More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
To those who feel forgotten and betrayed. To the lonely hearts who feel love will never find them. To the broken souls who believe they can’t be mended.
They all feared death in the end, no matter how cruel their actions were in life. She held his gloved hand and something like understanding passed between them. Her tears fell freely now. The battle continued. Others were dying, and many would die alone, but she wouldn’t let this male suffer that fate. She couldn’t.
Status had once separated her from the female slave kneeling in the mud. Now, nothing did. Nothing except the fact that Arianna wasn’t a half-breed at all. She was a daughter of Móirín. A pureblood. Royalty.
He shifted, tilting his head back to glance at her, and Arianna’s body stiffened when she met his cold, unyielding gaze. He didn’t waver, and the intensity of those eyes forced Arianna to close hers and press her forehead back to the floor.
A mantra developed in her head. Earn his favor, plot, escape. Earn his favor, plot, escape. Earn his favor, plot, escape. If only it would turn out so easy.
His memory floated back to the male who’d inflicted the injury. He’d moved just like Arianna, twisting and pulling at his magic like those from the royal family. Rion wondered if this female would be so willing to spare him if she knew that male was dead.
For some reason, Rion wanted to erase the emptiness in those eyes. He wanted to make them shine. He wanted to know what they might look like if—
She’d honestly never had anyone make her feel the way Rion did, and it was the most electrifying and terrifying thing she’d ever experienced.
His lips parted as she picked one up, speaking to it in hushed tones, and for the first time in his existence, Rion found himself believing in fairytales.
“You just have to trust me.” He let out a breath, showering her in his scent. “You ask the one thing I find impossible.” His eyes remained locked with hers. Hungry. Full of desire. “But I can try.”
“The Divine and the Cursed. How fitting.” He stepped back and started toward the cabin, glancing behind to see if she’d follow. She did, her entire body flushed from their brief, yet intense encounter. Arianna couldn’t help but smile. Rion. The general of Brónach’s army. Her greatest enemy and the most feared warrior in Alastríona had just kissed her.
He clenched his fists. Someone had taken her from him. Someone had taken his Arianna. And he’d ensure their suffering rivaled his own.
Rion’s feral gaze slid to hers and his eyes, usually so filled with hate, softened. Softened for her. Arianna felt like someone had struck her. Anything, she realized. Rion would give her anything.
And he’d never leave again. To hell with the war. To hell with his country. The only thing he needed was sleeping right beside him.
“Because you can hurt me in ways I’ve never been hurt. Without lifting a finger, you could shatter me completely.”
Her lips parted but Rion pressed his forehead to hers. “Before you make any decisions, I need you to know that I’d give you anything, Arianna. No questions asked. If you want to go home, I’ll take you. If you want me to leave, I’ll go.” He took a shuddering breath. “If you want my life, it’s yours.”
Arianna didn’t know what her future would hold. She didn’t know how hard it would be to keep Rion in her life, but she knew one thing with utmost certainty. No matter what challenges they’d have to face, she wanted this male at her side. “I want you.”
And in that moment, Arianna made a vow. She swore she’d never let Rion feel alone again. Not so long as she lived. Because he was hers to protect now and she was his.
“You’re not real.” Her brow creased. “You’re an ethereal dream come to torment me, granting every wish only to strip them away when I’m content. You’re the beautiful wave before it crashes over the shore, dragging everything out to an icy sea.” His voice lowered. “You’re my salvation and my damnation.”
He took an unsteady breath and reached up to tenderly run his fingertips down her cheek. “This can’t be hell if you’re here.”
“Rion,” she screamed, hit her knees, and Arianna’s heart shattered completely.
It was fitting, really. He deserved punishment for the sins he’d committed. He deserved to yearn for her, to hear about her for the rest of his life, and never be able to see her beautiful face. Because The Demon Lord of Brónach should never have fallen for a Lady of Móirín.
“No, Saoirse. There’s not a way. Not this time. She’s The Divine. She’s royalty and I’m,” he laughed to himself, “nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’ll always be nothing and I don’t have the strength to watch her from a distance.”
Talon turned but paused. “I wanted to be the one to kill you.” “So, you are jealous,” Rion smirked. “Sorry to disappoint.” “The only disappointment is discovering I no longer want to.” And damn him, it sounded like he cared.
