Our Violent Ends (These Violent Delights #2)

by Chloe Gong

“Did Alisa put you up to this?” This time it was Roma’s turn to press both his palms on Juliette’s cheeks. She had thought it would be too dark to notice her blush, yet Roma noticed, a smile twitching on his lips.

“She doesn’t have the power to put me up to this,” he said. “Marry me, Juliette. Marry me so we can erase the blood feud between us and start utterly anew.”

“I thought you needed a Bible to get married in this city.” Roma blinked. “So you’re saying yes?” “Shǎ guā.” She raised the Bible, pretending to beat him with it. “Do you think I’m holding it for a weapon? Of course I’m saying yes.”

Quick as a flash, Roma had his arms around her, pushing her upon the sofa. The Bible fell to the floor with a thump. A burst of laughter rose to Juliette’s lips, muffled only by Roma’s kiss. For a moment that was all that mattered—Roma, Roma, Roma.

“I will be free of my name.” Juliette looked up. “I will take yours.” There was a moment of stillness, a moment where Roma gazed upon her like he was trying to commit her features to memory. Then: “Juliette,” he breathed. “It is not as though my name is any better. It is not as though there is less blood on mine. You can call a rose something else, but it remains yet a rose.”

“So we are never to change?” she asked. “We are forever blood-soaked roses?” Roma took her hand. Pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “A rose is a rose, even by another name,” he whispered. “But we choose whether we will offer beauty to the world, or if we will use our thorns to sting.”