House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City, #2)

by Sarah J. Maas

He’d shared so many things about his past, sad and horrible and joyous. She wanted to know all of it. And the more she learned, the more she found herself sharing, and the more she … Light flared from the star on her chest.

“Admit it: you just wanted me to feel you up,” Hunt whispered, and Bryce couldn’t help her stupid, giddy laugh.

It was one of his many gifts—making her laugh, even when the world seemed inclined to humiliate and shun her.

And Hunt would give it to her. Anything Bryce wanted, anything she needed, he’d gladly give it to her.

“We waste so much time. Maybe it’s our curse as immortals. To see time as a luxury, a never-ending ocean.”

“You killed an Archangel without access to that power. I imagine that you can now do a great many things, Quinlan.”

“I don’t know who you pissed off to be sent to this city, but I’m going to make your life a living Hel if you touch him again.”

“But I don’t want to live in that world if the risk of creating it means …” Get it out. “If it means that we might not make it to that world.”

And he was hers. Utterly fucking hers.

“I’ve never stopped wanting it—wanting you. I thought it was obvious.”

“Let’s keep talking about how much you want me.” She winked.

And every horror, every nightmare … all of it had been worth it for her.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Quinlan.”

“I’ve been in love with you for a while. You know that, right?” His heart thundered, but he said, “I was … very attached to you during our investigation, but when Sandriel had me in that cell under the Comitium, she put on this fucked-up slideshow of all the photos on my phone. Of you and me. And I watched it and knew. I saw the photos of us toward the end, how I was looking at you and you were looking at me, and it was a done deal.”

And who knows? Maybe we’re already mates.”

“Of everything I’ve ever been called, Quinlan, your mate will be the one I truly cherish.”

It wouldn’t have surprised him if her name were stamped on his heart. He wondered if his own were stamped on the glowing star in her chest.

Bryce leapt from the boat with Fae elegance, twisting to offer a hand back to him. He took it, only because he wanted to touch her, feel her warmth in this lifeless place.

“Fry this fucker,” Bryce muttered to Hunt as the dog snarled. “I’m assessing.” “Assess faster. Roast it like a—” “Do not make a joke about—” “Hot dog.”

“But wherever you’re headed when this life is over, Quinlan, that’s where I want to be, too.”

She laughed, the sound like clear bells. Something male and primal in him sat up at the sound.

“Tell him that Her Royal Highness Princess Bryce Danaan is calling.”

“That’s what my life was like, you know.” “Like what?” “Vacant.” “Then what happened?” “Bryce happened.”

“Anything you want. Anything you want, Bryce, I’ll give it to you—”

It means that he’s going ballistic in the way that only mates can when the other is threatened. It’s what happened then, and what’s happening now. You’re true mates—the way Fae are mates, in your bodies and souls. That’s what was different about your scent the other day. Your scents have merged. As they do between Fae mates.

Bryce sent a mental image of her middle finger back in answer.

“Yes, Hunt. I’m your mate.” The star on her chest fluttered like an ember sputtering to life. “And you are mine.”

His wings were a wall of gray above them, his wings were—glowing. They filled with iridescent light. He filled with light.

“You remind me that I’m alive,” she said, voice thick. “You remind me that goodness can exist in the world.”

But everything where you’re involved is a fetish for me.”

“I want a future with you. That’s why I’m going. I’m going to fight for that future.”

“Our love is stronger than time, greater than any distance. Our love spans across stars and worlds. I will find you again. I promise.”