Throne of Ice and Blood (Flame and Thorns, #2)

by Marion Blackwood

For all the people pleasers out there whose sense of self-worth is deeply connected to other people’s opinions. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. You are enough.

“So maybe I should leave you here for a while to teach you a lesson about disobedience.” His eyes glint. “And because you look really fucking hot in handcuffs.”

Mabona’s fucking tits, one day, I swear I’m going to be the strong and powerful one standing before him while he kneels on the floor.

“If you ever touch her again, I’ll break your fucking hands. She’s mine. Got it?”

“Because if I have to see you in this collar one fucking second more than absolutely necessary, I’m going to start killing people.”

“So hate me all you want, little rebel. And fight me all you want in private. But out here, in public, you need to act as if I’m your God.”

“You’re right,” he says, tilting his head back so that he meets my gaze. “I kneel for nothing and no one.” His golden eyes burn like flames, searing right through my soul. “But for you… For you, I would kneel.”

“Because you’re mine.” I arch an eyebrow at him. “Your life slave?” “No. Mine. In every sense of the word.”

“How did you know that I was in danger?” I shout at him again. “How did you know where I was?” “Because you’re my mate!”

“You can feel my emotions?” “No, I can’t feel all your emotions. I can’t even feel all your fear. Right now, I can only feel the strongest of your emotions. Which is the sheer undiluted terror that comes when you’re about to die.”

All this time, I actually thought that he had tried to save me from this fate because he genuinely cared about me. Because he saw something in me. Because he got to know me during the Atonement Trials and began to like me for who I was. Began to like me because he saw who I really am. Saw the parts of me that no one else ever does. And liked it. But instead… Instead, he only tried to save me because this damn mate bond between us was forcing his instincts to protect me. Something small and very fragile inside my chest just… cracks.

This, what I’m feeling right now, must be what my parents felt all the time while I was growing up. This maddening sensation of never knowing if their feelings were real or if they were just the result of me unwittingly manipulating them with my magic. In fact, this must be how everyone feels when they’re around me. Harsh laughter, tasting of blood and acid, escapes my throat. Tears sting my eyes as I bury my cheek deeper in the pillow. After what I did to my parents, I suppose I deserve this. At least the universe has a fucking sense of humor.

Damn normally I love a fated mate bond but this is breaking my heart….

“Don’t ever apologize for crying. It’s not a weakness. It’s a sign that you’ve had to be strong for too long.”

“I am a selfish person, Selena.” He lets out a long breath that ruffles my hair. “And as much as I wanted to make sure that you never won the Atonement Trials, I’m secretly glad that you were stubborn and brilliant enough to win it despite all my sabotaging.” My heart slams against my ribs. He draws in a deep breath, breathing me in, and tightens his arms around me. “Because it allowed me to have this time with you.”

Draven Ryat is the Red Hand.

Called it

“I have watched you for years. Seen the way you always try to help and always put everyone else first. And seen how people distrust you and hate you for something that isn’t your fault. And I felt a connection. I knew that I had found someone who understood what it’s like to be hated for something that you haven’t chosen.”

“I’ve been falling for you for years, from afar, but then I truly got to know you during the Atonement Trials.” A wistful smile blows across his handsome face. “And then that day when you patted my cheek and said good talk, I fell in love with you utterly and completely.”

“I thought you, of all people, would figure it out. Two fucking centuries ago. You were my best friend. You knew me better than anyone. How could you ever believe that I would just sell out our clan like that?”

My poor baby 😭 this breaks my heart