The Shadows Between Us

by Tricia Levenseller

He needs me. But he doesn’t want me. He’s giving me power. Everything I could ever want. Why is this a hard decision?

No one is killing my king tonight.

SLAYYYYYY

With that heated gaze on me, I can see just how much Kallias wants me. It is no longer a question of attraction between us. It is a matter of keeping himself safe from attack.

“I think that when you care enough for someone, you reach a point where it’s far more painful not to have him at all than to have him and risk losing him. You realize the risk is worth it. Because happiness, however short-lived, is always worth it.”

Kallias is still on his throne, watching me.

“You’re so beautiful it hurts.”

And I used to want to kill him.

Girl you choosd all the wrobg times to remember you wanted to kill him.... Im dying

bearing a black diamond cut into the shape of a rose.

THE RIBG DESIGN I CANT

Seeing me, Kallias grabs me and pulls me to him. “I’m fine. Look at you! Are you hurt? Where did you go?”

hHES ALMOST MURXER ND ALL HE CRES ABOUT KF AHES OKAY

“I want a life with you, Alessandra, one without the shadows between us. And I don’t care about being vulnerable. That’s what my guards are for. I’ll get a poison taster. I will live as other kings do. I don’t need this centuries’ old gift that is really just a curse.

Waiting. Not waiting. One lover. A hundred lovers. There should be no judgment either way. A woman is not defined by what she does or doesn’t do in the bedroom.

yessssss queen

“What? You what, Alessandra?” Now the tears are coming quickly. I can’t look at him as I say it. I don’t want to say it, but my life is on the line. “I fell in love with you.”

“I’m not a trollop,” I announce to the empty room. “I’m a sexually empowered woman, and there is nothing wrong with that.”

Feminism at its finest

“But I knew before then. I was hurt, yes, but I was going to come back for you right before Xanthos approached me.

“All the time in the world is worth nothing if I don’t get to spend it with you.

“It is what originally caught my interest, but I lose interest in everything sooner or later. Everything save you. Because in you, I found my match. In you, I found my equal.”

“Have you forgotten last night already? I thought it was the best yet.” “You say that after every time.” “Every night with you is the best.”

I grin. “Liar. You’d murder them all.” “Any man who took advantage of your grief and neglect deserves whatever punishment I see fit.” “I think it’s more accurate to say that I took advantage of them, dearest. And if you truly want to play this game, I’ll give you my list once you give me yours.”