“With a clear moment of insight, Charls saw that Lamen was not a cloth merchant’s assistant. He was the prince’s private companion,… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“To gain everything and lose everything in the space of a moment. That is the fate of all princes destined for the… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“By that time, Damen had received the tally of the dead: twelve hundred of us, six and a half thousand of them.… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“To gain everything and lose everything in the space of a moment. That is the fate of all princes destined for the… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Fight him I will, but not at the time and place of his choosing.’ ‘And is that your final answer?’ ‘It is.’… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“And with returning awareness, he saw as if for the first time the bodies of the men that he had killed to… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“He thought of Laurent surrendering, not the first time, but the second, the slower, sweeter time, the tension in him, the way… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“I would court you, with all the grace and courtesy that you deserve. There’d be no lies between us. We’d have time… — 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
“For the first time, he caught a glimmer of what Laurent would be like as a king. He saw him, not as… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“I’m not—’ said Laurent. And then, as the moment stretched out between them, ‘I’m not an innocent who needs his hand held… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“All right,' he heard Lazar say. He'd forgotten Lazar was there. After a long moment, he took his eyes off Laurent and… — 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
“The earring was not a discreet disguise. Every man in the common room of the inn was taking the time to have… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“He saw the man see all of that first, and then he saw the man see him. ‘The last time we spoke,… — 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… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“After a moment, Laurent said, ‘He would have liked you.’ ‘Even after I started courting his little brother?’ said Damen carefully. He… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You’re his lover,’ said Jord. ‘I was.’ He owed Jord the truth. ‘We . . . it was the first time. Last night.’ ‘So you… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You’re his lover,’ said Jord. ‘I was.’ He owed Jord the truth. ‘We . . . it was the first time. Last night.’ ‘So you… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“His body pulsed, almost climaxing. He barely knew the moment when he pressed Laurent onto his back, the brief sundering, the need… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“There was no slave,’ said Laurent. ‘He never existed. I don’t know what manner of man stands before me now. All I… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Damen said, ‘I will help you in whatever way I can, but there will be no time for anything but hard work,… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“For a moment he thought Laurent wasn’t going to do it. But in public, Laurent had no recourse to refusal. Laurent extended… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You know, my uncle knew who you were,’ said Laurent. ‘He spent this whole time waiting for us to fuck. He wanted… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“It was a change from the direct route that had been planned by the Regent, and Laurent had already sent out riders… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Laurent. Sleep it off. In the morning, you can punish us both. Or forget this ever happened. Or pretend to.’ He did… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“But after a moment Laurent turned his eyes elsewhere, and then closed them, and they both made their way to sleep.” — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“After a long moment, Laurent said, “I’m going to need some help standing up.” — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“He would never have known Laurent for what he was; never have given Laurent his loyalty or held Laurent’s trust for a… — 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
“He said it to Laurent. Laurent said that from this moment on, any Veretian who struck an Akielon would be executed. He… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Deliberately, he stepped forward, and clasped Laurent’s right shoulder. Nothing, for a moment. Damen tightened his grip, and ground in with his… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You’ve spent a morning with him and you’re warning me off. Just wait,’ said Damen, ‘until you’ve spent a full day with… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Is there no way forward for us?’ said Damen. It just came out. Beside him, he could feel Laurent holding himself very… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Laurent,’ he said, and he was breaking apart. To get what you want, you have to know exactly how much you are… — 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
