“Someone wants you to know your messenger didn’t get through,’ said Damen. ‘Take the horse,’ said Laurent, ‘ride back to camp, and… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Don’t,’ said Laurent, ‘toy with me. I—have not the means to—defend against this.’ ‘I don’t toy with you.’ ‘I—’ ‘Don’t think,’ said… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“My orders are to hold,’ said Damen. ‘We let the Regent commit first, to draw him out of position.’ ‘If we do… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“When you lost your brother, was there someone to comfort you?’ ‘Yes,’ said Laurent. ‘In a way.’ ‘Then I’m glad,’ said Damen.… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Hello,” said Damen. “I know that you have somehow arranged this,” said Erasmus. He was incapable of hiding what he felt and… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Damen said, ‘I made him a promise.’ ‘And when he learns who you are?’ said Jord. ‘When he learns that he is… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Protect me,” said Damen, flat incredulity in his voice. “I am aware that you saved my life.” Damen just stared at him.… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“I want you to know,' said Damen, carefully, 'that I haven't done anything to encourage the idea that I-that you and I-'… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“It’s considerably less than a foot,’ said Damen. ‘Is it?’ said Laurent. ‘It feels like more when you argue with me on… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“After a long moment Laurent said, with painful honesty, ‘I . . . find it difficult to let go of control.’ ‘No kidding,’ said Damen.… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Well? Attend me,’ said Laurent. ‘Attend,’ said Damen. The word sank into him. He felt as he had in the training arena… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Is that an answer?’ said Damen. ‘I’m not a virgin,’ said Laurent. ‘I wondered,’ Damen said, carefully, ‘if you reserved your love… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“There had been a silence, until Laurent had said, ‘You were right. I haven’t been thinking about it like this.’ ‘Like what?’… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“After a moment: ‘At Ravenel, I—it had been a long time since I had—with anyone. I was nervous.’ ‘I know,’ said Damen.… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Very well. Let us play this out. You’re concerned for the well-being of the other slaves? Why hand me that kind of… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Reporting to Jord, Damen found himself caught in a conversation that he wasn’t ready for. ‘I could tell from your face. You… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You’re alive,’ Damen said, and the words came out on a rush of relief that made him feel weak. ‘I’m alive,’ said… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You just surprised me,’ said Damen. ‘Sometimes I think I understand you, and at other times I can’t make you out at… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“I—’ ‘Say it.’ ‘I’m going to leave tomorrow,’ said Damen, as steadily as he could. ‘I’m not going to come back.’ He… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Laurent said, almost carefully, ‘I realise that in my service you do not have a great deal of opportunity to pursue the… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“I’ll stay,’ said Damen. ‘You know I’ll stay for as long as you—’ ‘Don’t,’ said Laurent. ‘Don’t lie to me. Not you.’… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“I see you’ve thought of everything,’ said Damen, bitterly. ‘It didn’t have to be—you could have come to me, and asked for… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Didn’t you hear anything that I just said to you?’ ‘Yes,’ said Damen. ‘You tried to hurt me, and you have. I… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Trust you?' said Damen. 'You flayed the skin from my back. I have seen you do nothing but cheat and lie to… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Damen said, 'Men, sometimes.' 'In the absence of women?' 'When I want them.' 'If I'd known that, I might have felt a… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“It is common knowledge,’ said Damen. He watched the words impact on Nikandros, who could not quite swallow them. ‘What would you… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You seem to vacillate between assistance and assault. Which is it?' 'I'm not surprised you've driven three men to try and kill… — 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
![“Trust you?' said Damen. 'You flayed the skin from my back. I have seen you do nothing but cheat and lie to every person you've encountered. You use anything and anyone to further your own ends. You are the last person I would ever trust.' [...] 'Go, then.” quote by C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a85/c-s-pacat-628_cheat_trust-you-said-damen-you-flayed-the-skin_558636.jpg)
