What Lies Within Masks & Shadows (Promises of the Marked, #1)

by Nicolle May

“No. You will never get her back. Trust me when I say you do not want to. You are far braver than you think. Stronger than you yet know because of what you have endured. Never wish for those broken pieces returned. They will only cut holes into who you have fought to be now.”

“Who I am now?” She breathed a laugh. “I gave up. That’s who I am now.” “There is a difference between giving up and knowing when you have had enough. You, darling,” Garrik said and paused, “did not give up. You fought with every shard of the broken pieces you had left. You are still fighting. I saw it today in the arena. I see it now. Still fighting the demons that plague you, the memories that sneak out of your eyes and roll down your cheeks.”

Never. Garrik’s voice caressed her mind. Wherever there are shadows, I will always be.

“Flowers still grow after forest fires. How could I not believe that we can, too?”

“No one can make you feel fear. Danger is real, but fear is a choice. Never trust it. Do not let it consume you. It does not know your incredible strength.

Garrik’s wrath was barely contained. “Which one?” Alora pinched her eyebrows, body subtly shaking. “Wh—what?” “Who put their fucking hands on you?” His voice rumbled, an intensity of ten thousand thunderstorms, enough to level the mountain.

I made mistakes, and you will also. And we will learn from them. We can only move forward and strive to be better than who we were before.”