Spark of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, #1)

by Penn Cole

A gnarled tree, with leaves of flame, inset in a circlet of vines—the sacred Everflame, the Tree of Life and Death. According to the old mortal religion, all life began as sparks from the Everflame that fell to the earth as glowing seeds. At death, those found worthy by the Old Gods would be placed among its burning branches, where their earthly bodies would turn to ash but their souls would remain forever warmed by the Undying Fire. Those found unworthy were doomed to an eternity in a cold hell encased in ice, far from the Everflame’s redeeming heat.

“Don’t end up like your mother. She betrayed me and lost my trust. You should learn from her mistakes.”

Prince

“If the death of innocents is a cost we’re willing to pay, then we don’t deserve to be powerful.”