Extraits

Reasons we should get married:

Because I love you.

We both look good in black boots.

I spent some time without you, and I didn’t like it.

You make me happy.

I make you laugh.

I like the way you fight.

You see through my masks.

I really love you.

You love me, too. (Though you’ve mostly said this while yelling, so perhaps I should have double-checked.)

Army of tiny vigilantes. (I have name ideas.)

Various political reasons that make sense but don’t fit with the theme of this list.

I’m holding your handwriting hostage. You can have it back when you say yes.

When I looked up, his expression was earnest. Hopeful. “It doesn’t have to be right now. We can wait. I just want to know you’ll be ready one day.”

"I don't flee. I evade."

"I don't want to rescue you. I want to give you an option."

You take pressure very well. Now that I know your identity, I can only imagine what a trial it must have been sharing a meal with military men, or meeting Prince Colin. Or even just coming here, knowing Tobiah might recognize you from the One-Night War. I’ve seen you improvise. I’ve seen you fight. And you’ve endured Lady Chey’s best efforts to force you to leave.” He dragged in a breath. “But not even the strongest can defend against everything. Not forever.

“You have a million different things trying to stop you, Wilhelmina. A million different things chipping away at your armor. I don’t know this Patrick of yours, and I’m in no position to help you win back your kingdom. Your romantic entanglements are your own business, and I don’t know what to do about your pale friend down the hall. In truth, I’m allowed to take very little action, except what my cousin commands, or when his life is in danger. I’m of limited use to you, but there may be one thing I can help you with.”

“I am a mystery, my queen.”

Chills swept through me. I retreated to the table and lowered myself into the nearest chair. “Explain.”

The wraith boy tugged at his jacket, as though it suddenly wasn’t big enough. “You gave me life, but you’re unsatisfied. In the changing place, you asked me to save you. And I did. I smothered the locusts. Then I followed you because I wanted to be with you, but you ran. You hid behind the reflections, so I went around. At last I discovered where you had been. I could feel your presence all through the city, but couldn’t find you. Not with the mirrors. So I broke them. And then you came and ordered me to become solid. I hoped to please you. But again, you seemed unsatisfied.”

My breaths came shallow, but I managed the words. “Go on.”

“Though you are responsible for me, I’m not what you want. I could change—do or become anything that you order—but I don’t think anything would satisfy you. So I am a mystery, given life for no purpose at all.”

“You had a purpose.”

“To save you from the locusts? To save your city from changing?” The wraith boy spread his arms wide, his clothes dropping with a soft whumph. The jacket opened to reveal his chest; I kept my gaze high. “One was over so quickly it hardly matters, while the other was just delaying the inevitable.” He cocked his head. “I told you there would be consequences.”

“What are those consequences?”

He went very, very still. “You might think you’ve slowed the advance of change. Of wraith, as you call it. But you haven’t. It’s coming faster to meet with me.”