of aiming, shall we?”

“What you want to be doesn’t change what you are without work.”

The problem with mankind is we too often find our souls to be a fair price for power.

“We do not eat our allies,” Tairn lectures. “You never let me have any fun.”

I need you to love all of me—not just what you decide to see.”

I’m quickly learning it’s possible to love someone and not want to be with them at the same time.

I love you enough to bear the weight of your disappointment.”

You’re my gravity. Nothing in my world works without you.”

I go where you go.”

I am the composer and the lightning is my orchestra.