“I know you,’ Touars said again. Damen’s sword went in, and instinct pushed forward and drove it in further. ‘Damianos,’ Touars said.… — 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 Breath Copy Share Image
“It feels like more when you argue with me on points of honour.’ ‘I want you to know,’ said Damen, carefully, ‘that… — 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 Little time Copy Share Image
“If we just knew which end to start with,’ Lamen said. It was suddenly obvious that Lamen had no idea what to… — C.S. Pacat Wisdom Copy Share Image
“He'd been kissing Laurent and that should not be interrupted. His eyes returned warmly, possessively to their object: Laurent looked like any… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“The events of last night, endlessly complicated in the candlelit privacy of Laurent’s bedchamber, had resolved into a single, blissful fact this… — C.S. Pacat Cybersecurity Copy Share Image
“Laurent said, ‘What do you think of Jord?’ ‘I like him,’ said Damen. ‘You should be pleased with him. He was the… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Congratulations,’ said Damen. ‘You’ve forced my hand. You have what you want. Delpha, in exchange for your aid in the south. Nothing… — C.S. Pacat Agreement Copy Share Image
“Something to say?' said Laurent Jord was holding off from them. The same stubborn distaste was in his voice. 'Not with him… — C.S. Pacat Laurent Copy Share Image
“I’m going to leave,’ he said. ‘I was always going to leave. I stayed only because—’ ‘That’s right, you’ll leave. I won’t… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You wouldn’t break an oath,’ said Damen, past the feeling in his chest. ‘Even to me.’ He had to force himself back.… — C.S. Pacat Oath Copy Share Image
“And Nikandros of Delpha stared back at him, and in a shocked voice, speaking the words half to himself, said, ‘It’s not… — C.S. Pacat Mind Copy Share Image
“Now you are taking advantage of my kind-hearted instincts,’ Laurent said, a murmur into his ear. He drew back, but didn’t move… — C.S. Pacat Instincts Copy Share Image
“No,’ said Jokaste. ‘—Exalted. You are merciful. I have a son of my own. Spare my life, Exalted—’ ‘No,’ said Jokaste. ‘He… — 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 Change Copy Share Image
“And if the worst happened, Guion’s testimony had the potential to bring down the Regency. Laurent had said all of this succinctly,… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“In other words, the Regent was to be informed that his Captain had been well and truly turned off, in a manner… — C.S. Pacat Incompetence Copy Share Image
“The men think you bend me over inside the tent,’ said Laurent. He said it in the same calm way he said… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“I’m to give this to the fort Commander,’ and he was urgently pressing something into Damen’s hand. Damen stared at it. Behind… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“In my culture, it is customary to reward for good service,’ said Laurent, after a long pause. ‘Is there something you want?’… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Do it. I want it. I want—’ Damen was unable to stop himself pressing his own weight forward, running his hand up… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“White-faced, Jord took one look at his expression and said, ‘He’s not coming.’ ‘We’re outnumbered,’ said Damen, ‘but if you run, you… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Damen could see Laurent’s shallow breath. He could see his dark-eyed intention. Laurent was undressing for him, one lace after another, the… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“You know,’ said Damen, ‘he’s going to let someone eventually. Better all round if it’s you.’ There was a long silence, and… — C.S. Pacat Long silence Copy Share Image
“You have sent Damianos’s son to my uncle.’ She said, ‘You see? I am an opponent. I will not be left in… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“Isn’t there? I wonder how my uncle is going to react when he finds out that you killed Govart and helped me… — C.S. Pacat Family Copy Share Image
“Don’t,’ he said, ‘talk about it like—’ ‘Like?’ ‘Like it was cold-blooded; like I controlled it. Like we didn’t both close our… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“It couldn’t carry a rider. Damen brought his own horse over, then paused. ‘My proportions are better suited to riding pillion than… — 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
“I knew in the palace, when they dragged you in front of me,’ said Laurent. The words continued, steady, relentless. ‘I knew… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“I intend to survive, I intend to beat my uncle, and I will fight with every weapon that I have.’ ‘You mean… — C.S. Pacat Copy Share Image
“His intellect made increasing sense of this: there had been an ambush, he was underground, and since his body didn’t feel as… — C.S. Pacat Mind 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
“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
“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
“My honourable barbarian. I wouldn’t have picked that as your type.’ ‘Type?’ ‘A pretty face, a devious mind and a ruthless nature.’… — C.S. Pacat Barbarian 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… — 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 Arrogance Copy Share Image
“You were taken prisoner, you single-handedly escaped from the cells at Fortaine, and somehow managed to get Guion to switch sides on… — C.S. Pacat Prisoner Copy Share Image
