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

by Tricia Levenseller

Men are the most sensitive individuals I have ever met, yet they claim it is women who are always close to hysterics.

“Hate is not love.” “Of course not,” Tekla says, “but it’s remarkable how often the two coincide.”

“When you hate someone so fiercely, they have to be worthy of that hatred. You wouldn’t ardently hate someone who was beneath your notice or someone who didn’t compare to you in wits or charisma. You have to be on equal grounds to hate someone so much. And that level of hate inherently comes with a level of respect. You’re recognizing that they’re an actual threat. That they compare to you.”

“You’d just saved me,” I say. “I owed you one.” “So now we’re even? Next time I’m in danger, you’ll let me die?” “Yes.”

“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.”

“What if I don’t want to burn down the world? What if all I want is my quiet country life?” “Then I’ll burn anyone who tries to take it away from you.”