More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“Venin are the stuff of fables. Like the book my father—” I blink. The letter.
“Why the hell would we choose to do nothing about people being slaughtered? It goes against everything we stand for.” “Because the only thing that kills venin is the very thing powering our wards.”
The truth rarely needs effort,
“You took this from my mother’s desk?” My gaze jumps to his. “No. Your mother probably has one for the same reason you should. To defend against venin.”
Lies are comforting. Truth is painful.”
Dad didn’t just give me a rare book…but a forbidden one.
“What did Dain say to you before we left? He leaned in and whispered something.” I blink, trying to remember. “He said something like…” I search my memory. “I’ll miss you, Violet.” His body goes tense. “And he said I was going to get you killed.”
He draws back, his gaze shifting left and right as he thinks before settling on me again and widening. “Violence,” he says softly, “did Aetos touch you after I told you about Athebyne?”
“Like this.” He lifts his hand to my cheek. “His power requires touching someone’s face. Did he touch you like this?” My lips part. “Yes, but that’s how he always touches me. He would n-never…”
“You’ll feel the moment when you’ll know that there’s nothing to leave. And it might break your heart, but when you feel it, you fly. Promise me you’ll fly.”
Blue. Fire. No. No. No. “Wyvern.” My heart launches into my throat. “Xaden, it has two legs, not four. It’s not a dragon. It’s a wyvern.”
He shakes his head slowly and points to his neck, to the rebellion relic snaking around his throat. “Do you remember how I told you I realized it was a gift, not a curse?” “Yes.” Back when I was in his bed. “Just trust me—because of this, Melgren can’t see a fucking thing.”
“I need you to survive this, even if I hate that I still love you.”
After everything Liam has given up for me, this is the least I can do for him. I can get him to Deigh the same way I know he would carry me to Tairn or Andarna.
“Thank you, Liam. Thank you for being my shadow. Thank you for being my friend.” He blurs in my vision as the tears come faster. “It’s been. My honor.” Liam’s chest rattles as his lungs struggle.
Xaden’s jaw flexes and our gazes lock above Liam as tears overflow my eyes. “I know.” He leans forward and lifts Liam into his arms, then stands, carrying him. “I’ll take you.”
“There is no me without you,”
sometimes I forget just how beautifully lethal he is.
You can’t make me fall for you and then die.
“That definitely wasn’t an accident, little sister,” he says from the doorway. I sigh and move to the side, watching Violet’s eyes widen as she sees him standing in the doorway. “Told you I knew better poison masters,” I tell her softly. “You weren’t healed. You were mended.” “Brennan?” She stares at her brother in open-mouthed shock. Brennan just grins and opens his arms. “Welcome to the revolution, Violet.”
