Defy the Night (Defy the Night, #1)

by Brigid Kemmerer

I don’t want to take Tessa to another room. I want to keep her here, right here, where I know no one can hurt her. Where she can’t take any actions that will force my hand.

“I can’t, Tessa. You don’t know how many times I wished dawn wouldn’t come so quickly. How many times I wanted to stay with you instead of returning to this. How many times I wished I were truly Weston Lark, that Prince Corrick was the fabrication.”

Corrick has grabbed hold of Lochlan’s broken wrist where it hung beside the bed, and he’s twisting his grip. His eyes are full of pain and exhaustion but are as cunning and keen as ever. “You’ll keep your hands off her,” he says, and his voice sounds like he’s speaking through ground glass. Lochlan is all but doubled over. He’s gasping, making tiny keening sounds with each breath.

“I can’t lose you twice.” He flinches. “Forgive me.”

“Please, my love,” Corrick whispers into my ear. “Please.”