“Your eyes are black as the sea,” Florian told him. The words were almost an accusation. Johann breathed a few cautious beats before responding. “That’s sweet, peach. You’re saying that I was made for you?” Florian let out a snort. “Of course not. My hallankind never hatched, and she would hardly have been a thing like you. No, Johann … you belonged to someone far more wretched than I. More deserving of Hallandrette’s pity.” “More wretched is right. Poor bastard never got the chance to use me.”
