Chained

“She is my mate. She is here as a guest, and you will show her respect.”

“Fuck. Me. You are the most addictive substance known to man. Or woman. Or any other living thing. If you ever leave me again, Sunshine, I think I will perish.”

“I’m bound to you, heart, soul, and mind. Nothing and no one will change that. Look inside yourself. Trust yourself as I do—and as Shara does.”

“Fuck me like it’s the end of the world. As if we’re the last people alive.”

“I’m definitely saying I don’t want some horny ancient weirdo trying to get me pregnant, in case that’s not obvious. On top of everything else wrong with it, I love Bastian.”

“Without joy, the world ends. Without love—without a reason to be—the world is worthless. You are my reason, and right now, I fucking want you. Our bond makes us stronger—and our strength will help to heal this land.”

“Sylvan told me once that he chose this symbol because I am cold as the surface of the Peaks. He claimed it was the thing he enjoyed most about me—that I was not easy to win over. The irony is that I fell in love with him the first second I saw him. I just hid it well. To this day, there is nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for that man. I would kill for him—and I intend to prove it before too many days have passed.”

“I’m beginning to think they—we—are all pawns in a far bigger game.”

“I know you care about her. I know you love Sebastian. You need to understand none of that matters to me—it’s never mattered. I don’t love Seb. I was willing to live in the North with him, despite the fact that I don’t much care for children—all to keep an eye on the Obsidian Sky. But I always suspected there was a secret behind Aimée—after all, a man like Seb doesn’t magically acquire a dark-haired child who happens to look a lot like his missing sister. But now, I know what Aimée is. I know how much she matters. I care about this land and its people—and for all of our sakes, we need Aimée alive and strong.”

“Because as long as people are preoccupied with their own suffering, they won’t find the strength to rise up. They’re too worried about making it through next week to concern themselves with next year.”

“Perhaps one day, you’ll understand why I spend almost every second fantasizing about being inside you.”

“Sylvan is not a killer so much as an overlord. He has worked hard to make those who reside in the Depths forget the wrongs of the past—and of the present. But even if I wished to forget, I would feel obligated to retain my knowledge of the days long gone. I am here in this room for one purpose only, and that is to ensure the present and future are salvaged. I am here to see that the Lightbringer is brought to heel at long last.”

“Whatever may come, you and I will face it together.

“Do not make me say how it would pain me. I don’t like to admit how fragile you’ve made me. How brittle my heart is every time you walk away—and how much I’ve ached these last few days, worrying that you were hurt, or worse. I couldn’t feel our bond, and it nearly broke me. No one has ever robbed me of my soul until you.”

“Power is frightening, and for years, my sister has been a vessel for it. But it’s also addictive—which is likely one reason the people of Lumis adore Sylvan. For the time being, though, you and I should figure out exactly where Aimée is. We’ll find her and bring her to the surface. If Carys wants to join us there, so be it. But my niece is not safe here—I’m as sure of it as I’ve ever been of anything.”

“Remember our bond. What I feel, you feel. Remember that whenever you have doubts. You are my blood and my heart. You are everything to me. But I’m beginning to think Aimée is everything to this land, and we cannot leave her to the wolves. Find her. Protect her. I don’t know what her purpose is yet—but I do know it’s greater than either of us. We need to learn who has taken her and why. Then, we’ll make our move.”

“Do not let the truth vanquish your minds. It will not be pleasant—but you have no choice now but to learn it. More depends on you both than you know, and you will soon be tested. I am sorry for what you will endure.”

“For years now, we’ve lived in a state of precarious balance—those who reside on the surface and those in the Depths were separate and blissfully oblivious. All was as it should be. But you, Soleia, and that mate of yours—you fucked it up for all of us. You have no idea what you’ve done. It’s your fault she’s here. Your fault.”