The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales From Verania, #1)

by T.J. Klune

But I was blissfully unaware of all the talk because I was too busy being kickass and learning magic, and it wasn’t until I turned thirteen that I realized I hadn’t felt the need to wish upon the stars in a very long time.

Mom was not amused. She stood up and stalked toward me. She at least had the decency to check me over first to make sure I wasn’t injured before she injured me by smacking me upside the head.

I winked at myself in the mirror and then realized that’s what douchebags did, so I vowed to never do it again.

“Ah. That would Duke Waller of the Outer Banks. A shame, really. He came so highly recommended.” “I would recommend him for euthanasia,”

“Everything is a life lesson,” Morgan said. “Like these invitations from potential suitors.” “Your segue was clunky and I am embarrassed for you.”

“We are here to have our revenge!” the Dark wizard snapped. “Oh no,” I groaned. “He’s going to monologue.”

The night sky above was clear and bright, and while the moon was beautiful, yes, I had never been drawn to it. Not like the stars. I had wished upon them as a child and had wished upon them as an adult. It was upon these stars that I had rested my hopes and dreams, my anger and frustrations. I wished because as a child, that’s what you’re supposed to do. You don’t know any better. I wished because as an adult, sometimes you don’t know what else to do. You know better, but you don’t care.

“Look. This has been… fun.” Lie. This had been nerve-racking and I needed to go masturbate.

The unicorn snorted. It came out pink. “Well,” it said. “That’s not quite what I expected. Who knew the forest was infested with twinks.”

“Smashing?” the half-giant asked. “No, Tiggy,” the unicorn said. “No smashing. We don’t smash little twinks. We let them grow up so they can provide a valuable service by having sex with mens.”

I wondered at this complex man, this knight from the slums who wanted nothing more than to become something more.

“I’ve never been to a brothel,” Ryan said quickly. “Or met a… lady. Of your caliber.” “You mean with a cock?” Mama asked.

“Life is about chances. Unless you take them, you’ll never know what they could bring.”

Watch yourself, precious. The world has teeth and wouldn’t care if one such as yourself got bit.”

Zal shook his head. “I think I understand why everyone adores you. You’re a conundrum wrapped in an enigma in a package built of twink.”

“Ah,” the dragon said. “I’m sorry, but your prince is in another castle.” “What?” I was confused. What other castle? It sighed. “You young people today. Never respecting the classics.”

“Do you often make demands of your gods? Is that what you think they’re there for? For humans like you to lay your burdens upon them, to do as you ask, and if they don’t, you doubt them? Tell me, woman. Is that what you are asking? Of a god?”

There will be others and I will find them and they will help me and I will show them why I was made for them. I will show them how great I can be, because I will never be anyone’s second choice. I will never be second best to someone I love.”

“I promise, because when I look upon these stars, there is nothing I wish for more than you.”

“Dragons are frustrating,” I said, because I could. “Are they? You know many of them?” “No. But if you’re anything to go by, it’s not that broad of a generalization.”

He looked up at the night sky, scales glittering. “Everything is so vast. It’s humbling to remember just how small we really are.”

Kevin, I’ll be honest with you. I think you’ve got a problem.” His eyes narrowed. “What problem?” “You’re a hoarder.” “Uh, no shit. I’m a dragon.”

“Sam,” Gary said kindly. “I understand what you’re saying. I really do. But let me give you some advice from the perspective of someone in a long-term relationship.” “You’ve been together for five days.”

“Oh no!” “What?” “I just realized I don’t care.

But Mama taught me that while life had sharp edges, it would only cut you if you allowed it to.

The electricity struck my palm. It curled up my arm and poured into my chest. I had a lightning-struck heart and my gods did it beat.

“There’s someone out there for you,” he said. “Someone who will love your hair and your words and your eyes and the way you still scrunch up your nose when you’re thinking hard on something. He will love you for all of the things that you are and all of the things you aren’t. He’ll love you beyond all reason and will be convinced that you hung the sun and moon. He will see the stars and wish for only you. Someone will love every single part of who you are, and my gods, I can’t wait for the day to meet him to tell him thank you.”

I felt better. Getting the last word to a sixteen-year-old girl can do that to you.

The audience sighed dreamily. Except for Tina. She looked like she had dysentery. Explosively so.

Ryan reached up, cupping my face in his hands. He searched my face for something, and he must have found what he was looking for, because he said, “You’re my lightning-struck heart, Sam of Wilds. I love you more than I could ever say.”

His laughter rumbled in my ear and I thought that maybe wishing upon the stars was the greatest thing I’d ever done.

My heart was lightning-struck and it beat for him. This was it. This was my happily ever after.