An Echo in the Darkness (Mark of the Lion, #2)

by Francine Rivers

The appeal was so often the same: Make me comfortable so I can go on doing whatever I want to do. They wanted sin without consequences. How do you bear us, Lord, when we are so stubborn and foolish? How do you bear us at all?

The look on Julia Valerian’s face annoyed him. He thought what a delight it would be to pitch her off the balcony into the street below. But knowing Julia Valerian, she would, like a cat, land on her feet and have him sent to the arena.

“I’d like nothing better than to think I would have remained faithful. But if those closest to him—his disciples, his own brothers—turned away, who am I to think I’m better than they and would have done differently? No, Marcus. We all wanted what we wanted, and when the Lord fulfilled his purpose rather than ours, we struck out against him. Like you. In anger. Like you. In disappointment. Yet, it is God’s will that prevails.”

“Rome points the way to wealth and pleasure, power and knowledge. But Rome remains hungry. Just as you are hungry now. Search all you will for retribution or meaning to your life, but until you find God, you live in vain.”

“You are more to her than that.” He had seen the look in his mother’s eyes when Iulius spoke with her. He put his hand on Iulius’ shoulder. “You are her dearest friend.”

Friend zoned

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.‘”

I have given up one daughter to you, Father. I pray you will let this one remain.

The plain truth is she didn’t trust me.” “Had she reason?” “I asked her to marry me!” “And left her in anger when she refused,” Phoebe reminded him gently. “I’m not the shallow boy I once was.” “Then cease acting like one, Marcus,”

Oh snap

“I know that, Mother.” Even when he had thought she was dead, Hadassah had been the very air he breathed. “I love her,” he said hoarsely.

“What if she leaves?” Phoebe smiled in complete understanding and touched his cheek lightly. “You have two legs, Marcus. There’s nothing to stop you from going after her.”

“Oh, beloved.” The wounds had been deep, the scars running from her forehead to her chin and throat. Releasing her wrists, he touched her face tenderly, tracing the mark of the lion. “You are beautiful.” He cupped her head in his hands and kissed her forehead, her cheek, her chin, her mouth. “You are beautiful.”

No because the way this man is "Cardigan" by Taylor Swift minus the bad parts. Like: "And when I felt like I was an old cardigan Under someone's bed You put me on and said I was your favorite" Hadassah saw the other girl who liked Marcus, and saw how pretty she was and thought that she could never compare to her, like she was an old cardigan. When Marcus saw her for the first time the first thing he said was that she was ugly, and now with her scars, she feels even worse -like an old cardigan that was used and worn and maybe a little holey, left under a bed so the owner could have a new prettier jacket. But despite being offered a new "cardigan" (the offer of the prettier girl's hand in marriage) he chose Hadassah. She was so used to people looking at her scars and shrinking back in fear or disgust but when he sees her scars he embraces them, he doesn't try to cover them up or pretend they're not there. No, he loves her regardless. "He drew stars around my scars" And there are sooo many more ways that this song could play into the story.

“You are more beautiful to me than any woman in the world,” he said huskily, “and more precious than all the gold of a thousand ships.”