“Tell me,’ said Damen. Kyrina spoke without lifting her head from her prostration. Her long hair, which had escaped from its bindings… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“My uncle knows you won’t move against him while he holds the child,’ said Laurent. And then, calmly, steadily, ‘So we get… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You should be,’ said Jokaste. ‘He is the son of a king.’ The son of a king. Damen felt dizzy, as if… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“And if you want a personal message,’ said Laurent, ‘You can tell my uncle boykiller that he can cut the head off… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“My uncle has killed his catamite,’ said Laurent. ‘As a message to us. And what is the message?’ His voice carried. ‘That… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“The child’s wet nurse,’ said Jokaste, ‘will tell Kastor the truth if I am killed.’ ‘If you are killed.’ ‘That’s right.’ ‘You,’… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“He gathered the last of his strength to himself and said: “Do whatever you want to me. I’m not going to rape… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“He said, ‘Is there a child?’ ‘I have told you that there is,’ said Jokaste. ‘I wasn’t talking to you,’ said Damen.… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Did Nicaise have a choice?’ ‘He had the choice of the poor with no other way to survive, the choice of a… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“He won’t hurt the child,’ said Laurent. ‘Whether it is your son or Kastor’s, it is leverage. It is leverage against you,… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Not everyone could have the blissful equanimity of Lamen, who seemed to pay the Prince no deference of rank, a piece of very good… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“The ache of loss didn’t make sense, because Laurent had never been his. He had known that. The delicate thing that had grown between… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“His hands slid impotently down Laurent’s tight-laced clothing. Beneath him, Laurent’s kisses were all open-mouthed. Desire flamed, painful and bright. It” — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“He let his lips form a half-smile. ‘You aren’t going to offer me one of your gaudy Veretian handkerchiefs?’ ‘You could use the clothing… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“My uncle plans everything,’ said Laurent, as though reading Damen’s thoughts. ‘He plans for victory and he plans for defeat. It was you who… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You want to hear the truth about my uncle? I’ll tell you,’ said Laurent, a new light in his eyes. ‘I’ll tell you what… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Instead of leaning in, Damen took Laurent’s hand, brought it towards himself, and kissed his palm, once.” — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Laurent, he realised, had guarded his solitude for him. And his people, fearing the fierce, strange foreign prince, had done as Laurent ordered, and… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Stirring drowsily, Laurent shifted a fraction closer and made a soft, unthinking sound of pleasure that Damen was going to remember for the rest… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You are too quick to pledge yourself to me.’ He felt the hard, bright edges of the pin in his fist. ‘You are my… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image