Shadows So Cruel (Court of Ravens, #2)

by Liv Zander

What in the ever-loving fuck had just happened?

That’s my good girl.

But that was before… Before I’d had her blood on my lips, her scars between my teeth, her throat in my clasp, her moans in my ear, her reddened ass beneath my palm, her tongue gliding along my blade, her cunt tightening around my cock in pleasure and pain. It was before she’d spent cold winter mornings on my lap at my desk, the both of us wrapped in a blanket, practicing her gods-awful handwriting. That was before I fell in love with her…

I’m sorry for raping you while I tried to force our bond, so here is a courting gift for you?

“Surely, you are not going to act coy now, considering how it took two grown men, their cocks, and a lot of cotton shreds to handle you the night of our bonding?”

“I have loved you since you came to my chambers that night.” Malyr’s tightly-paced breaths ghosted along the damp side of my neck as he slowly opened my braid, combing my strands out with his fingers. Then, they settled on my cheek with light pressure. “Loved you when I told myself I did not. Loved you when I told you that nobody ever would.” A tug on my cheek. “Please, look at me.”

“My love is not gentle, or tender, or easy. But it is real, grown from hate and pain deep inside a chest sullied by shadows. It is cutting and biting, leaving behind scars as unfading as my love for you.” His warm lips scathed my jawline. “And once we are gone from this earth, I will continue to love you among the stars. I will be the night, the darkest patch of sky around you, just to ensure that everyone can see how you sparkle. And once your light starts fading, I will take you into my black embrace, and that is where I will love you beyond death.”