A Touch of Gold and Madness (Celestials of Arcadia #1)

by K.L. DeVore

For all the Anakin, Damon, Draco, and Erik Northman lovers out there— For always rooting for the redemption in the villain. For those who know that our trauma shapes us, but it doesn’t define us. It’s never too late.

“Come on out, little savage,” he said in a husky baritone. “I wanna see you play.”

Because if that involves your father, it doesn’t count.”

At the least, I proved my father right in one regard. I lived to disappoint.

shoved my hands in my hair and yanked at the roots. As if I could remove this shit from my brain by pulling it out by the strands.

I could’ve fixed the wall, but I liked it better broken.

Almost-hole. Almost whole. Like me. How poetic.

Physical pain, I’d take. It was my companion. If I thought it’d work, I’d trade physical agony for eternity over the fracturing of my mind any day.

A part of me longed to be put out of my misery, but I had important shit to accomplish first—

Large crowds gave me crippling anxiety. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that they typically ostracized me. But these people would never see that side of me.

there’d have to be something seriously twisted within her if I was what she wanted.

“Except the only difference is I’ll fucking kill anyone who tries to hurt you, now.”

But some pain couldn’t be restrained. It would always come back to claim its due, forcing you to face your demons. I fucking hated it.

Social interaction drained me after so long.

“I’m so fucking starved for you. I imagine once I start, I won’t stop until you’re trembling on my tongue.”

“As much as you bring me light, I bask in your darkness, too. Because I want all of you. Good, bad, light, and dark. Whole or broken. I want you to love the dark parts of yourself because dark and light exists within us all, Gray.”