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July 22 - July 23, 2023
“This,”
“is where it all began.”
AHHHHH THIS BOOK IS SO DAMN GOOD BRO
But like iron to a lodestone, he was drawn from even the most important of tasks to find her.
And though he knew he shouldn’t, Aren tightened his arms around her, holding her close against the icy cold of the desert night.
she’d saved his life.
Lara’s capacity to endure hardship was nothing short of astonishing,
Willpower. That was what kept her going. Sheer force of will and a stubbornness to match.
Liar, a little voice whispered inside of his head. Look at yourself! If you weren’t both half dead, you’d probably be between her legs!
“Are you all right?” The anguish and fear in her voice made his chest tighten. “I’m fine, Lara. Stay still. I’m coming.”
“But mostly, it was because I didn’t think she’d survive you.” She gave a bitter laugh. “Little did I know I had it backward, and that it would’ve been you who wouldn’t have survived her.
If nothing else, at least I spared you from that.” Her voice cracked on the last.
There was something about her. Something that had spoken to his soul in a way no other woman he’d met ever had.
“What’s burning?” “Nothing important,”
“You want us to kill innocent merchants to take their supplies? That seems somewhat ruthless.”
“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”
“And how shocking that your answer is killing.”
Just because a choice is hard doesn’t mean you don’t make it.”
Proof that at one point, she’d been loved. And the mother who’d loved her had died for it.
A sob tore from her throat, and she doubled over, shoulders shaking.
Fire was the obvious choice, but as though he were sitting next to her, Lara felt Aren’s judgment
“You don’t want to leave her behind,” Aren said, hauling again on the reins. “She likes you. I don’t.”
“She should be back by now.”
She was a queen. A warrior. But more than that, she was the little cockroach. And she had no intention of dying.
And every time one of the merchants had gone near her, it had been a struggle not to pull a weapon and go to her defense.
“What sort of demon are you?” “The sort who’s had his fill of backstabbing pricks,”
“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get my wife back.”
HIS WIFE BITCHES
“That wasn’t your most graceful maneuver,”
“You came back for me.” “You thought I wouldn’t?”
“Lara, no matter where you are in the world, if you need me, I’ll come for you. Please know that.”
IM CRYING AND SOBBING
“I’ve got you,” Aren said in her ear as he picked her up. “You’ll be all right.”
He carried her shivering body through the darkness,
“Look the other way,” Aren growled
“Barely back on your feet and you’re already telling me what to do. Makes me long for the days when you couldn’t string together a coherent sentence.”
“I’m fine, Aren.” “I know you are. And I know you can do it yourself. But let me do it for you anyway.”
his mind was all for her.
“Asshole.” She pulled out a bar of soap from one of the packs. “I’m going to have a bath while you cook. You might consider doing the same at some point—you smell like camel.” “And yet you don’t dote on me half as much as you do them.” Lara gave a low chuckle. “Keep watch, then. I’d rather not have to leap out of my bath and fight ruffians in the nude.” “Might work out to your advantage.” “I’m advantaged enough, thank you.” She winked, plucked up a knife, and strode barefoot to the stream, her hips swaying in a way that made it impossible to look anywhere else. Then she called out, “I said
...more
THE BANTER
Scars on top of scars, but instead of diminishing her beauty, they only made her fiercer. Made him want her more.
She was everything. Mind, body, and soul, she was everything he wanted. Everything he needed. The queen Ithicana needed.
“I love you, Aren.” Her eyes were gleaming. “But it’s over between us. It has to be, and we both know it. Pretending otherwise is only going to make it worse when I walk away.”
She was right, and he knew it. But in his heart, he knew that even if he never saw her again for the rest of his life, it would never be over. She would always be his queen.
Then Jor was across the table, glass crashing to the floor as his arms tightened around Aren, the both of them nearly going backward. “You’re alive.”
“You’re an aunt.” She gasped. “Sarhina?” Jor smiled and slapped Lara on the shoulder, making her stagger. “Right as rain. Nana delivered her baby girl
“Good to see you alive, Your Majesty,” Zarrah said, touching her hand to her chest.
“I enjoyed your dance very much, Your Majesty. Though not as much as I enjoyed watching you kick wine into your father’s face.” Lara inclined her head. “I enjoyed that as well.”
What if she were wrong? Could she get him out? Was escape even possible?
There wasn’t a chance Lara was letting Aren out of her sight. “No.”
“I will grieve her loss, and his, until the end of my days.”
“She’s not his weapon. Not anymore.”
“And if I say that Valcotta’s support is contingent on her death?”
“No.”
