Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1)

by Callie Hart

No guilt. No mercy. No time.

Kingfisher's suggestion of a smile grew wings and took flight.

Humans and Fae were different in many ways, but sarcasm was universal.

“I have to say, I was expecting that to go differently,” he mused. And then I punched him square in the mouth.

“I'll happily kiss all of your aches and pains better for you once we strike camp.

You are soft. You are fragile. You are vulnerable. You are a newborn fawn, stumbling around in the dark, surrounded by predators with very sharp teeth. I am the thing that exists on the other side of the dark. I’m the thing that puts the fear of the gods into the monsters who would eat you bones and all.”

A part of me knew that Fisher himself was the trap, and I was well and truly snared...

Graceless gods and holy martyrs.

“Hold on tight then. I hope you're not afraid of the dark.”

I'd be discarded here for three days as a result of his inability to manage his fucking feelings.

Fisher swallowed hard. “You won't go to Cahlish?” he asked quietly. “I will not.” Being banished to Cahlish would be even worse. So far removed that a whole mountain range stood between me and the fight? I'd never forgive him. I wouldn't be able to, even if I tried. Don't do it, Fisher. Please. Do not fucking send me away. He'd set his jaw. He'd come to a decision. I braced, waiting for a shadow gate to coalesce, but... “If you come, will you stay right by me?” he asked. My knees wanted to buckle. I answered quickly, before he could rethink this. “Yes. Absolutely yes.” “And if I tell you to stay somewhere until danger passes?” “I'll stay.” “And if I tell you to run?” “I'll run.” He narrowed his beautiful eyes at me. “Swear it.” “A promise doesn't bind me the way it binds you.” “I know. But humans still make promises to each other, even though they can be broken, don’t they? Because they trust the other to honor their word.” “Yes.” “Then swear, Little Osha, and I’ll trust you.”

“And if you should find soul sundered from flesh, order a drink for us at the first tavern you come across in the afterlife. We’ll settle the tab when we get there.”

“Fuck,” he whispered. “That's so funny. That's exactly what I said!”

“Please, for the love of the gods, don't say anything. Just let me have my fantasy. Just for tonight.”

I'd vowed I'd never care about anyone enough to experience this kind of pain again. But here I was, shattering.