1
" Is that all you want?”
At that, he reaches for me, and pulls me toward him so that we’re standing face to face. “Well, I want you, but I didn’t think I had to say that,” he says. “In whatever capacity I can have you, for however long you want me, I’m yours.”
I smile, rolling onto the balls of my feet to kiss him softly.
“Yana Crebesti,” I murmur against his lips. “No matter what comes. "
― Laura Sebastian , Ember Queen (Ash Princess Trilogy, #3)
2
" You aren’t useless. You have your mind, you have your determination. You can still probably wield a sword better than half of Cress’s army, I’d bet, depth perception or no. Stay and fight and show her that she didn’t ruin you.”
Erik swallows. For a moment, he says nothing, but eventually he nods his head. “I don’t suppose you could heal me, Heron?” he asks, though he sounds like he already knows the answer.
“I can’t make you a new eye,” Heron says, his voice pained. “But I can try to help with healing your other one.”
“What about you, Artemisia?” Erik asks. “Any illusion you could cast to hide it?”
“Nothing permanent. I’m sorry,” she says. “And nothing that would give you back your vision.”
“Ah well,” Erik says, his voice still quavering. “I had a few good years of being handsome. It’s more than most get.”
It’s an attempt at a joke, but no one laughs.
“You’re still handsome,” Heron says quietly.
Erik laughs, the sound hard. “I’m monstrous,” he says.
“You’re brave,” Heron says, louder this time. “And steadfast. And you fight for your people—for what you know is right no matter what it costs you. You are, without a doubt, the handsomest man I’ve ever seen, and if you try to say otherwise one last time, I will break your nose as well, you vain ass. "
― Laura Sebastian , Ember Queen (Ash Princess Trilogy, #3)
3
" I’m sorry,” I say, bringing my hand over my mouth. “I’m so sorry, Erik.”
Erik shakes his head. “I’m useless to you now,” he says. “I have no army for you, Theo. I can’t lead a battalion. I’m not even sure I could lead the way out of this tent.”
“You’re blind,” Heron says, finding his voice again finally.
“Half,” Erik says, motioning to the swollen eye. “This one should heal, I think. But with no depth perception and a narrower field of vision—”
“No,” Heron says. “I mean you’re blind—you aren’t dead. You want to help, you want to save your people, then do it. You don’t have to lead an army to do that. "
― Laura Sebastian , Ember Queen (Ash Princess Trilogy, #3)
4
" He looks at Erik. “The last thing you’re going to do is wallow. You’re going to get back on your feet and figure out how to adjust. Trust me, you’ll thank me for it later.”
Erik grimaces but nods. “I’m sure I will,” he says, forcing himself to sit up, and groaning as he does. “But right now, I’d like to say some far less savory things to you.”
“Keep a list,” Heron says with a small smile. “You can tell them to me over dinner.”
For an instant, Erik is shocked and flustered—a look I’ve never seen on him before. He recovers his wits quickly enough. “It’s a deal,” he says.
Artemisia looks between the two of them, eyebrows raised so high they almost disappear entirely into her hair.
“We are at war,” she says with a sigh. “Surely there is a better time to flirt than when death is around every corner?”
“Truth be told, I’m hard-pressed to think of a better time to flirt,” Erik says, pushing himself to his feet. “You very well may never get another chance.”
Artemisia rolls her eyes.
“Just because I can’t see you doesn’t mean I don’t know you’re rolling your eyes, Art,” he says, holding an arm out to her, which she takes. She guides him a couple of hesitant steps. “Just because you don’t know how to flirt—”
“I know how,” she snaps indignantly as she leads him out of the tent, the two of them continuing to bicker as they go. "
― Laura Sebastian , Ember Queen (Ash Princess Trilogy, #3)
