Broken Fae (Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac, #4)

by Caroline Peckham

“A month is nothing, a year even less, a lifetime wouldn’t be long enough to remove the mark you’ve placed on my heart. So no, it’s not enough time, amore mio, but it’s too long all the same.”

"It can all stop if you just put your power in me, Rydikins," I encouraged. "Just put it in. Just the tip."

He cleared his throat. "For the longest time, I've been a weapon for the Lunar Brotherhood. Elise made me want to be the Fae I was before all that. Now she's gone and I can't forget what she made me feel. With her, I started to think I didn't have to just be a weapon anymore. At least before I met her, I didn't care that I had nothing in my heart. Now, I can't get back to that. Now I feel too much and I can't turn it off. I've tried every spell and cure and potion I know, but this pain makes me bleed inside every day. It won't go away."

reality without her was a crushing thought, but she would have had her brother. And I could give her up if it meant her soul was healed and she had her family back. I'd sacrifice anything for that.

"How does it help with, you know...her," I spoke to a rock instead of him and Ryder cleared his throat. "I'd have to cut my heart out of my chest with a serrated knife to stop feeling that,"

I'm coming, baby. I'm done fighting, done waiting, done hurting. Just say you want me too.

My girl. Mine.

"You're my snakelet," I blurted. By the fucking stars, what the hell was that? "What?" She frowned. "I mean, fuck, forget that, I dunno why the fuck that came out," I growled,

thrive on pain, baby. I've been gutted and flayed and burned, and none of it has compared to the agony I've been in over losing you."

Smiles could be faked, but tears were the most real thing in the world.

"I'll always be a monster, baby. I'll be the reason Fae lock their doors at night in Alestria, I am branded on the inside of my enemies' skulls and my name will always strike fear into their hearts. But I will also be your monster, if you'll have me. If you deem me worthy. I don't have much to give but a blackened heart and a tarnished soul, but they're yours because...” I took a breath and expelled my deepest truth, “I love you."