Her name is Arabelle.” Marius felt her name sink into his chest like a long-ago lullaby waiting to be sung again.

Violate me?” He laughed, a black lock of hair falling in front of one eye. “That sounds delightful.

I was torn apart. But you, my knight, you found all the pieces and put me back together.

Humans were made for love and beauty; their vulnerability was what made them feel on the deepest level and what could also crush their will to live.