Flame and Sparrow (Flame and Sparrow Duology Book 1)

by S.M. Gaither

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said, quietly but firmly. “I spoke the truth that day on the platform—I intend to serve in your court. I will become divine, or I will die trying.”

“Well, I suppose it’s lucky I’ve never based my worth on how useful I could be to a man. Or to a god, for that matter.”

“Well, I would tell you to feel free to think of this mouth while I’m gone,” I said, “but I’m sure you were already planning to think about it.” His gaze finally fixed on me, burning with possibility and promise as he said, “Among other things.”

A monster, but a monster who had gifted me the sun. Who had offered me healing in every way he could after my trials…and then let me go when he saw no other way to aid in that healing. He was still the villain. I couldn’t forget that. It was just… In my head, I’d written our story much differently.

“Sometimes we hold on to painful things, I think, because letting them go feels like letting go of the person who gave them to us.”

“So perhaps I’ll just stand among the ashes with you,” he said, “and admire your work.” “I could allow that.”

“I fell asleep with you in my arms, woke up the same way, and now everything else feels unbalanced in comparison. You’ve ruined me, I’m afraid, and it’s obvious to anyone paying attention—Valas

I’d once told him I didn’t need him to burn the world down for me, but in that moment, I had no doubt that he would have done it—that he would have set fire to anything I asked, but never let the flames touch me. And it was a strange thing, to feel so safe in the arms of someone capable of such destruction.