Realm of Wind and Vines (Flame and Thorns, #4)

by Marion Blackwood

Out of all the people here, she alone understands my current feelings the most.

Lavendera Dawnwalker, traitor to the entire Seelie Court and my former friend, will die in ten seconds. I will kill her in ten seconds. And I feel no guilt whatsoever.

If I can’t have my happily ever after, no one can.

In the end, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that she dies.

Draven. Of course it’s Draven. It will always be Draven.

One moment, he’s looking at me with hatred. The next with fear. Then with desperation. Then anger. Confusion. Longing. Back to hatred.

For a few seconds, I feel utterly at peace as Draven and I lie there on the soft grass, gazing into each other’s eyes while his arms are wrapped around me.

can’t do this anymore. I can’t fucking take it anymore. It’s enough. It’s all just fucking enough!

This ends right now. One way or another.

“You’re angry because you protected me from that sword back in the city too,”

“You’re angry because you wanted to comfort me after my parents were killed.”

“You’re angry because you are constantly fighting against your instincts.”

“Against who you really are. But your soul hasn’t forgotten. Your heart hasn’t forgotten. It’s only your mind that is trying to rewrite all of your feelings for me.”

Are you afraid that the things I’m saying actually make sense?”

“I hate you.” “Yeah, I know. Because I used my magic to force a wildfire of hatred into your chest so that I could save your life.”

“No. I hate you because I finally realized who you truly are.” “What I am is your mate.” “I don’t ca...

“I can’t think straight! Whenever you’re around me, my head is a gigantic fucking mess of conflicting thoughts.” “So stop thinking and start feeling!”

I can’t fucking breathe when you’re this close.”

“It proved what I was saying! That you can’t hurt me. Because you love me.” “Not anymore.” “Yes, you do, you thickheaded overgrown bat!”

This is half of the love I feel for you. Half. And you love me just as much.”

“Fight, Draven! Goddess damn it, fight back!” Desperation bleeds into my own voice as I scream the words up at him. “Fight for me! Fight for us.”

“I will keep my magic connected to you like this every second of every day for the rest of my life. I will force you to feel what you really feel!”

It feels as if there is a rope attached to my chest on one side while the other side is hanging down inside a dark abyss, and someone is trying to haul himself back up that rope.

“Since your heart is still lost, I will make you feel my heart for the rest of our lives. My love is strong enough for the both of us.”

“I will cut your fucking heart out,” he snarls at me. “So that I never have to feel it again. So that I never have to feel like this again.”

“Cut it out! Rip my heart right out of my chest. It’s yours anyway, so do whatever the hell you want with it!”

A scream of fury rips from his throat and splits the world around us as he rams the blade straight towards my heart.

OH MY GOD

a sense of peace settles over me. At least it will be over now. At least I won’t have to hurt any more after this.

the blade buried deep in the grass right next to me.

THANK GOD

I can feel that flame of hatred shatter like a glass sculpture that explodes from the inside,

Our mate bond slams back into me.

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS OMG YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS IT WAS ABOUT TIME

The red-violet flame of hatred is gone. Utterly and completely gone.

All I can see is him. All I can feel is him.

“I love you, little rebel. I love everything about you.”

“I love you too, Draven. I love you more than life itself.”

“I missed you so much.” “I missed you too.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I was trying to save you, but instead, I ruined everything.”

You did save me. I would have died back in that pocket reality if you hadn’t done what you

“You never ruin anything. And you could never ruin us.”

“I told you that I would destroy the barriers of the afterlife and battle both of our gods to find you.” A soft smile tugs at his lips. “Did you really think that I would let something as trivial as a little magic keep me from you?”

“You’re mine.” He strokes his thumb over my cheek, wiping the tears away. “You have always been mine. You will always be mine. Now and forever. And God help anyone who tries to take you from me.”

Even though Draven is back, I still can’t return to who I was before I stood there on the plains outside the Unseelie Court and threw open the massive gates

it wasn’t just about losing Draven. It was decades, centuries, of being treated like crap.

An entire life of being distrusted, punished for crimes I haven’t committed, and blamed for all the wrongs of this world even though I am not responsible for them.

the final drop in a massive dam that has been ready to burst for decades. The final drop that at long last shattered the walls. And now, the walls are broken. The flood is already out, crashing over the world and sweeping away everything in its path.

No, there is no stopping the flood now. I am no longer the person I used to be. The Selena Hale who left the Seelie Court last year,

The Selena Hale that Draven fell in love with is gone.

He sees me, all of me, in a way that no one ever has before.

“I’m not… the same. As I was before.”

don’t want justice anymore. I want revenge. I don’t care who I hurt. I just want revenge.”