He pulled her flush against him, his forehead dropping to hers. “You never had to steal them, Kerensa. You had only to ask. I would have burned the stars for you.”
Torin descended the dais. Each step shook the floor. When he stopped before her, the heat from his massive body wrapped around her like a chain. m.k. eidem serie imperial 5
“You should not be here, Kerensa.” His voice was gravel and thunder, yet he did not advance. “This is the Hall of Judgment. The accused do not leave.” He pulled her flush against him, his forehead
A growl rumbled through the obsidian chamber. Around them, the Imperial Guard tensed. No one spoke to the Conqueror of Grythos like that. No one lived. I would have burned the stars for you
Kerensa placed her palm over his chest, directly over the thundering twin hearts. “Then conquer me, my Emperor. But let my people live.”
He lifted her into his arms, and the last thing Kerensa saw before he carried her into the shadows of the Imperial Spire was the empty throne of judgment.
“You stole from me,” he said softly. “My heart. My honor. My heir.” His clawed hand cupped her jaw. “That is not theft, little human. That is war.”