The Witches' Blade (Five Crowns of Okrith, #2)

by A.K. Mulford

Rua’s frown deepened. “A common sickness amongst men who were raised to believe they were owed the world.”

“I will help you break this curse and then I will go home.” The word home rang hollow in her ears. “I will not kill any witches,” she gave Renwick a hard look, “unless they threaten me or someone I love.” “Well, Princess,” Renwick’s face was sharp even as a smirk played across his lips, “you better start loving me real quick.”

“When should I have mentioned it?” Rua snarled. “When we were being attacked by a bunch of crazed witches or while we were staring at naked bodies nailed to trees? Should I have just added ‘oh, by the way my birthday is coming up’?” Rua mocked in a sickly sweet voice. Bri grunted. “You are becoming one of my favorite people, Ru.”

“And what will make me feel safe?” Rua snarled, moving to push past him. He grabbed the crook of her arm, his face mere inches from hers. “Me.”

“Forever then, so long as I’m beside you.”

“I know you don’t believe it, but it’s true. You did terrible things, and you did courageous things, and I don’t know what that all adds up to and I don’t fucking care. I’m not counting marks against your soul. I’m not counting at all.” The tears fell heavier, covering both of their cheeks as she said the words to him she had so despairingly needed to hear herself. “I see you, all of your dark corners, just as you see mine. And I love you.”

He looked at her like she was the golden dawn. “I would tear down the sky for you,” he promised, leaving her with one last kiss.