Malum Discordiae (Tennebrose, #1)

by Ashlyn Drewek

“There isn’t an ‘us.’” “Bullshit.” His eyes opened, narrowing. “There can’t be an ‘us.’ We’re destined to fucking hate each other, just like owls and crows. Three hundred and fifty years of hatred doesn’t go away after a few fucks. And for good reason,”

“Give it up already, Graeme. This was—” “Stop.” “—never going—” “I love you!” “—to work!” Ignoring him and his never-ending negativity, I took his face between my hands and forced him to look at me. “I love you,” I repeated, enunciating each word. “I don’t know why. I don’t know how. All I know is how I feel when I’m with you and the thought of you leaving? You might as well rip my heart out and take it with you, because you’re it for me, Cassius. I know it, just like I know when the leaves will drop or when the first snowfall comes. I fucking know it. And I know you feel it too. On some level.”

“If I make it through this thing alive, will you, Cassius Corbin, be my boyfriend?” “What are you, a penguin?” Shaking his head, he nevertheless took the bloodstone with a small smile. I’d almost swear there was a blush too, but it was hard to tell in the silvery light.

Cassius was a lot like an autumn storm. Wild, unpredictable, but strangely comforting when you were prepared to withstand it. Maybe that’s why I loved him, even more than I wanted to admit out loud. Loving someone that much, giving them that much power over you, was bound to fucking hurt, but I couldn’t let him go. Not now.

“My advice? Take happiness where you can find it. Life’s too fucking short for the rest of the bullshit.”

“Say you’ll marry me. Tomorrow, after graduation, after med school. I don’t care. All I know is that I’m never going to love anyone the way I love you. I know we’re young, barely even adults most days, but I’m afraid if I don’t ask you right now and stake my claim, some other penguin is going to find a better stone and take you away from me.” I cracked open the box and swallowed down a rush of nerves when his eyes doubled in size. “Cassius Corbin, will you please marry me?”