Metal Slinger Quotes

I looked for you. In every market and podunk town, in every corner of every land, I searched each face for yours.

Until next time, Brynn.

Look who it is,” he croons, though it takes effort to get past the gravel in his voice. “The little thief herself.

If you think I’m going anywhere without you, you’re mistaken.

sick of men who think they can control the world and everyone within it.

I kiss him, knowing nothing lasts forever.

He gives me a look that clearly says he doesn’t believe me, but a smile twitches at the corner of his mouth. “You’re kind of beautiful when you lie.

Acker smiles, but it’s straight filth when he says, “Shame. I was kind of looking forward to tying you up.

I will sleep wherever you want me to. Whether it’s on the floor or in the dirt or in your bed, I’ll be there if you want me.

You’ve been feeding me with the same dagger you put through a man’s eyeball?

Don’t worry, Jovie. I’m going to court you so well you’ll be begging to climb into bed with me.

Mark my words, if I ever see him again, I’ll kill him for what he’s done to you.

If you’re still virginized by then, I’ll do you a solid and suck you off myself, mate.

I was just staring at your hands,

The only way through it is through.

No body, dead or alive. And they’ll begin looking.

Beautiful and deadly, I mourn him already, and he’s right in front of me.

If you asked me for my life, I’m pretty sure I’d hand it over on a gold platter.

Everyone’s always muttering about the good gods, but the bad ones are way more interesting.

It is not your job to make anyone comfortable.

Every gain of wealth and power comes at a cost. It chips away at your soul a little each time.

Dark hair, dark eyes, a gold ring in one nostril. Lips I somehow know often say crude things—or maybe it’s his entire demeanor that tells me that, but there’s something inherently vulgar in his beauty.

She has beautiful eyes,” he says softly, like he’s lost to memory. “They’re brown and green and amber, like every color of every season. I’ve looked everywhere for eyes like hers, and nothing has ever been able to compare.

His smile fades into something sadder. “She has beautiful eyes,” he says softly, like he’s lost to memory. “They’re brown and green and amber, like every color of every season. I’ve looked everywhere for eyes like hers, and nothing has ever been able to compare.

Acker doesn’t let go of me. Not in the center of the storm and not when we breach the veil of the storm’s eye. Not when the boat feels like it’s going to be ripped apart at any moment and we’re going to go overboard. He never lessens his hold, not even when his arms shake. He never lets go.

Know this, Jovie: I have zero doubts when it comes to you. You heard Olivia—I’ve always known you were it for me. I may have thought I lost you for a while, but I knew no one would ever take your place.” Bracing his elbows on his knees, he brings my hands to his lips, eyes closing as he holds them there. “I’m sorry I made you doubt me,

I am a starving man, Jovie. Don’t appear without clothes again.” “Or what?” I say, not recognizing the timbre of my voice. Lips tracing the outer shell of my ear, he tilts his pelvis toward mine, revealing the truth of his arousal. “Or I’ll make you finally confront the desire you’ve been so determined to pretend doesn’t exist between us.

I retrieve Kai’s sword from where I abandoned it on the dock. The metal is scorching hot. I hold it out to him in the way he offered it to me, by the blade, apologetic. He accepts it but doesn’t let go, using it as a rope to pull me closer. “I am proud to call you my match.” Then he kisses me, in front of everyone, rules and decorum be damned. Whatever punishment awaits, we’ll suffer it together. It’ll be worth it.

I was able to determine as much during the time I spent with him as an eyun.

Dark hair, dark eyes, a gold ring in one nostril.

I force myself to meet his eyes, but it kind of feels like staring at the sun.

Until next time, Brynn.” The way he says my name, the last letter lingering on the tip of his tongue, sends a spike of fear through me. He says it like he’s not finished with me.

I'm going to swim with the stars.

His stare lingers on Kai. “Can you explain why this cell was covered in her scent when I arrived here?” Shock registers through my system. He could smell—surely not.

You can never get loving someone wrong.

pulling it back to reveal one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.

My father may hold most of the power, but I have favor with the people. I wanted them to see that I am in favor of you and not ashamed to call you my match.

I wasn’t going to put you in a carriage like a disgraced secret,

Let’s get something straight,” he says, jaw ticking as his attention falls to my mouth for a brief second. “I will not hurt you.” He darts a look over my bound body. “Ever. Not because of a blood oath I made out of necessity, but because I don’t want to.

I don’t like the way the one on the right looks at me,” I say, voice low. Acker slows, eyes becoming sharp despite the smile on his face. “Yeah?” He doesn’t wait for a response as he pivots in place. He looks at the soldier in question. “You’re dismissed.

but when I stop and focus, excitement buzzes inside me. There’s hope that whatever lies before me is better than what lies behind me.

You can call it because it belongs to you.

Joke’s on you. I’m plenty hungry enough to eat you now, with or without hair.

A smile grows on his lips before he caps the waterskin and looks at me. “Did you want me to kneel?

Acker shouts. “Go! Before I kill us both.

And I had quit looking. I had convinced myself you were dead as the years went by, and I wore the blade in honor of your memory, having long since lost its original purpose. That’s why I couldn’t believe it was you when the blade signaled your presence. Even when I saw you with my own eyes, like a ghost in broad daylight, I refused to believe it. Because…” He trails off, looking up at me. “Because it meant I gave up on you.

I’ll hogtie you if I have to.

She laughs, and the soldier before us looks over once again, this time to be met with Beau’s disarming smile in place of mine. It stuns him, eyes growing wide as a flush fills the highs of his cheeks, and he hurries to turn back around.

The maidservants are always coming in and out on requests from the nobles with gossip and rumors: affairs, alcohol intake, disputes. Any and all information regarding court transgressions is filtered through the kitchen staff.

I stink,” I warn. “I know. I smell you from here.

have no desire to be anyone’s sacrifice,” I declare, correcting him.

I’m never going to tell you something just to benefit myself.

Chapter 11

I wanted to have you right there, in front of all of them, consequences be damned.

The ocean has a way of doing that to you, sucking the life from your bones a little more every second.

I eat anything if it’s covered in enough sugar, sweetheart.

Tell me something, anything to convince me to help you.” He shakes his head. “I can’t.” I groan. “Because of this alleged blood oath?” “No,” he says, voice tired and hoarse. “I’m never going to tell you something just to benefit myself.” “Not even if it means saving your life?” I ask, stunned. He shakes his head again. “No.

Acker loves me. Acker loves me. Acker loves me.

You don’t know it all, metal slinger. You will do what I say, and threatening me with death will do you no good,” she tacks on.

And the last time a light wielder walked the earth, she ruled the earth and the four elements within it.

I saw you in the Market.” His eyes hold mine, searching for something in the depths that I’m unable to see. “I looked for you. In every market and podunk town, in every corner of every land, I searched each face for yours.

And you, metal slinger, have killed a hundred times for what your head is worth. Why should you get to live with so much blood on your hands?

Help me. Please.” He orders me to move. I scurry out of his way. He lifts a leg in each hand and swings the mammoth animal over his shoulders. Blood runs like a waterfall down his back. He motions for me to go before him with a jerk of his head.

I didn’t think you’d care,” he says, running a curved finger along my jaw. “But jealousy looks good on you.

Jovinnia, the lost Princess of Maile. Or do you prefer to go by Brynn?” I haven’t given my name much thought. Neither of them feel right. I suppose, if I had to choose, it would be Acker’s version.

…like every color of every season.

Human emotions are fickle, Jo. Yours, mine, Acker’s. They’re nothing but a wave in the ocean. What really matters is what you decide to do with them.

I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced true peace in my life until right now. Then, like two magnets meeting, the tether below my breasts snaps into place, an unbreakable bond stretching between us. Acker braces his weight to look at me, and if I’m not mistaken, there’s a sheen of glassiness in his eyes. I kiss him, knowing nothing lasts forever.

The morning after the storm in Alaha

Motherfucker. You’ve got be fucking kidding me.

I’m going to swim with the stars,” he says,

You were my best friend and you betrayed me.

We can call it even.” “Cold soup as payment for saving your life,” I say, lifting a brow. “When you put it in perspective, couldn’t you have at least saved the whole roll for me?” He quirks a sardonic smile. “After hearing my captor profess his love for you? I would have rather died.

The Matching Ceremony is in two days. It’ll be the best time to commandeer a boat without anyone noticing. And then afterward, we can forget we ever met.” The grip he has on my wrist tightens as he pulls me closer. “If you think I’m going anywhere without you, you’re mistaken.

He shakes the water from his hair, spraying droplets in every direction, and I throw any and every cuss word I can think of in his direction. He laughs, eyes sparkling with delight in being on the receiving end of my temper. It only serves to make me angrier.

If you believe in fairy tales.” “I’m a librarian, darling. Of course I do.

I’m going to swim with the stars,

I am a starving man, Jovie. Don’t appear without clothes again.

Yes, your highness,

Will you put your nose ring back in?

Yes, I love him,” I tell him. “He’s my closest friend.” He shakes his head, chuckling through an exhale. “That has to be the worst proclamation of love I’ve ever heard.

Why would he ever choose me? “The future leader of Alaha doesn’t choose an urchin as a wife.” He grits his teeth but doesn’t break stride. “You know how much I hate when you call yourself that.” “That’s what I am, Kai.” “No, it’s not.” His hold on me tightens, but he doesn’t push. I inspect him, looking for a hint of what Kai has up his sleeve, but I can’t find anything other than anticipation staring back at me. “You are smart and hardworking and so godsdamn beautiful,” he says, punctuating each word to ensure I’m convinced of their authenticity. “Your name has been whispered by my own men behind my back, because they would never dare to speak their interest in courting you to my face.

Brynn, look at me,” Kai demands. So I do, eyes snapping open. “I’ll always protect you.

Hey,” Kai says, drawing my chin up with a finger. “Just you and me.

After hearing my captor profess his love for you? I would have rather died.

But…I can’t accept a match who doesn’t trust me enough to be honest with me.

That was the day I told my mother I was going to marry you when it came time to pick a match.” He loosens his grip, letting me spin in his arms.

Then, as if he tries to stop himself but can’t, he kisses me one last time. It leaves me breathless and wanting and nearly bursting at the seams with adoration for the man before me.

They possibly mean everything. I can feel it in every stitch of my being that I am meant to be loved, and loved by him.

Acker looks up from the blade. “I’m starting to think the Alaha are all inbred. It’s the only explanation for your level of stupidity.

We’ll wait for the Matching Ceremony, then we’ll sneak away in one of the fishing boats. It’s the only time it won’t be guarded.” Acker smiles, but it’s straight filth when he says, “Shame. I was kind of looking forward to tying you up.

Nothing is feared more than the giant squids rumored to be found in the most remote parts of the oceans. They have no known home, no known origin. The only evidence of their existence are the abandoned boats they leave behind, left wandering aimless without a soul on board. The bodies of the crews are theorized to have been pulled underneath the water never to be seen again.

It’s presumptuous of him to assume I trust him now, but he’s got a fair point. I got in this boat with him despite watching him take down four grown men by himself. I’m either stupid or desperate. Maybe a little of both.

When it comes to men, Jo, it’s best to just assume the worst.

He bares his teeth against my mouth. “Stop fighting me.

Is there such a thing?” I ask. “For a bonded couple not to end in a true love match?” “There have been tales,” Hallis says. “And?” “They ended up destroying one another, along with everyone else around them.” Well then.

I’m not going to bite you,” he says. “Not today, anyway.

A young Grenadine stares back at me.

Their apprehension toward you isn’t your doing and it’s not your problem. Got it?

I know now, and it’s like an echo in my head as we kiss. Yes. Yes. Yes.