Skyshade (Lightlark, #3)

by Alex Aster

“You really would have let Lightlark fall? You would have doomed the rest of the realms while leading yours into a world we know nothing about? For one woman?” It didn’t make sense. Grim frowned. “Not for one woman,” he spat, like the words insulted him. He stepped toward her. “For my wife.”

“If waging a war for one woman is a crime, then please do consider me a criminal.” Closer. “If killing thousands to keep you alive is wrong, then consider me a villain.” She now had to tilt her head to see him clearly. He leaned down. His breath was hot against her mouth. “If loving you this much is my downfall . . . then consider me already on my knees.”

“I would do it a thousand times over, heart; you should know that. I will choose you over the world every single time.”

“Just because we’re married, don’t think I won’t gut you.” Only when she reached the door did she hear him say, “I would expect nothing less, wife.”

“You don’t have to hide yourself,” Grim said. “Not with me. Not here. Not ever.”

“Please,” he said, his eyes wide. Desperate. “Please don’t go. I’m sorry. Hate me,” he pleaded. “Hate me all you want. Hate me forever. Just—just don’t leave.” He took a step toward her. “I love you, Isla. I need you.”

“Don’t apologize,” he said. “You can touch me wherever you like, wife.”

“I’m your husband. I’m yours.” His voice was nearly a growl as he said, “And you . . . wife . . . are mine.”

“You’re right. I don’t know what love is. I don’t know how to love. If you ever gave me another chance to love you, I would learn. I would learn the right way to love you.”

“The temptress in your bed is a serpent waiting for the right moment to strike. She is a traitor. Can’t you see—” He was cut off by a gurgling choking sound, followed by the thud she knew as a person dropping to the floor. Quiet. Then, “Does anyone else have any doubts about my wife?” Not one word.

He was the ruler of darkness. He was a brutal warrior who had killed a member of his court in cold blood simply for speaking ill of her. Now, he was almost trembling as his lips hovered inches from hers.

“Who did this to you?” he demanded, but she didn’t say a word. His power raged around them, growing more ruinous as he began to understand her silence. His voice was raw as he said, “Don’t tell me. If it’s anyone you care about, Isla, don’t say a word. Because nothing will stop me from wiping every ember of their existence from this world.”

“Kill anyone you want, heart, especially these bastards. Kill me, if it will make you feel better.” A stone sunk in her stomach, knowing the prophecy. A moment later, she had him against the wall, dagger to his throat. Grim didn’t so much as look at the blade. He only looked at her. Eyes never leaving hers, he reached up and slowly dragged her dagger down his chest, cutting through fabric and skin, until it reached his heart. Then, he patted her hand and said, “Go ahead. It’s yours anyway.”

“Hearteater. As far as I’m concerned, you killed me the day you met me. I’ve never been the same.”

Slowly, his gaze never leaving hers, Grim went to his knees before her. He took her hands as gently as if they were made of glass and bowed his head. Tears swept down the sharp panes of his face. She had only seen him cry once before, and it was when her heart had stopped. It made her own eyes burn. “I won’t pretend I’ll ever be a good man,” he said. “But I’ll be good to you.” His words were a promise she could feel in the center of her chest, the bridge between them dark and gleaming. He smoothed his lips across her knuckles. “I will make us happy, heart. I swear it.”

He looked almost sheepish. “All I ever think of is you.”

Isla told him about how she would sneak sticks and leaves in her pockets during training to build dolls out of them. One was named Stick-man. “Creative from your first breath,” Grim said,

“I’m not sure of much in this world, Isla, but I am sure of this. My love for you doesn’t know reason. It doesn’t know limit. It doesn’t know death. In every universe, every timeline, I am yours . . . and you are mine.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t find you?” His face was just inches from hers, close enough to see the specks of gold in his amber eyes, simmering with fury. “Did you think I wouldn’t catch you?” He leaned closer. “You can’t hide from me,” he growled. “Even if I can’t see you, I can feel you. You are relentless. You are a gravity I’ve tried to escape, but I can’t. I can’t , Isla.”

“I don’t care what anyone thinks I deserve.” His breathing was labored. The pain of the injury seemed to be catching up with him. “I want you. I still want you, even though you’re a traitor. I still want you, even though you’re my enemy. I still want you, even though you might kill me. I want you, I want you, I want you, and it is the most selfish thing I have ever felt.”

You might be wondering how I can be so cavalier about my own imminent death. The truth is, my regard for my own life is nothing compared to my regard for your mother’s. From the moment I met her, I loved her. From the moment we were married, I swore to protect her from anything that would ever cause her danger. I have killed anything that ever sought to harm her. There has only ever been one person I have loved more than your mother, Isla. Only one person I could bear losing her for. And that is you.