Extraits

You want me the same way that I want you. Wholly. Completely. With nothing but skin between us. Heart, mind, and body.

I could reach the rank of Maven, lead armies of dark wielders against everyone we care for, and watch every vein in your body turned red as I channel all the power in the Continent, and I would still love you.

Xaden is mine. My heart, my soul, my everything.He channeled from the earth to save me, and I'll scour the world until I find a way to save him right back.

"Let's get three things straight, Your Highness. First, I have remarkable hearing thanks to the shadows at your very feet. Second, I don't control Violet. Never have. Never will. But third, and most importantly-" He lowers his voice. "She really, honestly hasn't thought about you. At least not since the second she set eyes on me."

"I have every faith in your ability to protect yourself, but say the word and I'll rip the doors off their hinges."

"You're such a romantic."

"I warned you," Xaden says as the man hits his knees. "Your error was changing your assessment to targeting me as the threat and letting your eyes off her."

"What if I can promise you'll get a meeting with the full triumvirate? That's what you need, right? Maybe I can give you some answers they'll look for to evaluate your acumen."

I blink, and pity recedes an inch. "What I need is for Xaden to be all right. If that means setting this house on fire and leaving without accomplishing anything else on this isle, then I'll hand him a torch."

Gods, he really is beautiful, and not just on the outside. Everything about him-his loyalty, his intelligence, the softer edges no one else but me gets to see...even his casual ruthlessness holds me in thrall. And whatever parts are missing? Dead, according to the irids? We'll live without them.

He's still whole to me.

It wouldn't be the first time I raised a blade to you."

He stares, utterly bewildered, then flashes a grin.

"I'm not sure what that says about us."

Is it toxic? Maybe. Is it us? Absolutely.

“You have to accept what I already have,” Xaden says to me. “The man you love no longer fully belongs to himself.” He walks past Lewellen into the great hall, taking my heart with him.