“
She can't die, and not just because there's a chance I won't survive. She can't die because I know I can't live without her even if I do.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
I'm just as reckless for you as you are for me.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2))
“
You have to fight, Vi,' Xaden whispers against my forehead as we move. 'You can hate me all you want when you wake up. You can scream, hit, throw your fucking daggers at me for all I care, but you have to live. You can't make me fall for you and then die. None of this is worth it without you.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
We hadn't even kissed, and I fell.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
He yanks me close and kisses my forehead. 'There is no me without you,' he says against my skin.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
You love me, and-'
'Loved,' I correct him, sidestepping so I can get some fucking space and then taking it.
'Love!' he shouts, stopping me in my tracks and earning us a glance from every rider within hearing distance. 'You love me.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
I love you. I’m in love with you. I have been since the night the snow fell in your hair and you kissed me for the first time. I’m grateful my life is tied to yours because it means I won’t have to face a day without you in it. My heart only beats as long as yours does, and when you die, I’ll meet Malek at your side.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2))
“
I'm going to keep you,' he promises, just like he did last night. Or was it this morning? 'You're mine, Violet.'
I lift my chin. 'Only if you're mine.'
'I've been yours for longer than you could ever imagine.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
I love you, the world does not exist for me beyond you. Xaden to Violet.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2))
“
Don't ever put your life at risk over something as trivial as talking to me again.' It's as low as a growl against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
'Next year is going to be so much fun,' I tease, walking forward and lacing my fingers with his so her follows.
'Liam will be here next year to make sure you're not doing asinine things,' he mutters.
'You're going to love getting his letters.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
Turns out, falling in love with someone only brings that blissful high all the poets talk about if they love you back. And if they keep secrets that jeopardize everyone and everything you hold dear? Love doesn't even have the decency to die. It just transforms into abject misery. That's what this ache in my chest is: misery.
Because love, at its root, is hope. Hope for tomorrow. Hope for what could be. Hope that the someone you've entrusted your everything to will cradle and protect it. And hope? That shit is harder to kill than a dragon.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2))
“
Tell me what you're thinking.'
I wind my arms around his neck. 'I was thinking you are exactly as I predicted the first time you took me in my room.'
'Oh yeah?' He draws back, curiosity sparking in his eyes. 'And what exactly was that?'
'A very dangerous addiction.' My gaze skims over the silver line of his scar, the thick lashes so many women would kill for, and over the bump in his nose to that perfectly sculped mouth. I've already told him that I love him, so it's not like I'm keeping secrets over here. Hell, compared to him, I'm an open book. 'Impossible to sate.'
His eyes darken. 'I'm going to keep you,' he promises, just like he did last night. Or was it this morning? 'You're mine, Violet.'
I lift my chin. 'Only if you're mine.'
'I've been yours for longer than you could ever imagine.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
But I'm beggin you, Violet. Don't offer me your body unless you're offering me everything. I want you more than I want to fuck you. I want those three little words back.
Xaden Riorson
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2))
“
Miraculous.'
'What's miraculous?'
...
'You are.' I set the empty glass on the nightstand and then turn back to her, gazing into the hazel eyes that have haunted me since Parapet. 'You are miraculous,' I finish in a whisper.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
I love his loss of control just as much as I fear my own.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
You love me, and—'
'Loved,' I correct him, sidestepping so I can get some fucking space and then taking it.
'Love!' he shouts, stopping me in my tracks and earning us a glance from every rider within hearing distance. 'You love me.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
Fuck it. - Xaden Riorson
”
”
Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
“
I'm in love with Xaden Riorson." Mira. Them. I seem to able to say the words to anyone who isn't Xaden.
"Hate to break it to you, but that's not a secret," Ridoc says, shaking his head.
"Yes, it is," I argue, my grip tightening on the mug.
"No," Sawyer chimes in. "It's really not."
"Hasn't been for a while," Rhi adds
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2))
“
I fucking love your hair. Xaden to Violet.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2))
“
You love me, and-"
'Loved," I correct him, sidestepping so I can get some fucking space and then taking it.
"Love!"
he shouts, stopping me in my tracks and earning us a glance from every rider within hearing distance.
"You love me."
”
”
Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
You're all right?' he asks, brushing my hair back from my face.
'I'm great. You're great. That was...'
'Great?' he supplies.
'Exactly.
'I was going to use the word "explosive", but I think "great" covers it.' His fingers tangle in my hair. 'I fucking love your hair. If you ever want to bring me to my knees or win an argument, just let it down. I'll get the point.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
I reach for her. 'I'm so sorry I had to keep...' My words die on my tongue as she steps back, avoiding me.
'Not happening.' A world of hurt flashes in those hazel eyes, and I fucking wither. 'Just because I believe you and am willing to fight with you doesn't mean I'll trust you with my heart again. and I can't be with someone I don't trust.'
Something in my chest crumples. 'I've never lied to you, Violet. Not once. I never will.'
She walks over to the window and looks down, then slowly turns back to me. 'It's not even that you kept this from me. I get it. It's the ease with which you did it. The ease with which I let you into my hear and didn't get the same in return.' She shakes her head, and I see it there, the love, but it's masked behind defences I foolishly forced her to build.
I love her. Of course I love her. But if I tell her now, she'll think I'm doing it for all the wrong reasons, and honestly, she'd be right.
I'm not going to lose the only woman I've ever fallen for without a fight. 'You're right. I kept secrets,' I admit, pressing forward again, taking step after step until I'm less than a foot from her. I palm the glass on both sides of her head, loosely caging her in, but we both know she could walk away if she wanted. But she doesn't move. 'It took me a long time to trust you, a long time to realise I fell for you.'
Someone knocks, I ignore it.
'Don't say that.' She lifts her chin, but I don't miss the way she glances at my mouth.
'I fell for you.' I lower my head and look straight into her gorgeous eyes. She might be rightfully pissed, but she sure as Malek isn't fickle. 'And you know what? You might not trust me anymore, but you still love me.'
Her lips part, but she doesn't deny it. 'I gave you my trust for free once, and once is all you get.' She masks the hurt with a quick blink.
Never again. Those eyes will never reflect hurt I've inflicted ever again.
'I fucked up by not telling you sooner, and I won't even try to justify my reasons. But now I'm trusting you with my life- with everyone's lives.' I've risked it all by just bringing her here instead of taking her body back to Basgiath. 'I'll tell you anything you want to know and everything you don't. I'll spend every single day of my life earning back your trust.'
I'd forgotten what it felt like to be loved, really, truly, loved- it'd been so many years since Dad died. And mom... Not going there. But then Violet gave me those words, gave me her trust, her heart, and I remembered. I'll be damned if I don't fight to keep them.
'And if it's not possible?'
'You still love me. It's possible.' Gods, do I ache to kiss her, to remind her exactly what we are together, but I won't, not until she asks. 'I'm not afraid of hard work, especially not when I know just how sweet the rewards are.. I would rather lose this entire war than live without you, and if that means I have to prove myself, over and over, then I'll do it. You gave me your heart, and I'm keeping it.' She already owns mine, even if she doesn't realise it.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
You’re Xaden Riorson.” I rise up on my toes and press a kiss to his chin. “Shadow wielder.” Another at his jaw. “Duke of Tyrrendor.” My mouth brushes just beneath his earlobe. “Love of my life. You have nothing to be jealous of.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3))
“
Come on, let's get you to bed.' I lean in and kiss the scar on his eyebrow. 'It will be tomorrow when you wake up.'
'I don't deserve you.' His arm curls around my hips and he tugs me closer. 'But I'm going to keep you all the same.'
'Good.' I lean in and brush my lips over his. 'Because I think I'm in love with you.' My heart beats erratically, and panic claws up my rib cage. I shouldn't have said it.
His eyes flare wide and his arms tighten around me. 'You think? Or you know?'
Be brave.
Even if he doesn't feel the same, at least I will have spoken my truth. 'I know. I'm so wildly in love with you that I can't imagine what my life would even look like without you in it. And I probably shouldn't have said that, but if we're doing this, then we're starting from a place of complete honesty.'
He crushes his mouth to mine and pulls me fully into his lap so I'm straddling him. He kisses me so deep that I lose myself in it, in him.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
Three days?' Dain fires back, leaning in. 'You couldn't make it three days?'
'It has nothing to do with him.' I interrupt, setting my dragon down with a little more force than necessary. 'That's up to Tairn and Sgaeyl.'
'You never considered that it was you I couldn't stay away from?'
I crook my right arm and jab it into Xaden's biceps. He doesn't mean that. Not when he's still adamant that kissing me was a mistake. And if he does... I'm not going there...
'Now, now, you'll give our little communication secret away if you can't keep from being so... violent.' He barely restrains a smile, obviously loving that he gets the last word.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
Swear you’ll sound the alarm if I go too far, that you’ll keep it safe, even if it’s from me.” “What—” I start, but the gym door opens, and I look over my shoulder to see Garrick waving a rolled parchment. “The Earl of Lewellen said you’d be in here. Orders aren’t optional, Riorson, even for nobility. We need to go.” “Promise me,” Xaden says, stroking his thumb under my ear and completely ignoring his best friend. “You’re leaving?” I swing my gaze back to Xaden’s, realizing that’s why the messenger had tracked him down. “Now?” He leans in, blocking out the rest of the world. “Promise me, Violet. Please.” He’ll never go too far, never lose his soul, so I nod. “I promise.” Xaden’s eyes slide shut for a heartbeat, and blatant relief shines from their depths when he opens them. “Thank you.” “I know you can hear me.” Garrick raises his voice. “Let’s go.” “I love you.” Xaden kisses me hard and fast, and it’s over before I can even process it’s actually happened. “I love you, too.” I grab his hand as he withdraws. “Tell me what the king gave you.” He takes a deep breath. “He gave me back my title and the seat in the Senarium.” Holy shit. My lips part. “Not just Aretia, either…he gave me Tyrrendor,” Xaden says slowly, like he can’t believe it, either. And he doesn’t want it. My chest clenches. “Xaden—” “Don’t wait up.” He presses a kiss to the inside of my wrist, then strides toward Garrick. “I’ll be back by eight a.m. to sign that accord,” he calls back over his shoulder. “Try to stay out of trouble while I’m gone.” “Be careful.” He’s the Duke of Tyrrendor.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3))
“
You want me,' I put my hand on his chest and feel his heart pounding. 'And I know that scares you even though I want you just as badly.'
He stiffens.
'But here's the thing,' I hold his gaze, knowing he could bolt at any second. 'You don't get to dictate how I feel. You might give the orders out there, but not in here. You don't get to tell me we can fuck but I can't fall for you. That's not fair. You can only respect what I choose to do. So we're not doing this again until I want to risk my heart. And if I fall, then that's my problem, not yours. You're not responsible for my choices.'
His jaw clenches once. Twice. And then he pushes off the wall, giving me space. 'I think that's for the best. I'm graduating soon, and who knows where I'll end up. Besides, you and I are chained together because of Sgaeyl and Tairn, which complicates... everything.' He retreats one step at a time, the distance more than just physical. 'Besides, with all that pretending, I'm sure we'll eventually forget last night ever happened.'
The way we're looking at each other tells me neither of us is ever going to forget. And he can avoid it all he wants, but we're going to end up right here time and again until he's willing to recognise what this is. Because if there's one thing I know for certain, it's that I'm going to fall for this man- if I haven't already- and he's halfway there, too, whether he realises it or not.
Turning my back on him, I walk to the shattered halves of my throwing target and pick them up before heading back across my room. 'I never figured you for a liar, Xaden.' I shove the halves at his chest. 'You can get me a new one when you're ready to come to your senses. Then we'll blow off some steam.' I throw the aggravating man out.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1))
“
In the years after my father died, I forgot what it felt like to be loved. Then I entered the quadrant and became the monster everyone needed me to be, and I never regretted it. But then you gave those words to me, and I remembered…and nearly lost you, too. I’m striving to be better for you just like I promised, but I need you to know that monster is still there, screaming to use every ruthless part of me to get your words back. —Recovered Correspondence of Lieutenant Xaden Riorson
to Cadet Violet Sorrengail
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2))
“
Everyone looks my way. Here we go. "I'm in love with Xaden Riorson." Mira. Them. I seem to be able to say the words to anyone who isn't Xaden.
"Hate to break it to you, but that's not a secret," Ridoc says, shaking his head.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros, Iron Flame
“
Riorson. Sorrengail.” The colonel’s mouth quirks into a sarcastic smile. “So lovely to see you both tonight. Leaving for the Southern Wing so soon? The front will be lucky to have such a capable rider.” My chest tightens. Xaden isn’t going to a mid-guard wing like most lieutenants. He’s being sent to the front? “I’d say I’ll be back before you can miss me,” Xaden replies, his hands loose at his sides, “but word has it you pissed off General Sorrengail enough to be reassigned to a coastal outpost.” The colonel’s face blotches. “I might not be here, but you won’t be as often, either. Only once every fortnight, according to your new orders.” What? My stomach pitches, and it takes every ounce of control I have not to reach out and steady myself.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2))
“
When this is over, we should take as much leave as they’ll give us and spend it all in Aretia. We can figure out what life is supposed to look like without the daily threat of death. You can govern the province you love during the day, then slide into bed with me at night. Or I can always join you in the Assembly chamber. You do some of your best work on that throne. —Recovered Correspondence of Cadet Violet Sorrengail to His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tyrrendor
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3))
“
the years after my father died, I forgot what it felt like to be loved. Then I entered the quadrant and became the monster everyone needed me to be, and I never regretted it. But then you gave those words to me, and I remembered…and nearly lost you, too. I’m striving to be better for you just like I promised, but I need you to know that monster is still there, screaming to use every ruthless part of me to get your words back. —Recovered Correspondence of Lieutenant Xaden Riorson
to Cadet Violet Sorrengail
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2))
“
Yes, love, I’m jealous. I’m jealous of the armor that holds you when I can’t, the sheets on your bed that caress your skin every night, and the blades that feel your hands.
”
”
Xaden Riorson
“
You want to know something true? Something real? I love you. I’m in love with you. I have been since the night the snow fell in your hair and you kissed me for the first time. I’m grateful my life is tied to yours because it means I won’t have to face a day without you in it. My heart only beats as long as yours does, and when you die, I’ll meet Malek at your side. It’s a damned good thing that you love me, too, because you’re stuck with me in this life and every other that could possibly follow.
”
”
Xaden Riorson
“
How is it possible to both love someone and loathe them all in the same moment?
”
”
Rebecca Yarros (Iron Flame (The Empyrean, #2))
“
In the years after my father died, I forgot what it felt like to be loved. Then I entered the quadrant and became the monster everyone needed me to be, and I never regretted it. But then you gave those words to me, and I remembered...and nearly lost you, too. I'm striving to be better for you just like I promised, but I need you to know that monster is still there, screaming to use every ruthless part of me to get your words back.
”
”
Rebecca Yarros