A Promise of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles, #1)

by Amanda Bouchet

There’s magic in spoken language. It’s binding. There’s a reason people ask for someone else’s word. Every sentence a person utters can be a promise—or a betrayal.

Damn meddling gods. What do they want with this kid? Or worse—with me?

I have to give him credit; the warlord does menace with a capital M. But I grew up on a steady diet of terror, and I know true malice when I see it. This isn’t it. This is banter to people like us.

Who in the Underworld is in control of my mouth tonight, because it is not me!

The woman who divines the truth through falsehood? The most coveted diplomatic weapon in the realms? The Kingmaker?

If they call me, there isn’t a threat in the three realms that will keep me from coming back to them.

I wouldn’t go with you even if my other option was Hades dragging me to the Underworld for an eternal threesome with Persephone.”

Ok but hear me out…

So this is it, exactly what Mother was trying to teach me, to pound and torture into me. Love is weakness, an exploitable flaw.

my last conscious thought that I hope my caked-on cosmetics leave a grimy face print on his clean, white shirt.

leather pants are officially one of the worst things in my life right now, and that’s saying a lot.

Ironically, I feel almost safe.

I could almost agree with that, if “what needs to be done” hadn’t included abducting me.

Mother would have a fit, which almost makes being here worth it.

I’m suddenly way too hot, with a pounding heart, and wondering what the not altogether unpleasant but very real zapping is all about.

camp. I grit my teeth and hint that I might want a bath. Even Poseidon is telling me I stink.

The others obviously told him about my nightmare. Did they also tell him how they surrounded me like a flock of oversized mother hens?

surprising surge of kinship. What’s wrong with me? I must be coming down with something, like empathy. Gah!

“You’re not a guest, that’s true. Whether you’re a friend, though, Cat…that’s up to you.”

“I conquered a kingdom and found a treasure.” His voice turns gravelly, low. “I won’t let you go. Not now. Not ever.”

Poseidon, why have you betrayed me?

If my godfather wants Beta Sinta and me together, he must have a very good reason for it. Or at least I hope so.

I can’t help wondering where a glacial lake is when I need one. Or a hat.

Thrilled, I leap on him like an octopus, clinging to him with arms and legs. So more like a quadropus. Does that even exist?

My voice is husky. There’s a butterfly colony inside me.

“The headache is a whole harpy’s nest of fun,” Kato says, his expression strained, his face paler than usual. “Thanks for that.”

Great. I brought down Adonis with a hit of euphoria. I feel like a delinquent.

I feel frozen in place and all jumbled up—belligerent, remorseful, excited…kind of worried.

Are you stupid? Now I remember. Yes.

Have I cheated death again? Hades must be allergic to me.

“Your arrogance never ceases to amaze me. You would defy a god for a Kingmaker?” “He gave you to me.” My heart stops. He did, didn’t he?

His voice is fierce in my ear. “You’re mine now, Cat. Don’t you dare die on me.”

I cheated death again. Hades must really not want me. He’s probably afraid I’ll cause as much trouble in the Underworld as I will in Thalyria.

“Don’t infer something that isn’t there. We’re both monsters.” Her dark-blue gaze flicks over me, unnerving. “Monsters still mate.”

I like having my own horse, and traveling with the Sintans without being tied up is actually kind of fun—something I would die a thousand horrific deaths before ever admitting to them.

“See how well we fit?” Beta Sinta’s question is like a toe-curling caress, soft yet urgent. “You have no idea how much I want to touch you.” I gasp. I thought we had boundaries. Apparently not.

Kato, Carver, and Flynn are busy looking anywhere but at us, and I feel my face flame kalaberry red.

Thank the gods. Gag! Sort of. Except not at all. Gah! I’m going insane!

“You. Dragon. Falling. Giant…water hand. Cerberus. Gods, Cat!” “That about sums it up.”

“Cat?” Kato calls. “There’s no need to hide. We’re just glad you’re all right.” He chuckles. “I would have settled for a pat on the back, but you know Griffin. He’s overemotional.”

He doesn’t hit me again, but he strings together a long, colorful sentence detailing just why my ass deserves his hand. Infuriating, reckless, and hot-tempered pop up, peppered with a few choice curses I haven’t heard often, despite living in a circus.

I open my eyes. Actually, I’m the Fisan without fire.

If being nice to you is all it takes to make you less prickly, why do I always feel like I’m talking to a hedgehog?”

I was getting used to his solid presence, hearing him breathe in the dark. I’ll miss sleeping through the night.

What’s wrong with these people? I feel like I’m at the circus. No, wait—the circus was saner than this.

“You converse with gods?” Egeria finally chokes out. “Not usually.” I stand. “Ladies, let’s curtsy.”

“Don’t overestimate the masses. They love you until they hate you. They hate you until they love you.”

My heart splits wide open, finally finishing off the crack he started that hot night at the circus fair.

Griffin tilts my chin up until our eyes meet. “I love you, Cat. I would do anything to keep you safe. That is my binding vow.”

Looking at him, I feel recast, melted down and formed anew, and realize this is how lives change, how reasons for existing shift. “Because I wanted to.”

My whole body clenches in anticipation. Gods, yes! No!