Between Wrath and Mercy (The Divine Between, #1)

by Jess Wisecup

It was typical of him to cast me as the bad guy. He’d been doing it the entirety of our marriage about everything, let alone Elora. It was somehow my fault that our daughter had been born the Beloved. It was my fault she had the shock of hair, pure as freshly fallen snow, and her eyes glowed white when she cried. It was my fault we had to leave and hide her from the Myriad. It was my fault he wasn’t currently busy running Ravemont.

Honey i would have left that mans ass so quickly

I’d offered to shave it all off, to help him own his appearance, but he’d screamed at me until he grew hoarse, and I never mentioned it again.

Jesus fuck this guy

Don’t marry him, Em. I wondered how things might have been different if I had listened to him then—when he might have been able to help me. I fell asleep, remembering green eyes flecked with gold.

He gave a sad smile. Would he have been a better grandfather than he was a father if he’d ever been given the chance?

I poured myself into her. I gave her every part of me, and, in doing so, I saved myself. When she wrapped her tiny hand around my finger, it was an anchor, bringing me back to the ground. Every smile from her was a gift, a reminder of what I stood to lose. Looking back, I realized, without her, I would’ve drifted away completely.

screaming crying

The last day I saw the prince, he told me he would bring me King Dryul’s head. He’d told me those who were responsible for my sister’s death would pay with their life. I had pulled my hair off my neck and bared it to him in response. We were the ones who took down the wards that night. We were the ones who deserved to pay. My sister, my best friend, my confidante—was dead. Because of us. I would never forgive myself, and I would never forgive him.

“Lady Emmeline, stand up. You’ve never once knelt before me—why start now?”

“Did you kill the men who did this to you?” His voice was low and quiet, not quite soft, but less harsh than before. “Yes.” I swallowed. I had no choice. “You did them a kindness they did not deserve.”

A smile so familiar and yet foreign. A stranger in the body of someone I’d once known almost better than myself.

“First of all, I didn’t try to kill you, it was first blood. Gods, you’re dramatic.“ I did not hold back my sneer as I stood to face him. “Second of all, I never asked—“ “You’re right, you didn’t try to kill me. You just ran. You ran from the thing you needed most.”

Ope..

“Should we talk about how you let those bastards hurt you instead?” At this, he tilted my head to study the bruises on my neck, which were hopefully fading, his eyes finally landing on the cut at my temple. “I’m disappointed, Em. I thought I taught you better than that.”

AHHHHHHHH

His body tensed even while I felt his hand on my chin relax. “Did they fucking touch you?” I knew he wasn’t talking about the bruises. “No.” I looked down, not wanting to be caught in the intensity of those eyes, the gold flecking his irises resembling embers from a flame.

“Was the girl struggling? Her father?” “They ended up putting ropes on the hellcat. She bit someone’s ear off when they were boarding.”

LETS GO!! GET THEIR ASS ELORA

Faxon kissed me that morning when he left. That was when I should have known he had no intention of coming back. My skin crawled where he’d placed his lips to my cheek.

First of many red flags

“We are going to find her. And then I’m going to kill your husband.” The voice belonged to the Bloody Prince, but his soft expression belonged to Rainier. It belonged to Rain. My Rain.

Rain my beloved <33

A hard and sharp knot telling me if I ever saw him again, he’d be dead in one way or another. But I wanted to be the one to do it. I pictured watching the light flicker out of his eyes and did not feel anything but fury over what he’d done.

Queen

“Lucia knew you deserved more, Emmeline, needed more. And she knew Faxon couldn’t give it to you. It’s a shame she turned out so right.”

Jeez, you dont need to be so cut throat Rain

“I never said it bothered me. You look quite different, too.” I watched him as his eyes searched mine, the moonlight hitting my arm where his hand held my wrist. “You’re somehow more beautiful now.”

MY HEART

But if Dewalt spoke true, they’d searched for me. I couldn’t understand why. Rainier had made his feelings abundantly clear when I begged him to give me a reason.

ITS BC HE REGRETS IT

“I heard you, Rain. I heard your heart, so I started screaming. I’m surprised you heard me.” “No, that’s the thing Em. I—I didn’t hear you screaming. I know this sounds crazy, and I know it’s impossible, but I’ve re-lived it for years—awake and in my dreams. I could hear your heartbeat. I followed it to find you.”

What an interesting discovery

“Well, Highclere, the next time you want me to be quiet and kiss you, just tell me. I’ll even bite your neck if you want.”

AHHHHHH

“I thought you were going to die today. I’m glad you didn’t.” Something stirred within me, and I tried to ignore it. “Me too.” I smiled; It was a silly thing to say. “You just came back to me, and we’ve barely had a chance to talk. You can’t die yet.”

Rain you gotta stop being so chaming. Em and I cant handle it

You didn’t choose me. It sounds an awful lot like you’re the one who feels they made a mistake, not me.”

TELL HIM EM!!

“Lavenia, he told me we couldn’t be together while he was still inside me.” I felt her stiffen at the description, but I didn’t falter. “And maybe time has changed his thoughts on the matter, but it doesn’t change the fact I made decisions based on what he said—with what he repeated when I begged him later. I will not make apologies for how I chose to repair myself after he br—The decisions I’ve made and the life I’ve lived are my own, and I will not apologize for a second of it.”

YES PREACH

“I’ve been wrong this whole time.” He whispered it against my brow, and I kept still. “About what?” “The blue. I’d imagined the Mahowin Sea all along.” I started to pull away, confused, but he circled me in his strong arms and pulled me close. “Your eyes. The Mahowin Sea doesn’t do them justice.

screaming crying

“Do you even know how to make a bed?” I grinned at him, wanting to fill the silence. It worked as one side of his lips twitched. He glanced down at the bed before looking up at me through lowered lashes, his sideways grin kicking up, making me question my sanity. “I’m afraid I only know how to mess them up.”

SIR

“I couldn’t do that to them, to my parents. Not without a good reason.” I stopped myself from saying I wanted him to be the reason. He knew.

My heart is breaking

I was supposed to tell you I didn’t regret anything between us. The only regret I have was not figuring out the mess in my head sooner and breaking down the door at Ravemont.”

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH <33

“I’ve spent too much time imagining you like this. I’ll take what you give me, Em.”

Dies. I am dead

He’s going to talk to her when we arrive.”

Rain wants to do the bond with Em! I bet you 10 dollars

“Good to see you’re not holding back this time,” I gritted out. Pinned against the building, I met his gaze, letting him see my fire and fury. “You’re mine for the next two years, ocean eyes.” He grinned, and I saw red.

☺️☺️

“Kingdoms and years and utter devastation.” “What does that even mean?” I pushed him back to look at his face. “It means I’ll wait.”

SIR!! SIR

“You are banished from my guard. If you’re lucky enough to make it through the mountains, you are banished from Vesta. You should know this whore is the only reason you live.”

Thats my man <33

“You love him?” “Of course I love him. I never stopped.” I couldn’t have prevented my answer from rolling off my tongue if I tried. “Then let him love you back. Let it be enough.”

FUCKING PAIN

“He slapped me. That’s how it happened. Cy already hated him, but when he saw the marks on my face, he just snapped. My guard told me he beat him and sent him to the mindbreaker.”

Does Cyran like Elora 0·0

“I love you, Emmeline. I have loved you from the start, and I will love you until we are both just a whisper on the wind. It’s your eyes I see when I close mine, your heart I want to hold, and I’d set this whole damn world on fire if you wanted to watch it burn.”

I do not need a child from you to love you. All I need is you. I will kiss every stretch mark, every freckle, every single part of your body. I will suffer through watching your exquisite ass jiggle because of how much I love you. It is a price I am willing to pay.”