A Light in the Flame (Flesh and Fire, #2)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Hate and love are not two sides of the same coin. One comes from the soul, and the other from the mind,” he said. “Hate is a product of atrocities committed against someone or is birthed from what they have done to themselves and their hellish entitlements. There couldn’t be two more different emotions.”

I was nothing more than bruises on a blank canvas because I didn’t feel it.

“You never know how much you can take until you can’t take more,” I said.

“I know you’re strong and can fight. That you’re brave. Needing me or anyone to look out for you doesn’t mean you’re weak, that you can’t defend yourself, or that you’re afraid. We all need someone to watch over us.” Heat crawled up my throat. “Do you?” “Desperately,” he whispered.

“I’ll check in with you later. Until then,” he said, his eyes meeting mine, “behave.” “Yes, Your Highness.” I bowed. “I wouldn’t want to be grounded.” Out in the hall, someone—likely Ector—choked loudly. The

“You know, I think I’ll get that stuff for you and then make myself…scarce.” Rhain backed up, grabbing Ector’s arm. “Come, be scarce with me.” “That’s probably a good idea.” Ector pivoted. “He’s got the scary face again.”

“I don’t think you have to know someone to feel a certain way toward them. I don’t even think you have to truly know someone to miss them.”

Forgiveness benefits the forgiver, and it’s easy. Understanding is acceptance, and that is far harder.”

“I wasn’t quite sure you’d succeed at the whole making-him-fall-in-love part,” she corrected. “Wow,” I muttered. “You are a bit…temperamental. And those around you do have a tendency to end up stabbed,” she began with a sheepish grin. “I figured you’d probably get yourself killed by growing impatient and just stabbing him.” Nyktos barked out a short laugh. “Now, that was incredibly astute.”

“Just because someone shares the same bloodline as you doesn’t mean they deserve your time or thoughts.”

“Putting you in a cell now after everything,” he said, stopping me with the hold he still had on my hand, “and especially after striking what is likely an ill-advised but very enjoyable deal with you wouldn’t make very much sense, would it?” I slowly looked over my shoulder at him. “Ill-advised?” His eyes glimmered in the firelight. “I also said very enjoyable.”

“Why did you visit my lake if you had this?” Nyktos was quiet for so long that I looked at him. He was still staring at the pool. “Because it was your lake.”

I thought about that. “Actually, yeah, that would’ve been really creepy.” “Exactly.” “But watching me walk through the woods is somehow not creepy?” I crossed my arms. His attention shifted back to the pool. “I think it was borderline creepy.”

“Did you just try to goad me into using the eather?” “I did.” I laughed. “Oh, you’re going to have to do better than that. It takes a lot to anger me.” “I want you to repeat what you just said and ask yourself if that’s the truth,” he replied. My lips pursed. “Let me rephrase. It takes a lot to make me that angry. I have way more control than you realize.”

I lifted my right hand and extended my middle finger even as adrenaline surged through me. He was probably right, but I missed training. Fighting. “In case you don’t know what that means, go fuck yourself.” Nyktos chuckled. “If you behave, maybe I’ll fuck you instead.”

He’d shadowstepped several feet from me again. “One day, I’m going to shadowstep my fist into your face,” I warned.

“I like…submitting to you.” “Fuck.” His body jerked with a ragged exhale. “You never submit to me.”

“You are always safe with me, liessa.”

“Even I don’t know why the body and mind do what they do half the time,” he said. And for some reason, that made me smile a little. “I don’t think any of the Primals do. But if it helps you to do that and doesn’t hurt you, do what you need to do.” He lowered his head toward mine. “Either way, you’re not weak, Sera. Not physically, but more importantly, not mentally. You are one of the strongest people I’ve ever met, mortal or not.” The tips of his fingers grazed the curve of my arm. “With or without the embers.”

“I don’t know why death smells like that, but lilacs are special. They represent renewal, and both life and death are that—a renewal.”

“Nothing is more powerful, more life and realm-altering than the ability to feel. To experience emotion. Love. Hate. Desire. To care for oneself. To care for another.”

“I do not wish for her to be touched.” Nyktos’s voice deepened. “She is mine.”