❛ if you were out there, you would understand. ❜ it’s difficult to keep the snap from his voice, but he’s biting off the words, their poison burning his tongue. hostility — not for this guest, but for the grand scheme of things — forces him to wave his hand in jerky, uncoordinated movements. as if he could shoo away this cresting wave of irritation. it’s never that easy.
❛ they mean to rebel again. to banish me after they’ve begged me to come back and serve as their king. they think i can’t hear them, but their whispers are — loud. i’m not sitting by this time to wait until they’ve made up their mind. ❜