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

by Scarlett St. Clair

I was only halfway down the hall when Adrian called my name. “Isolde!” His boots thudded against the floor in pursuit. “Isolde!” He caught up with me and yanked my arm, forcing me to face him. I slapped him, hard. “How dare you,” I seethed. “What would you have me do?” he hissed furiously. He held my shoulders, bending over me. “Did you not see what was happening in that room?” “You wax poetic about how excruciating it was to watch me burn alive. You begged to be a monster so that you could avenge me. You say you will not live another lifetime without me by your side, and yet you welcomed a witch-hunter into these halls.” I did not even recognize my voice as I spoke, and there was a part of me that knew he had no choice, but I could not handle his reasoning in this moment. “Will you watch me burn again?” “You aren’t even a witch!” he yelled, his body shaking. “You have no power beyond driving me to the fucking edge of insanity.” I tried to hit him again, but he held me too tight, so I did the only thing I could to escape him—stab him in the heart. I shoved my hands against his chest and released my blade. The second it pierced his skin, he let me go, and I watched his blood darken the fabric of his tunic. “Fuck you,” I said. This time when I left, he did not follow.