Stalked by Seduction and Shadows (Eternal Obsession, #1)

by Maggie Sunseri

I’d probably feel differently if it had been me they’d gutted in the forest only two months ago. Well, I wouldn’t feel anything, I supposed. Because I’d be dead.

The pain a living parent could inflict was much more excruciating than that of a dead one.

“Ever since I lost my parents, I’ve been stuck underneath the dirt with them.” She swallowed hard, her gaze wavering. “And it took me until now to realize that I held the shovel to dig myself out all along.

apparently vampires loved how I smelled. Which was ew and also not a great sign.

You’re not nearly pretty enough to go to war over.” Uriah clutched his chest. “Ouch.” He grinned. “Though pretty enough implies you do think I’m pretty.”

there are these lapses, as if you realize you’ve flown too high. You clip your own wings. You push yourself back down. You reach to cover yourself, to hold back your true thoughts and feelings. No one is ever born with that instinct; that’s something we’re taught. Abusers don’t just drain us of our light. They also condition us to dim it for them, even when they’re not in our lives anymore.”

“There are many people in this world who would love nothing more than to clip your wings. Stop doing it for them. Soar instead.”

“I love food,” I said contentedly.

My dagger was strapped to my leg under my bulky black sweater dress. I would unfortunately need to drop my ice cream to reach it, which had me considerably annoyed.

I’m sure I could find more than enough to eat in your castle.” “It’s a small castle,” he said, nearly defensively. Strange. My brows lifted. “Okay, Rune. Your small, tasteful castle. A true man of the people.”

“Your neck must be very strong.” He lifted a brow. “To carry such a big head,”

I wasn’t sure which I was more offended by: Rune threatening me with an act that sounded utterly humiliating, or him saying I wasn’t funny.

“I’m bored of this conversation. Goodbye.”

Chivalrous knights, ruthless conquerors, romantic rakes, fearless explorers—I imagined myself as them all. Books raised me, shaped me.” “They were your escape,”

“All my life, I’ve been searching for something, always staring out into the horizon,” I said. “My future. My grand escape from Crescent Haven. I thought what I was looking for was out there,” I pointed at the window, the glittering cityscape, “but it was you, Rune. I was looking for you.”

“There is no deserve when it comes to love. There are no conditions or stipulations. You just love.”