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Kindle Notes & Highlights
The mark of shame—or as Tin thought of it, his badge of honor—was known in every corner of Oz. The Wizard had taken pity on him after Tin’s heart turned back into stone.
Shackled and bound, he’d been unable to escape as liquid iron was dripped slowly onto the side of his face.
The Wizard should’ve killed him. “There is no mercy in this world.”
“If you’re Dorothy,” he said carefully, “Where’s your little rat, Tutu?” Her eyes narrowed. “Toto.” “That’s what I said.”
“The fae you knew ten years ago wanted to be good.”
He may not consider her a friend anymore, but she still considered him one as she remembered his smile to her, from long ago, once more.
“Once a villain dies, another always rises. Good doesn’t always conquer evil.
“Tell me who I need to kill, because I don’t think you did this to yourself.” He stiffened at her words. The thought of Dorothy killing anyone made him irrationally protective of her and her still-pure heart.
As much as he hated to admit it, Tin’s hardened heart had felt something when she hadn’t flinched away. Her fingers had traced his scar without any sign of disgust and her hand had rested on his chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
But Dorothy… Her heat, her compassion, sent humming vibrations through him even now.
He didn’t care about the townsfolk or their opinions. He didn’t. Dorothy was … different.
Tin gripped the fabric over his chest. Something behind his breastbone cracked, shattered, exploded and a painful pounding suddenly assaulted him from the inside out. He gasped, his wide gaze locking onto Dorothy’s sleeping form. The raging pulse in his ears, the heavy thump thump thump beneath his ribs. His heart. It was back. Fuck!
Ah, he thought. There’s an emotion I remember. The shattering pain in his chest could be nothing other than heartbreak.
“If it’s my head you want,” he rasped, “it’s yours. I won’t fight you.”
“It’s yours,” he vowed. “You resurrected my heart when I thought it was gone forever, so its fate is yours. Rip it out and burn it to ash if that makes you happy. But know this: no matter how long you allow me to keep it, I will cherish this gift and use it to protect you.”
Tin wrapped his strong arms around her and leaned forward. The words came out in a rush as he whispered them at her ear, his breath tickling her flesh. “Tarragontin Aodh Greenbriar.”
He embraced her back, and mumbled beautiful words at the crook of her neck, “You may use me however you wish.”
He rolled over so he was facing her and draped his arm around her waist. “I’m the one who’s supposed to be holding you.”
“Just because she brought your heart back to life doesn’t mean she wants you.”
“My axe is yours, Thelia. My axe, my life, and my heart.” “I promise to take care of them,” she replied with tears glistening in her eyes. “Always.”
