A Soul of Ash and Blood (Blood and Ash, #5)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Death is like an old friend who pays a visit, sometimes when it’s least expected and other times when you’re waiting for her. It’s neither the first nor the last time she’ll pay a visit, but that doesn’t make any death less harsh or unforgiving.”

“I’m not going to kill him,” I replied. “I’m only going to murder him.” Kieran sidestepped, blocking me. “That’s the same thing.” “No, it’s not. Killing someone implies it could’ve been an accident. What I’m about to do will be completely intentional.”

“Correction,” I said, another laugh leaving me as the blood trickled down my neck. “You’re an absolutely stunning murderous little creature.”

“You’re so incredibly violent.” I paused. “I think I like it.”

“Fear and bravery are often one and the same.” I told her what my father had once told Malik and me, when we were first learning how to wield a sword. “It either makes you a warrior or a coward. The only difference is the person it resides inside.”

You just replace your last memory—a bad one—with a new one—a good one,” I told her, having learned that myself. “And you keep doing that until the initial one no longer outweighs the replacement.”

And your scars? They are a testament to your fortitude. They are proof of what you survived.

We didn’t go through the same shit, but trauma was trauma. It affected everyone differently, but it always affected.

But I wasn’t a good man. I was just hers.

“I don’t want you to be good.” She gripped my tunic. “I want you.”