Divine Rivals

Sometimes I’m afraid to love other people.

Everyone I care about eventually leaves me, whether it’s death or war or simply because they don’t want me. They go places I can’t find, places I can’t reach. And I’m not afraid to be alone, but I’m tired of being the one left behind. I’m tired of having to rearrange my life after the people within it depart, as if I’m a puzzle and I’m
now missing pieces and I will never feel that pure sense of completion again.

wooden platform was

The hill had been bombed.

“Marry me, Iris Elizabeth Winnow,” Roman whispered, drawing back to look at her. “I want to spend all my days and all my nights with you. Marry me.”

“My middle name begins with an E.”

Roman smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “And whatever could it be? Iris Enchanting Winnow? Iris Ethereal Winnow? Iris Exquisite Winnow?”

Roman Kitt was Carver.

“It won’t do us any good if you break your neck on the way to the front,” she said. “I don’t mind sharing the seat. That is, if you don’t mind me sitting on your—”

“I don’t mind,” he said.

She had to sit forward and tell herself to breathe—breathe—because it felt like she was drowning.

sleeping next to him every night. She would never get cold again

Before she could cower, Roman was pressing her upright against the wall of the trench, covering her with his body. If anything hurt her, it would have to come through him first.