Skyshade (Lightlark, #3)

by Alex Aster

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.”

Her voice was shaking as she said, “You had me. And you lost me all on your own.”

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

wish you’d never loved me.” It was true. It would have made everything so much easier. It would have saved so many lives. She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes in frustration. Anger built behind her ribs. She dropped her hands and looked him right in the eye. Her voice was sharp. Barely recognizable. “I wish I hadn’t given myself to you, like a fool. I wish I hadn’t let you betray me, and lie to me, and manipulate me, and I hate you.” Her chest was heaving. “I hate you, I hate you, and I would throw this damned necklace into the sea if I could!”

“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.”

“Beautiful woman wearing snakes and killing wretched men with blades through their hearts? The heartripper.” He stepped toward her. “That could only be my wife.”

Theirs was not a

gentle love, it was a bleeding love. And she was done pretending she didn’t want it.

“You said before, I don’t know what love is . . . but I do. I know it means us being infinite. It means our fates being tied together regardless of where we are, or whether we live or die.” He trailed his knuckles down her cheek. “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.”

“My love for you is like that forever flame, Isla. Relentless. Stubborn. Endless.

Burning brightly, even if you’re not around to see it.”

“And this isn’t my home,” he said. “Not anymore. My home is wherever you are.”