Crown of Blood and Ruin (The Broken Kingdoms, #3)

by L.J. Andrews

I didn’t need vows to know I loved Elise and wanted her at my side until my final breath.

Until I looked at the Night Prince. Trust, affection, love lived in those eyes.

“Hells, woman,” Valen muttered under his breath, drawing me into his side. “I have many plans to show you every improper thought rushing through my head the second we are alone. Prepare yourself.”

“You are brave, My Queen,” Sol whispered. “I am not a queen. I am your brother’s consort.” “For now.” Sol’s grin was as mischievous as Valen’s.

“Tor, I-I thought you were dead. They have kept me alive, locked in a state of madness, and I cared little thinking you were gone. Until I saw you. Now, I live for you. I live for a moment when there will be no chains, no space between us.”

“Be wise now and listen. You should know, I dream of the day the blood of the first, the middle, and the last will once more be reunited.” Valen stiffened. I didn’t understand and had no time to ask before Sol went on. “Be ready to bend, Valen.”

Listen and repeat to Valen the things I’m about to say exactly as I say them. Tell Valen she is being used. Has been used all this time. Tell him to find her. Then, tell them to come home to visit me.”

“There is something else I want, and after what Sol has said to Elise, I think if he were here, he’d agree it is long past time,” I said, blood rushing in my veins. Hells, this was like the night at my old schoolhouse when I kissed Elise Lysander for the first time. Nerves rattled me, but I spoke with conviction. “I would ask you to take vows with me, Elise. Be my queen.”

Our eyes met. Blue fire with midnight.

Where swirling ink had been in his eyes, now bright gold stared back at me. Eyes that made him look utterly normal, but for the sadness. The heavy burden that hinted to a hard existence.

“Through the blood of the heirs from the bond you shattered, will the tomb of fury reopen. On that day, one queen rises to end another, and at the fall of the second will your kingdom at last be.”

Shadows abandoned me, then curled around dozens of guards like dark ropes. A few Ravens cried out, trying to bat them away. For a moment, the Nightrender did nothing. His eyes took in the field, his darkness, and he simply studied it. He took a long breath, shoulders lifting, then all he did was tilt his head to one side. A great snapping of bone echoed in the night. Ravens choked and fumbled, blood on their lips, necks twisted in wretched ways. A wash of bodies fell to the ground.

Arvad didn’t swing a killing blow. Instead, he stood by as a woman came from behind. My eyes widened. Light hair, stained in dark blood; she was no Ettan. Small in stature, hardly an obvious threat on the battlefield. But the way she clambered up Calder’s broad back, arm curled around his neck from behind, knife at his throat, she became the most fearsome warrior on the field. “Tell Eli we won,” she snarled into his ear before she dragged her knife across Calder’s throat.

“I fought a battle not for a kingdom. I doubt I ever will. I fought for you, Elise. I would destroy everything to see you safe and breathing. I suppose that makes me rather selfish, perhaps wicked, but no less the truth. For you, I would destroy the world.”