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

by L.J. Andrews

Elise and Valen sat next to them, the tiny Princess Livia asleep in the crook of Valen’s arm. I wasn’t certain who adored the tiny fae royal more, me or Saga. This was one of the few times Valen and Elise had claim over their daughter. The rest of us kept taking her.

“Princess, you are lovelier than the stars.” “I don’t mind much how I look, so long as you get me there.” She leaned in close and whispered. “I’m most anxious to be alone with my love. Not that I don’t enjoy you all.” “Princess, I felt much the same the day I took vows.” I left out the part where Saga shifted into a raven and I nearly died from the shock.

I considered it an honor when Eryka asked if I would present her to Gunnar. She’d insisted it was good luck to have a king of her homeland guide her way.

Strange how a simple belief, Eryka’s insistence she would help unite three kingdoms, was coming to pass. Stranger still, in a way, she’d united all four. Calista smirked over her shoulder. The heir to a throne of fate. To me, it meant Calista was the heir to every vein of magic. A missing piece we’d had all along.

mouth. I winked at the boy and muttered to Halvar that his son loved me best, then left before he could reply.

“He is the greatest threat to you, that is the only thought I spare him.” She smiled, understanding, and unashamed of the fears we both shared. “Our fight is at rest for now, Ari. If it ever rises again, I am grateful it is you I will fight beside. Because of that, I choose to be happy with you and live outside of fear. Should someone come to take it, they will rue the day. Our dream of a dull life in the longhouse is too wonderful not to protect.”

“Without the first bond, you will not have the gifts of fate. She will fight against the call, but do not let his patience wane, or I do not know what becomes of such a bond if left ignored too long. She must find her voice.”

There was a clear power emanating from him, even as a phantom guide. What if he hadn’t joined from the Otherworld? What if he, like so many others, was hidden by Riot’s curse, waiting for one to find the bond that was missing?

“I am leaving. I have a wife who carries my tormenting littles. I’ve been told—more threatened—by Elise, that I should be serving her every spare moment I have.”

“I never thought I’d call you King Ari again,” he said, grinning. “But the isles are fortunate to have you on the throne. I should know, I was a prisoner of the tyrant of Ruskig once.”

Valen hesitated. “I’ll fight for you. Know that.” The words were simple but meant a great deal.

They’d sacrificed everything to bring us here. To unite families divided, and build a found family stronger than a former kingdom ever dreamed.

“If ever you return, I expect to always have a home in the West too. We’ve officially become the irritating family that drops in to stay a month on the slightest whim. Be ready.”

Time was fickle. Nearly ten turns had left us since the dark bastard scurried away in the sea and it seemed like no time at all.

I imagined it all merely to stay alive? It was what my kind heart queen theorized. We did strange things to stay alive. Could’ve been my head trying to give me something to live for. Still didn’t explain how I ought to be all wise and old but . . . wasn’t.

kings and queens who battled for their love—nothing less. They were my home when I thought after losing my brother, I would never find one again.

In the daylight, his girl only believed she was the sun of her father’s world. She was, but I was simply of the belief she’d also snapped a new level of violence in his soul. He would not only fight for his wife, now he would slaughter for his child.

“You don’t really need to be doing any missing at all.” Ari stood ten paces behind me, head cocked, that arrogant smirk I thought was his best quality written on his face. I covered Mira’s ears and whispered, “I must go. I don’t like you anymore.” Ari chuckled. He

“I’ve never been so proud,” Ari said, watching the battle unfold. “As you should be. Jonas begins things, and one day he’ll learn to finish them.”

“A pressure that builds, that lifts the hair on the neck. Like something will change. Soon. Distant. I don’t know. But it is there, and I cannot help but wonder if you are leaving because you feel the same.”

“I mean, I sent you help during the fae sleep. We’ve established that I deserve all the credit.” I turned back to the bustle on the ship. “What if since I didn’t recall my past, I had to write another player in the story? Alas, your wraith was born. But if we could go back in the past, he would not truly exist.” “So, you think the phantom leading me through the sleep was just a figment of your seidr?” “After so long, I’d expect to find some evidence he existed.”

I was passed around through the royals who made good on their vows to be a large family I could never shake.

Should anyone with traces of his blood step foot on the land, the land would give warning through flame. Or so I was told.

As I told the Raven Queen, the second a bleeding royal fell into bed, wars started. The Nightrender was well convinced three queens were seated on their thrones—the fourth was left and I was the last with royal blood. I wasn’t taking a throne.

Ari and Saga were destined to rule here. I’d raise a blade on their behalf if anyone threatened it. Nothing more.

Hells, every time I returned I always expected differences, but it was as if time always stood still. The Row had always been that way, even when I’d returned after being a captive in the North.

The dream had recurred for nearly a month. Every night I’d be observing moments of a past not my own.

Each dream ended the same. The fate worker who’d twisted each tale ended up getting her throat slit.

You’ve run too long. If you hadn’t, this would’ve been yours long ago.

I love you. I have loved you since the night our world broke. It has been every honor of all lifetimes to protect and love you. I will be with you, as they will be too. You have used your father’s voice, but you were always meant to find your own unique power. Now is the time to restore that bond, lost so many turns ago. You are ready, as he said you would be. This is what you must know. Find the lost bond.

Your servant. Your brother. Annon Vektäre

Sing with me, little rose.