A Promise of Lies (Shadows of the Tenebris Court #3)

by Clare Sager

Everything was absolutely, entirely, positively, utterly fucking fine.

Once again, I couldn’t change my circumstances, only survive them. I only ever moved from one pile of shit to another.

“It’s not that I can’t marry you. I can’t marry anyone. The whole idea is abhorrent to me. Surely you can understand that.”

I shivered at the slow overwhelm of his lips on mine, like he was an entire world and not just one person.

“Rich coming from a man who wears shadows like a fashion accessory.”

Raw rock and crystal shards enclosed the space, glistening in the gold and lilac fae lights.

He had a way of making my name more than its syllables. A prayer to gods who actually listened. An incantation. A purpose and intent.

It felt like I’d been pulled apart and put back together, but this new form needed a while to become solid, like the wings of a newly emerged butterfly.

Because no life is without adversity. But sometimes we can take the poison from those moments and turn it into something new. Not something that’s the same as before, but something that’s broken and yet beautiful. Not something that’s stronger, but something that has grown into a new shape, which shows its past and takes our branches in a new direction.

Quote from part of author note.