More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Read between
July 19 - July 21, 2025
Something in the intense silver-sprinkled darkness made her trust he understood her completely, and her stomach flipped when Merrick continued to keep her eyes hostage.
And she really couldn’t stand the whispers that seemed to state the same words again and again: It’s not your fault, it’s not your fault, it’s not your fault.
“She doesn’t need to get better,” he snarled softly. “If she decides to break apart this whole ship to deal with what happened, I’ll help her. If she wants to kick your lying ass into the depths of the sea, I’ll take your legs. If she decides to rip the world to shreds for what it’s done to her, I’ll cheer her on. And if you were a true friend… you would as well.”
“Don’t do that to me again.”
“Do not threaten any of us again. Especially not her. Do you hear me?”
Cupping it, he brushed his thumb over her heated skin. “I see you, Elessia Rantzier. I see how you fight to live through each day. I see how you fight to better yourself—whether it’s through training or understanding of others. I see how you fight to love so freely and so deeply. I see how you fight for a world that’s only mistreated you, because you believe it’s the right thing to do.”
“You wouldn’t have to fight for me. I… I can’t say it would be easy, given what we’re facing, but I’d make sure this—us—would be the one place you can rest, where you’re always safe, where you never have to put on a mask to conceal your true feelings.” He makes you happy.
“He took ten arrows in the back for you.”
A deep breath rumbled through him as he lay his head atop hers, and that sense—that sense of home—came over her.
“You’re beautiful,” he declared quietly. “You’re always beautiful.”
No one could miss how he stared at you when you weren’t looking.
No, once she quieted, one of his hands landed on her leg again, and she immediately felt more grounded and confident that this was the right decision.
and the sense of falling she’d had ever since she’d looked into his eyes for the first time shifted into a complete free fall—as if she’d walked right out from a cliff and the sea wasn’t there to catch her. And she didn’t care. “I love you,”
“You’ll have that again.” He pulled her to him, and after placing a whisper of a kiss on her lips, he rasped, “Better. I’ll make sure you have it all. If you’ll let me.”
Merrick’s mouth quirked—as if it needed to mirror hers.
AWW
