A Fate of Wrath and Flame (Fate & Flame #1)

by K.A. Tucker

“You are insufferable, woman.” There was no hint of anger in his tone. “Yes, but I will be your insufferable woman, for always.”

It all becomes clear then—the urgency, the fragmented plan, this mysterious Malachi. Sofie has lost her bloody mind.

They kill in the name of their god, believing it the only true god and all others false or evil.”

“Now.” A gentle smile touches her lips. “And in order to take you there, first, this mortal form must die.” I’ve barely processed her words when she drives the twisted black horn deep into my heart.

“Are you not Princess Romeria, future queen of the kingdom of Ybaris, betrothed to be my wife?” he says with deadly calm.

“Do you know how much I wish to believe you were not behind this?” he whispers hoarsely, moving closer. His eyes shine with raw pain. “Please, convince me you would not do this to me.”

Maybe if they start picking up on how poorly I fit into this medieval cosplay, they’ll stop insisting on killing me.

“How am I not dead?” I croak, asking no one in particular.

“‘King Barris is dead,’” he reads out loud.

“That’s … unfortunate?” I offer.

tell you that your father is dead, and your answer is ‘that’s unfortunate’?”

“Then be beside me. They’re people, not a flock of geese. I’m not throwing coins at them like bread crumbs. Help me off this horse.” I turn, softening my voice to add a “please.”

“If this is a ploy to escape …” “Yes, yes … off with her head.”

His chuckle is dark. “I will gladly burn it for you.” “With me still in it?” I throw back. How does his affinity to Malachi’s element work? Could he do that? Set fire to someone’s clothes with a thought? “Don’t be silly. You’d remove it for me first.” His eyes flash to mine, his words painting an intimate image that makes me blush.

“Anything?” “Anything at all. After all, you are to be our queen.” That’s right. I am, even if I’m only pretending. “I’m glad to hear that.” My heart pounds with apprehension as a plan formulates. “I would like your baker and her two children.”

“Do you even have any idea what I am or why I’m here?”

Her blue eyes search my face. She exhales slowly, as if making a decision. “You are a key caster, and I assume Malachi has sent you here to try to open the nymphaeum door.”

“They were with Lord Danthrin of Farywich—” “Freywich,” Elisaf corrects quietly. “Wherever. Anyway, we came to an arrangement that avoided me asking Elisaf to chop off the lord’s balls and shove them down his throat. Everyone wins.”

“You’ve done everything wrong. You are hotheaded, you speak out of turn and do the opposite of what we agreed to, you antagonize me as if you have no fear of consequence. You continue to lie and deceive me. Your heart bleeds too much for the plight of mortals, and you seem willing to challenge anyone who doesn’t bleed the same.” He sighs, his hazel eyes settling on me, a brilliant kaleidoscope of gold in the setting sun. “You do everything wrong, and yet everything right.”

“But I no longer feel the desire to look backward. I only want to look forward, with you.”

“A lie. My name is Romeria Watts. I’m from New York City, where mostly everyone is human and there is no talk of fates and casters and immortals. An elemental named Sofie tricked me into helping her save her husband, only to stab me in the chest with a token horn from Malachi. I woke up in this body, which is exactly like my own body, with people accusing me of murder.”

But I’m used to being abandoned by those closest to me, and I’m not about to beg him to stay.