A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash, #2)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Just so you know, Penellaphe doesn’t need protection. She is more than capable of handling things herself. But that is my future you are walking away with. Guard her well. Your life depends on it.”

MY FUTURE AHHHHHHHH

Those eyes of his turned to molten amber. “I’m going to need you to hold onto me and not let go, because I’m about to fuck you like I promised.”

I wanted to tell him right then that I could bear his touch because I loved him. But it didn’t seem like a good idea with the sky being on fire.

me asf

“Your heart, Poppy? It is a gift I do not deserve.” He placed his hands on my knees as he lifted his gaze to mine. “But it is one I will protect until my dying breath. I don’t know what that means.” He stopped, curling his fingers into the leggings, into my skin. “Okay. Fuck. I do know what that means. It’s why I’m in awe of everything you say or do—everything you are. It’s why you’re the first thing I think about when I wake and the last thought I have when I fall asleep, replacing everything else. It’s why when I’m with you, I can be quiet. I can just be. You know what that means.”

Casteel let go of my hands and stretched up, cupping my cheeks. He leaned in, pressing his forehead to mine, and I swore I felt his hands tremble. “Always,” he whispered in the breath we shared. “Your heart was always safe with me. It always will be. There is nothing I will protect more fiercely or with more devotion, Poppy. Trust in that—in what you feel from me. In me.”

“There’ll be time for all the sweet whispers later,” Jasper said, and when Casteel pulled back, there was a fire in his eyes. “You do look quite lovely, Penellaphe.” “Thank you,” I said. “What about me?” Casteel asked, and behind him, Naill sighed. “You look passable.” “That was rude,” he replied.

“Would you like to go sit in the shade and nurse your wounded feelings?

Casteel placed my hands on the wall as he scraped the sharp edge of a fang along the side of my throat, sending a bolt of wanton heat and dampness through me. “This is so inappropriate,” I panted. “I don’t give a fuck.” He nipped at my skin again, and my entire body arched. “Brace yourself.”

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee