Glow (The Plated Prisoner, #4)

by Raven Kennedy

“No, Slade. Not you. You don’t break things. You protect them.”

“Auren, you need to wake up.” Of course she doesn’t listen. She never listens to me. Always argues, always has a simmering fire just beneath the surface, which I fucking love. “Wake up and argue with me, Goldfinch.”

I’ve always been treated like treasure, but with Slade, I’m simply treasured.

“If you’re a villain...then I’ll be a villain with you.”

“I know what you went through was horrible, but for what it’s worth, I am glad that you’re here in this world with me,” I say quietly. His eyes soften. “Oh, Goldfinch. I would’ve found you in whatever world you were in. In whatever life.”

“This is it, isn’t it?” I ask quietly, feeling so soft and secure in his arms. “This is real love.”

“I will find you. I will find you in that life. I fucking promise you that. But you have to go.” Two wet tears split down his cheek, and the sight makes anguish split through my soul. “Please, baby.” His beg bleeds through the cracks of his voice. Stabs straight through my heart.

“I’ll find you, Goldfinch. I swear to you. Now fly.”