Queen of Myth and Monsters (Adrian X Isolde, #2)

by Scarlett St. Clair

“You are my light, Sparrow,” he said. It was not a direct apology, but in the aftermath of our disagreement, I needed the assurance of his love. “You are my darkness,”

“Why are you assigning morals to our enemies?” This time, Noblesse Razan spoke. “They do not care who they kill so long as they win.”

“The woman wants power,” Tanaka said. “I fail to see how that will help us.” “Men want power,” Ana said. It was the first time she had spoken, and everyone at the table turned to look at her. “Women want to exist without fear.”

Now and then, I noticed how he would touch the trunk of a tree as we passed, fingers lingering as if he were collecting memories. Perhaps he was, or perhaps it was part of the way he remembered how to find the clearing that opened before us.

I swallowed something sharp and jagged in my throat, only to have it land uneasily in my stomach.

I asked for an oath. “Anything for you,” he said. “Promise me the world,” I said, breathing hard. “It is yours,” he said.

“An animal cannot hold a weapon,” I said. “You do not need to hold one,” he said. “You are one.”

“But are you concerned?” he asked. I considered his question. “I fear I will never be able to return to Lara as their queen.” “What do you mean?” “I mean that by the time I arrive, they will have turned against me,” I explained. “And I will have to be their conqueror.”

“Do you fear the dark?” he asked. I turned my head, and the stubble on his jaw scratched my cheek. “No,” I said because it was true. “But I prefer the light. Nothing can hide in the light.” “So you fear what lingers in the dark?” “I suppose,” I said. “Do you fear me?” “No,” I said, too quickly. “Should I?” “Yes,” he said. “But not for the reasons you think.” “And what do I think?”

“What do you prefer? The dark or the light?” “Neither,” he said. “Evil basks in it all.”

“How many people will betray us in the end?” “I suppose we should expect that everyone will,” he said. “That is a sad existence.” “And yet it is ours.”