Reign of Stars and Fire (The Broken Kingdoms, #8)

by L.J. Andrews

“Wars and battles in the isles, we all know, are mere skirmishes. A run for the crown at best. This . . . this is the end of our world.”

“My brother divided these lands to keep the people safe. We are reuniting, but I plan to carry on what he started. I plan to fight for all folk.

“Walk among the stars to sing the song of the king of scars.”

“When Saga asked him where they’d been kept, you said if we walk among the stars we’ll sing a song by a king of scars?”

“Made from the iron found in a once fierce kingdom that flowed in the gifts of the gods. Meant for a royal line willing to fight for that gods-gift again.”

This ring was silver, almost clear as glass, and four rune marks were etched on the band. “That is Malin’s,”

“Riot Ode was no fool. He knew his world would soon be undone, but he refused to leave folk helpless without a way to access his different magicks. He gave each tale power, and made paths for those fated to rise and stand for this land.”

Bleeding hells. The history of every artifact ran through my head. Malin’s ring passed down through lines of queens. Valen’s axes that made him the Blood Wraith. My vows that broke a curse over a lost queen.

“Should it touch flesh,” my mother said, voice soft. “The fury blade will pull from the iron of the blood into the iron of the blade, weakening whatever power flows in the veins of a foe.

“You made certain it was made from your blood?” “Yes.” “Then it’s perfect.”

Saga said, wincing. “Bevan sent her elixirs for pain.”

Pressure built in the back of my throat when the truth of the moment struck. My folk, my parents, they’d met my wife.

“I will bring more blades, My King,” my mother finally broke. “If they are for her, I will see to it she is never unarmed if you ask it of me.” “My King,” my father said, a new bite in his voice. “As I said, should you need us, we will fight with you.” Riot hesitated. “Your loyalty is inspiring. Thank you.” One side of his lips turned up in a grin. “Hear this: whatever you face someday, I hope you will always stand for your people. Raise any future children to stand for their folk. Do so, and you will leave a legacy that will play a mighty role in the fate of our kingdom.”

“Two bloodlines of Night Folk with honor and loyalty the fate king would come to depend upon. Their song lives on in you. It was the final song of love the king would sing.

Niklas awkwardly patted my back. “Okay, that’s okay. You won’t feel so affectionate, for I’m reminding you right now I’m not a good man, and I will consider this a debt. I’ll come to call, I swear it.” I laughed against his shoulder. “Heal my husband, protect my people, and I will steal, smuggle, kill—whatever you ask.” Niklas smirked once I released him. “Careful what you say, Queenie.”

Ari had lost everyone, and I wished he hadn’t. I’d lost my family, and I wished I hadn’t. But there was no denying the loss that would ruin me would be to lose him.

“Everyone always keeps their eyes on the king.” Her lips were close to my ear, what felt like a knee jabbed into my spine. The unmanaged anger on her tongue quivered in every word. “Fine with me. It leaves room for the queen.”

What a damn sight. Me, in shambles, the Northern queen stalwart, ready to bring war while her king held death at the head of Lord Gorm. Ari would laugh about this for days if he were here.

“Kase!” Ash beamed and sprinted for his king as though nothing was amiss. “I saved their queen when we first showed up!”

“Within a snake’s mouth lies a key to the past. Beyond the gates of stars resides the final task.”

we did keep a respectful distance until one of my men was slaughtered for no reason.” “Our people were commanded to strike should anyone come too near,” Gorm said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “That was their reason.” “Not the time, Gorm,” Gunnar muttered.

I have no desire to be loved, although, to their detriment, there are folk who do. These people loved Ari and were fading to bloodlust all to find him.

“I love him!” Heat prickled over my cheeks at my outburst. I didn’t blink away and took the risk of getting close to the stunned queen again. “I am not Ari’s enemy. I’m his wife.”

“And his raven.” Ash said, inspecting the dirt under his fingernails, oblivious to the thick silence surrounding us.

“To be here as one, every thread of fate he has hunted during this long tale is present,” she whispered. “He is too strong, and we are too weak. There are pieces the Raven Queen and her Golden King must find, steps they must take, before every fate can face their shared enemy.”

“Mal’s gotta be here.” Ash scoffed. “No way does Kase go anywhere without her, more now that the two littles are coming.” “Ash.” Kase snarled at his Kryv. “She wanted to tell Gunnar in person.”

“I enjoyed my time with the Night Folk the most,” Davorin’s silky words blew hot in my ear. “A land divided with prejudice, slavery, distrust. Gods, it was intoxicating to watch the ice folk raid the fae.

“Live now, fade tomorrow when roses take the song of sorrow.” Thick, inky black spilled from Anneli’s mouth.

“You must see more to find what is missing and step into your place in this tale or . . . you will fail.”

“Make certain she finds them. Sing her song, and see to it he—” Riot held up one box. “Is made worthy of this.” Tears dripped onto the ward’s cheeks. He swiped them away, a flush to his features, and took the boxes. “She won’t fear no man again.”

“I don’t understand why they must be separated.” “This is the way to the final tale, a final song,” Riot said. “A way for our line to live on.” “Is it living though?” “It is their only chance to claim the new story. Together they will attract too much power. Parted, lost, it will be weakened, but they will find their way back. They’ll gain strength, and be ready to face him in the end. I failed Nel, I won’t fail them.”

“The king could not find a song for his bloodline to live on,” Wraith said. “Every path led to destruction for House Ode, but he knew another voice could sing an alternate path designed for his house.”

“When there seems to be no way out, it is in those moments we must dig inside and find the courage to choose for ourselves how we take the next step. The king made a choice, Ari. He cast a grand curse to give his power away, to give room for the voices of others to rise and finish the fight his magic could not defeat. A choice that was disgraced by the Norns.”

“A gift lies in wait, for this, a king of fate. On night of red, take up your claim, and rest this darkness by your blade.”

But instead of one throne of fate, he will fight them all.” Riot tried to smile, but it was more a wince of pain. “Help me. Help them forget; help them find their way back.” The king and his ward pressed their hands over my father’s map. My father did not break the world, but he built it.

My beginning was written here, in a broken world by a broken king who wanted his family safe. In a way, I’d always been connected to Saga. Every step I took was a twisted path to find her, a woman I didn’t know existed.

“When House Revna heals her broken throne, they will meet again, and together they might heal the whole of our world.”

you must lead her to her truth at the right time. Then, on that night, you will join me at the table, and we will share tales again.”

The bond will call her back until she remembers the truth of her inheritance.”

“The Norns will hold no mercy for what I will do today. They will divide their gifts. Do you remember what they are?” The boy nodded and muttered, “We all ought to have a choice. We all deserve devotion. We win when we stand with honor. And it pays to have a touch of cunning.”

“Perfect. When they are found and restored, your bond will return. As I have taught you to use your voice, now you must do the same until you are found. She will never stop looking for the bond that draws her closer. She’ll find you.”

“We’ll be with you through all the lifetimes.”

“No past, no name, no true life. Live and live again, until the death at crimson night.”

“The king is stripping his voice and severing his ability to twist fate with a forbidden tale. He gave his voice to another with the power to create a different path. Lives were erased, kingdoms were broken.”

Halvar ignored him and scrambled to his wife. He had her in his arms in the next breath. “Tell me the truth, lovey, do you really wish to see me in the quarries? Or is it because you like me bare-chested and sweat soaked?”

“You dead means an empty world for me, Kari.”

“Besides, no one makes stunning and clever offspring like we do. In fact, this has reminded me how short life can be even for fae folk; I suggest we get started on a third.”

“Well, prepare for gore.”

Stefan took hold of my elbow. “Do not consider it, Princess. Too much has gone into bringing us all to this place. Do not slap away the sacrifice of your brother. He gave it all to bring you a new life, one that was safe and whole.”

Calista was closer than me and unaffected by Sofia’s glamour as though her heart was claimed.