The Darkness Within Us (The Shadows Between Us, #2)

by Tricia Levenseller

“Just look at her. So long as she keeps her mouth shut, someone will offer for her.”

“Considering both my parents no longer walk this world, perhaps you can glean why I take such high offense.”

I thought no man claimed to be his father?

If those two men are valets, then I’m the empress of all seven kingdoms.

The duke is not staying here. He made such a fuss over having the master suite, and yet, he does not sleep here. He doesn’t even keep his things here, except for one chest. Well, that poses two new questions. Why isn’t he sleeping here? And where is he sleeping instead?

Upon your engagement to the man of your choosing, I will grant you a dowry of ten thousand necos. Per the Shadow Queen’s edict, this money is for your personal use, and your future husband will have no right to it. In addition, you will receive your monthly stipend as stipulated in my grandfather’s will. And if you marry well, I’m sure you can negotiate an additional stipend from your new husband. You will be wed and rich. I will be alone and happy. We both win.”

“Oh, just find a sexy man, is that it? What happens when he opens his mouth? Seriously, it’s like you haven’t met a man.”

It occurs to me that my initial assumptions were all wrong. The firing of the servants, sending away the men refurbishing the house, trying to be rid of me—it’s not all solely to enrage me. It’s to get as many people away from him as possible. He was telling the truth just now when he said it wasn’t me. It’s him.

1. Secure money to hire a private investigator to find proof of Eryx’s deceit. 2. Figure out Eryx’s secret. 3. Learn where he’s sleeping at night.

As a mood reader, I generally don’t plan out my reads ahead of time.

“How did Vander ever mistake you for a simpleton? You’re craftier than a fox.” “Perhaps Vander is the simple one.”

“No one,” he says, “no one is going to touch you like that again. I will make sure of it.”

“I do not care what you look like, Eryx Demos. You will not win arguments by shifting in front of me.”

“You did this to me,” Sarkis yells as he wipes at the wispy blackness. “I saved your life!” “No, you made me into a monster.” “No, I accidentally gave you my abilities. You became a monster all on your own.”

“You’ve never been afraid of what I am. I like that. The beast thrills at that. I see you as something more than an equal, Chrysantha. You’re so much better than me.” “I already knew that.” And as though the sarcastic comment is more than he can bear, his eyes lower to my mouth before his lips are upon mine.

When he stops at my ear, he whispers in a deep growl, “Tell me where you like to be kissed.”

“You’ve been hurt by all the men in your life. I don’t want to be another one. I need you to tell me what’s okay. I don’t know where to touch you or where to kiss you. I don’t know what’s too hard or too soft, with my extra strength. I don’t want to hurt you,” he repeats.

“You. You make me forget all my rules and reasons for everything. You make me want to believe it’s possible not to be alone forever. You make me want to claim the whole world and gift it to you on a silver platter. You are unlike anyone I’ve ever known. And gods, but I love your mouth. The way it smiles. The words that come out of it. How it feels against mine. Just looking at your lips makes my mouth water.”

“I think we are a good match.” “If you think fire and oil are a good match.” “Exactly. Together, we could burn the world down if we wanted to.”

“This is what I care about. This connection. This understanding. You were made for me.”

She was cut off from his will and money. Eryx paid off Vander with this painting in exchange for writing him back into the will and taking everything else from you. He was the heir, but everything rightfully belongs to you.”

“If the gods didn’t want us killing men, then they shouldn’t have allowed them to hurt us so much.”

“I love you. I fought loving you, but it was as inevitable as the sun rising every day. For you are my equal in nearly every way and my superior in all the rest.”