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

by L.J. Andrews

“As king it is your duty not to rush off with warriors and blades raised when a few missives aren’t received from your ambassador. I should know, I was king once—” Gorm cleared his throat loudly. “Right.” Ari’s mouth curved into a smirk. “It would seem I am a king again.”

“Naturally you have my apologies for causing the kingdom angst. Not that I’m surprised, of course. I would be a great loss,

“Almost. One thing I have learned through this ordeal is I keep thoughts—the important ones—too quiet. Shocking, I know, but I do. Before anyone tries to kill me again, I need you to know you will always be my king. You will always be my friend.” “You bastard.”

Good to see you, by the way. Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Kase smirked. “I see that.

“Gorm, may we use your cloak?” He leaned close to me. “The privilege of seeing this exquisite body naked is mine alone.” “Steady yourself, Ambassador,” I told him. “I’m trying to leave a good impression.” “You left a beautiful impression last night.”

“She snaps her clothes clean off. That’s why she’s got to cover,” Calista explained to the others, almost bored. “Landed in my hovel naked as a skinned rat.” “Thank you for giving everyone a visual, Calista,” I muttered.

“I told you a raven was following me,” he said a little smugly. “It was Saga all along.”

“You have my apologies for trying to slit your throat. I hope you know it is only because Ari matters a great deal to us.” “Weak way to say I mean everything to you, My Queen,” Ari said.

“Kase, don’t you think it’s strange how Saga has shown a great deal of honor in her actions, even while cursed? Now, she wears a crown.” “I never should’ve told you that bleeding tale. It keeps happening.”

“Look, I don’t bow to royals except this one—” He gestured to his wife. “But that’s an entirely different scenario. Even still, you have the East as your ally, and thieves as your friends for protecting Malin.”

“Good. Take it all then, well, not certain moments between a man and his wife, understand? I’d hate for my king to feel inadequate.” “Gods.” Valen rolled his eyes,

“I took the first part, but your sleep, I’ve never taken something like this. It is like a memory of a dream to you, but . . . it seems to be a true memory of someone else.

“Would you like to do the memory snatching, Nightrender?” “I’m just saying . . .” He made a waving gesture at her growing stomach. “What? Something on my face?” “Malin.” A few snickers flitted around the group. Kase looked murderous.

Saga pressed a palm to my cheek. “You were always the song of my heart, Ari.” I kissed her. “Every step brought me to you.”

fearing the unknown does not mean we give in or give up. It is then that we stand closer together and brace against the storm as one.”

A gift among stars fit for a king. Listen well and the blade will sing. Strike the flesh and make it bleed. Rest you’ll get but darkness feeds.

Battle ends with more to win. On this red night, your world will dim.

“My heart was written for you by the hand of fate. It is always yours no matter what happens.”

“Secrets are in the stars. Lucky for us we have a seer who seems fond of us.” Kase had leaned against one of the rocky walls on the isle. “The first mark is set. The others will follow.”

want to see those littles become royal thieves. It’ll be entertaining watching the Nightrender meet his match with schemers.”

“Are you ready, sweet menace?” “Yes. I’m ready to live in peace with you. No more looking over our shoulders. I’m ready to have my life with the one who has my heart.” “Woman.” Ari groaned and kissed me, hard. “You can’t say that, then expect me to leave you.”

“You are a queen, Saga. Do not let him forget it.”

“There are no titles between us in this moment.” From the corner of my eye, Cuyler gripped Gorm’s shoulder. I almost laughed. No doubt the blood lord had started one of his corrections to remind me, in fact, there were many titles between the lot of us.

“Today, I am but a fae of the isles who plans to take her home back, who plans to fight for her lost people.”

“You are a vision,” Ari said against my lips. “My Queen.” My heart skipped. The title off Ari’s tongue struck differently than the others. He was a man loyal to his kingdom and would never use the term unless his devotion was given wholly elsewhere.

Fear did not need to be a weakness, but it existed. And for now, we would hold tightly to each other through it.

“He is focused on whatever he wants in the repository in the peaks above him.” Bo pointed out the area where the battle lord had set up his rule. “He is never looking below.”

We were getting closer, and I had a promise of pleasure and a month in bed with a queen to keep.

But to know Eryka might be among his chosen bodies sat heavy in my gut. Eryka knew how to fight, she wasn’t truly afraid of much, but she was still one of those innocent souls in my eyes. A genuine heart, one who loved a young prince to the point she stepped away from her court and traveled Eastern seas, all to seek out her arrow in the dark.

“Our king of the isles. We all know it without question.” “You questioned before? How, pray tell, did my leadership qualities and, you know, the fact that a dark battle lord wants my head leave any doubt?”

Rune chuckled. “Thought Saga might eventually come to her senses and pick someone less chatty.” “Get in position, you bastard.” I shoved him aside, grinning when Rune laughed. Like he used to when one finally cracked through his steely exterior. “My friends, we’re about to watch his world burn.”

“Ari.” Stieg came to my side. “We’re not leaving here without any of them.”

“Pick her over me, Stieg,” I whispered. “If it comes to that, I’m asking as a friend, pick her over me.” “I’ll pick you both.”

Her voice quivered and tears fell when Hagen tossed back his hood. “Daj, you came for me. I mean, I hope I can call you Daj because . . .” Eryka glanced quickly at the open doorway. “Because, well, I don’t really have anyone left to call a maj or a daj, so I thought—” Hagen had her in his arms in the next breath and let her sob. He bent his chin and kissed the top of her matted hair. “Girl, you call me anything you want.”

My body is still my love’s,” Eryka said, chin lifted.

They raised you to be strong, and they are proud of you for fighting for your folk and your life.”

Princess Eryka,” I said, a grin twisting over my lips. “Never let anyone say you are not as sly as your mate. Truth be told, you might be the shrewdest one of us all.”

Be the lamb walking into slaughter.” Niklas had fastened the cloak’s clasp around my throat. “A mouse in his court. Until you become the lion.”

We make it through,” I returned, though I didn’t know how we would. A feeling deep inside told me this day would not be what we imagined. I kept that to myself.

Davorin remembered me as a stupid princess who knew little about the ways of the world and kingdom politics. True, he knew I could handle a blade after all these turns, but I wanted him to see me as the woman who was in over her head with her own glamour. I wanted him to underestimate all of us.

Behind his illusions our people would be waiting for a fight I had no doubt would rewrite all our fates.

Remember, whatever happens today, you’re not alone. There are bonds you have that go beyond the Otherworld.” “Quit it, Stef.” She blinked a dozen times, trying to maintain her composure. “What the hells has gotten into you talking like that?”

Chapter 40 The Golden King “Once you are granted access, send the signal.” Valen said as he handed me an additional dagger. “Move swiftly, Ari. We’ve faced men like this before. You know he will not wait long before he shows his true intent and takes your wife and Calista.”

The only one welcome was . . . you.” Eryka’s lip quivered, but her voice was steady. “I come on behalf of the fallen ladies. On behalf of the whole of the isles. Let us in.”

A king of night they call gold. Secrets lie among stars for you to hold.

Below the verse was a drawing of a royal constellation. A warrior in the sky who was said to ride

across the night with the gods during the Wild Hunt. Secrets in the stars.

“Star speaking is sacred to those with the gift. Our speak is only shared by invitation unless they are like me who can’t seem to manage her own tongue.”

these are . . . fate songs. This one was regarding a battle between a forest fae and blood fae. It was written to alter the anger in their hearts before blood spilled.”

These are the songs of the fate king.” I was in a bit of awe. Tales sung by the king, a cavern of his prophecies, of his seidr.