Powerful (The Powerless Trilogy, #1.5)

by Lauren Roberts

To the girls with softer dreams—your purpose is just as powerful

There is not a single cynical thought to deny the fact that she may be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on. She’s intimidatingly peaceful—a contradiction in itself. And I almost want to despise her for it. Because I fear there is a chance that I may begin to enjoy her.

“I’m not wasting any of my goodness on someone who clearly already has an abundance.”

She smells of honey, of happiness incarnate. And it’s entirely too distracting.

“I’m sorry,” he starts quietly, “that something of mine has already wounded you.”

She is an intoxicating sort of exhausting, like running until you’ve lost your breath but enjoying the feeling all the while. And I feel as though I’ve been sprinting for days.

“You did the right thing. Run to me. Always run to me.”

It truly is a curse to feel so deeply, to so daringly deem someone worthy of my affection.

And so begins my doomed trip into Mak.

“Come on, Dena. You won’t hurt it.” And there I go again. Claiming her.

I had never known happiness before her. But if there is to be an after in which she doesn’t exist, I know I never will again.

But nimble fingers and soft skin are suddenly tugging my heart in the opposite direction.

I could get used to truly living.

“But you… you’re the embodiment of everything I am not. And yet, here I am, crawling back to you as though I’ve left a piece of myself behind.”

“I regret not buying that blue shirt from you, if only so I had your attention long enough to convince you that red suits you better. I regret not telling you how much I like it when you blow those bangs out of your eyes, or the way you clap after finishing a row of stitches. I regret smothering every smile you made me want to give you. And I regret not telling you the truth. But most of all, not saying goodbye.”

“There are people out there who will take offense at her boldness. You know, not wearing green as is tradition.”

“I’ll never forget what he said to me that night. He said I would be more use to him if they’d just handed me over to the king. If they had sold me out instead of putting up with me for so many years.

No, I trip into love, unable to slow down long enough to question these feelings or the person I’ve dumped them on.

And I fear that I’ve admired every inch of her.

“I always wondered how something could shine so bright, even while being swallowed in darkness.”

“You make even the stars envious,” I repeat softly, leaning toward her. “Because one day—far from now—you will be up there beside them, outshining every single one.”

“You are the sweetest thing I have never tasted.” Another brush of his knuckles. “And I doubt I’ve craved anything more.” Holy shit.

“I think you’re my little piece of perfection.”

Because for the first time in my life, I’m excited to go to a Trial.

I’m counting the stars until I see Mak shining beside me.

For the girl who shines so bright that the sun pales in comparison.