The Tyrant Baru Cormorant (The Masquerade, #3)

by Seth Dickinson

“My lady, I am yours in life and in death. But I must ask your leave.” “My leave? Hu, where are you going?” “To carry out my last duty, Your Highness, my queen.” Hu kissed her hand. “You cannot be obsessed with me forever. I’ve brought you to a place of some safety. Now you must go on without me.” “You promised you’d always be with me,” Baru whispered. “I will.” Hu looked up, fierce and dark and golden, perfect. “Always and forever in your heart. You don’t need this … mental trick to keep me alive. There are other women: oh, don’t look that way, as if I’m the only one suited for your oh-so-particular tastes. Go make some mistakes. Go find someone different, someone utterly unlike me, except that she should drive you mad, too, because she doesn’t agree with you, and she won’t bow down when you want; but she’s loyal beyond all reason when you need her. There must be another woman like that, somewhere.” Hu grinned. “One or two, at least.”