And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga, #1)

by Kiersten White

She hated the way roses smelled, their sweetness too fragile. She wanted a garden of evergreens. A garden of stones. A garden of swords.

“On our wedding night,” she said, “I will cut out your tongue and swallow it. Then both tongues that spoke our marriage vows will belong to me, and I will be wed only to myself. You will most likely choke to death on your own blood, which will be unfortunate, but I will be both husband and wife and therefore not a widow to be pitied.”

“People respond to kindness, Lada. They trust a smile more than a promise that you will leave them choking on their own blood.” Lada snorted. “Yes, but my promise is more sincere than your smiles.”