Court of Ice and Ash (The Broken Kingdoms, #2)

by L.J. Andrews

Since Valen made the decision to leave us, I made the decision to fight my way back to him.

Elise was here and they were taking her to Ravenspire. I drew my axes and sprinted for her as fast as my legs would go.

My barely healed heart shattered. Valen refused to see himself as worthy of anything but blood and death. He once told me his heart beat for me. Mine did the same for him. As I watched him leave the stables, watched him put distance between us, I broke for wanting him. I would do all I could to get the Night Prince to see he could be more. He could rise as the man Etta needed, but I would not keep wounding my heart for a man who would not take it for his own.

“I wish to be anywhere you are, Elise Lysander.

“You command me.” He smiled against my mouth. “All of me. Irritating, since I am a prince.” I kicked his shin. “No. You are a king.”

“I am the man who touches you. The only man.” His lips drew close to my ear; his voice grew dark and violent. “You’re mine, Elise Lysander.”

I craved the Night Prince—heart, body, and mind—deeper than I yearned for breath in my bleeding lungs.

My fingertips traced the lines of his chest. I rested my hand to his heart and pushed him back. The edge of my bed hit his knees, so he fumbled into sitting. I stood before him, fingers numb, body alive.

“Do not turn from me again, Valen Ferus,” I whispered, stroking my fingers down his cheek. “I could not even if I tried.”

“I’m yours, Kvinna. Take what you want from me.”

Before sleep took me, Valen whispered in the dark, “Elise. I choose to live.”

To the eaves I made a silent vow. By the end of tomorrow, I would find Elise. I could not stand any longer than that. By the end of tomorrow, I would be king.

“My name is Valen Ferus, the Night Prince of Etta! And you, false king, you are in my seat.”