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She reached out, lightly squeezing my arms. “Oh, D, trading one powerful man for another isn’t a way out.”
Maybe it was because I hadn’t had sex in a month, but Liam naked was a work of fucking art.
“When she passed, I would have pulled the entire universe apart to bring her back, but I knew it was wrong. Resurrection, no matter the circumstances, is forbidden. You do not gain something so precious as a life without paying a hefty price. There are some things that even we cannot afford,”
“Where is Sophie?” He met my gaze, his face flat, but his eyes burning with remembered rage. “Which part?”
“Not that it is any of your business, but Imogen is not dead. I did not love her, nor is she my…” He paused, waving his hand as if trying to digest the words. “… anything you previously stated.”
It was at that moment that I figured it out—why Liam was the way he was, and why he didn’t care about his looks. I knew why he was so abrasive and so closed off to everyone, even those he claimed were his friends. He was consumed with grief and overwhelmed with pain. Liam was mourning.
“Promise me that if I take you there, if I show you my world, you won’t act as the almighty law enforcer.”
“Wait. Where are we going?” Liam called right before I closed the door. “Zarall. There is a Vampire Prince I was supposed to kill that I didn’t.”
“I do not know why you push me so hard all the time! I am not like you!” “Samkiel.” “I am not normal, and I am fine with that. You are the one with something to prove, not me.”
“It’s okay to not be okay, Liam.”
Why would a thought like that even cross my mind? What was the matter with me? I did not and would never see Dianna in such a way.
“I am not comfortable being out in public. I detest large crowds and would much rather be by myself. There was a time when I used to enjoy gatherings, which I am sure you are aware of, having seen so much of my past. Now I hate it when they stare at me.”
“I do not know. I suppose I feel as if they can see everything I have done. Every mistake, every wrong decision—and they blame me for it.”
His eyes bored into mine a fraction of a second too long. “Pity. I wouldn’t share.”
“If I had the choice, and I had to choose, I would want an equal. A partner in every aspect of my life, like what my father and mother shared.”
If Kaden gets his hands on me, take care of Gabby, okay?”
Half of that was a lie. I knew what she meant, but I found pleasure in watching her try to explain words and phrases to me.
You already consume my every waking thought. Must you consume my dreams as well?”
I knew then that I wanted to touch her like this for real, regardless of if it was wrong, a part of my brain whispering that it was forbidden. We were forbidden.
Not necessarily,” Liam said. “The halls of Rashearim would make this seem like a small hut.” Drake looked toward Liam, not missing a beat. “Size isn’t everything.”
“Is that so?” Drake asked as he held out a dress. “Then why do you reek of him, and he you? Your scents are so entwined, there is no differentiating between the two.”
They were truly beautiful … and so are you. You are a queen and should be draped in the finest fabrics,
Dianna is different. I have seen evil. I’ve seen it born, what it craves, and how it acts. She may be stubborn and erratic. At times, she is rude or crass, even violent or dangerous, but not evil—not even a little bit.”
“I am not justifying it or saying it was right, but you do not know who you truly are until you have no options left. That is all.”
On Rashearim, we had a flower that put the beauty of this one to shame. It had rings of yellow and blue that moved in waves across the petals when you touched it. It was called orneliamus, or liam for short. They were my mother’s favorite, and a symbol of strength and protection. They could adapt to any climate and were so sturdy, they were nearly impossible to kill. It took the death of the planet to eradicate them.”
Time passed, yet it had no meaning when I was with him—and that terrified me.
She is a woman who craves love, no matter what she says. If you have no intention of staying or being with her, don’t court her and make her care. Don’t be the one to make her fall if you have no intention of catching her.”
Kaden. He said it was a weapon forged for pure destruction and true death, endless darkness for all eternity—no afterlife, no anything. The energy embedded in the blade could end worlds. Thus your name: the World Ender.”
I leaned my forehead against that perfectly ordinary door and knew the woman beyond it was more precious to me than I wanted to admit to anyone, let alone myself.
You couldn’t even tell me? After everything, you suddenly couldn’t confide in me? I am so sorry you find me so repulsive that the mere mention of fucking me makes you avoid me for weeks.”
The Gods War started because of me. My world is gone because of me. How is there any room left in me to love?”
Don’t you know? Love is the purest form of destruction there is.”
I couldn’t kiss him, but for a completely different reason. I knew it would end me, and I would be lost.
Obviously, what I felt was all one-sided. Oh, what a fool I was. I had fallen for someone who had no intention of catching me.
Tears threatened to blind me, but I would watch this, and I would let it kill what I felt for him. I had been so wrong. Liam did have those feelings; he just didn’t have them for me. I guess you had to be a goddess or a magic-wielding, beautiful witch to get his attention. Maybe Camilla was less of a monster.
She cares about you. You will need to remember that to make it through what Kaden has planned.” I didn’t really understand what she was trying to tell me, but I nodded. “I think you might have ruined that.” “No.” She shook her head with a small, blood-filled smile. “I only made her see.”
Upset? Why am I upset? You chose her over me—you know, your actual partner.
Dianna, she showed me visions when she kissed me. Showed me what our next move is. She has been working undercover like you this entire time. That is all, and the only reason she kissed me.”
I knew nothing of love, but I knew I wanted her, needed her, and dreamed of her.
She had seduced me. More than that, she owned me—and she didn’t even know it.
No, she couldn’t die, wouldn’t die. I would rip the very fabric of this world to atoms.
Even the old gods feared it, and I had promised myself I would never summon it again. I had thought there was nothing that could force me to break my vow, but the way these creatures had mocked Dianna, her pain, and her fate had proven me wrong. Dianna was worth it, and I would risk it all for her.
You told me to go to bed, so that’s what I am doing.” “Not here. You have your own.” “I don’t want my own.”
The old ones spoke of absolute peace beyond worlds, beyond realms, and when I held Dianna, I felt it. It was a feeling I had spent centuries searching for.
Her kiss was light, tantalizing—and everything I never knew I had been missing.
You still have witch breath.” Something snapped in me, and I was afraid it was my self-control. Desire coiled and burned in me, and I let it. “Then fix it,” I dared, throwing down the challenge.
“I told you before that I could make it hurt if I wanted it to … but I can also make it feel like this.”
That feels so fucking good, my Dianna.” My Dianna.
That’s it, baby. You’re so fucking beautiful. I love the way you look when you suck my cock.”
Yup, she annoyed me, but something was off. I felt it. I knew it. My instincts were on high alert, telling me I had to protect Liam, but I didn’t know why.
