Song of Sorrows and Fate (The Broken Kingdoms, #9)

by L.J. Andrews

“I’ve clung to a fading reality,” he said, dragging his lips across my throat. “Sometimes I do not know what is real, but you have always been my guide in a confusing existence. You are my beacon in the night.” He lifted his head and peered down at me. Silas brushed his thumb over the ridge of my cheek. “I would wait a thousand lifetimes for you.”

“You were my only friend, Calista Ode. You are still that, but you became the beat of my heart. To touch you is my greatest honor. It is the dream that has kept me living.”

“Calista.” His dark eyes roved over my nakedness, head to foot. “You’re . . . I-I hardly know where I want to start. I want every bleeding piece of you.”

“No, I . . . I figured—assumed—it’s my duty to care for you since I hurt you.” Gods. This was it. This was the sort of devotion, attention, and compassion that had all my damn queens falling head over feet for their kings.

😭😭

“No!” Livia made a rush for me, but Aleksi gripped her hand. “Come on, Livie,” he said, his voice soft and soothing. Broken.

oh my god i love them 😭

“You should be,” Kase went on, a mad look to the glossy black of his eyes. “Did you not realize you’ve stepped into a realm of nightmares?”

hot

“Von Grym will know his parents died as warriors. He needs to know they . . . they dine with their gods tonight.”

all this pain FOR WHAT

Von stood in the front, chin trembling, tears lining his eyes. A boy. A mere boy of fourteen and he’d now face the world alone.

“Save us a seat,” I whispered to the flames. Every sunrise, I will miss you.

im literally unwell

“You were his brother, Kase Eriksson.” He didn’t take his eyes off the dying pyres, but a muscle ticked in his jaw. “And he was mine.”

no like this is so rude 😭

“For that is what we are. The final throne.” Four queens. Four battles. Four fates.

“Don’t break your promise, Kvinna.” Protect yourself. At all costs. The plea of Legion Grey seemed so long ago.

I let my head drop to his shoulder. Slowly, he tipped his head, so his cheek rested on top of mine.

ok but why is this a sweet and intimate

“Their magic—it hails from their voice. Like ours.” She grinned with a perfect touch of violence. “Then I suppose we ought to aim our blades at their throats.”

damn

Our voices will burn the words into the unseen fate of this world.

“I need to tell you, whatever happens here—I have loved you all my life.”

“You keep your bitches here? Weak.” “Well, this bitch just stabbed you,” she said, giving him a cruel wink.

I followed the retreat of the shadows and nearly cried out in a broken sob of joy when the Nightrender—that wonderfully frightening Shadow King—stepped onto the row. His eyes were the blackest of black, and he wasn’t alone. My royals. My family. They spilled into the gaps behind him, a wave of their own. Too many—as in they had bleeding young ones.

YAAAAAAAA

A gloomy tune rose from the royal ship when another boy, taller than the first, emerged. He paused at the top of the gangplank, taking in the broken Row. It was too far for me to gauge his expression, not to mention his head was covered in another one of those funny hats. But he was dressed in a black tunic, a thick belt on his slender waist, and the golden hilt of his sword caught the gleam of the morning light.

I KNOW ERIK BLOODSINGER WHEN I SEE HIM

. . a man he’s not, we work we rot . .

SKFKDKAKSK

Why was he important? There was a connection here, some pull to my own seidr, and something told me this boy king had a part to play in it.

I AM SCREAMINGGGGG

“Don’t startle me like that.” “Sorry.” Now, I pressed my brow to hers. “You make it easier to breathe.”

IM CRYING

The Shadow King. He seemed as bothered with all this chatter as me.

just two broody guys i’m obsessed with

“I knew it.” Valen slapped the table and pointed a finger at Ari. “Fifteen silver shim, you bastard.” “When the hells did we even make such a gamble, My King?” Ari looked affronted. “At the docks when we left Gunnar’s vows. Kase, tell him.” “I recall the bargain included a day of Ari not speaking,” said the Shadow King.

IM DEAD HOW ARE THESE IDIOTS FATHERS

“We don’t have much time, so I’m going to need you to come fast. Come hard.”

no but why is that hot

“Auntie Cal.” Livia Ferus hugged my waist. “Your room was magic. Not one nightmare came.”

I AM SO SOFT GOODBYE

I released Livia and mussed the boy’s hair even more. “Keep out of trouble, Jonas.” He puffed out his lips. I grinned and lowered my voice. “Or at least, don’t get caught.”

there are tears running down my face why do i love them so much

three more littles snapped into action and chased after the other two—all on varying sides of the war. Mira sided with Livia this time. Sander, unsurprisingly, did as well. I suspected only because he liked to torment his brother.

A path of fate that would lead to a heart’s song was here. It was coming from the littles. All hells, one of those young royals had a fated path taking shape.

EEEEEE

It was. For we were one, at long last; the people of the fae realms were one again.

Gunnar Strom followed his mother. Playful and sly in most instances, Gunnar looked closer to a damn assassin. Donned in black from head to foot, his hair was covered in a black cowl, and on his neck was a black fabric that could be pulled over his mouth. A thieving prince, born of Etta, but Kryv in his heart.

he’s so hot bye

Arvad Ferus looked a great deal like his sons, but for piercings in his ears, and a bit more scruff on his chin than Sol and Valen.

So hes a dilf

I am told I will need to be patient. Anyone tells me that again, I might kill them.”

MOOD

Livia fought to keep her chin from quivering as Valen kissed her cheek and Elise pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Sander was mid-promise to Kase and Malin that he would keep watch on the others and keep them away from windows. Jonas, the boy of mischief, was also one who felt a great deal. He’d turned away from his family, face pointed at the ground, greatly interested in the knife he kept spinning.

Theyre all so sweet but SANDER???

Silas held out the dagger he’d taken from the alcove. “This was given to me by a man I greatly respected when I was no bigger than you. He often left to fight battles, and he told me when he left, there would always be another hello. Even if it takes place in the Otherworld, he would be there waiting to say hello.

Don’t die, Wraith. You need to live long enough to become utterly enamored with me like all the rest.”

Ari i stg

She spun the blade in her grip and rose to her feet. “You thought you could pin me down and he’d sit back and let you?” What Davorin hadn’t noticed was the coiling darkness around their ankles. Malin sneered. “Then you do not know true devotion.”

Oh my GOD THEY ARE SO HOT

Kase and Malin flung their arms out and pulsed the darkness against the sea folk. In a sickening crunch of bone, countless sea singers, merfolk, and battle fae twisted in unnatural angles. They tumbled to the ground, convulsing. Those whose fear of death hadn’t taken their lives screamed as the fiery gold of Malin’s mesmer dug into their eyes, their ears, their noses. They shuddered and pleaded for it to cease. Still holding tightly to Kase, Malin balled a fist, and dozens of brilliant webs of her mesmer crawled back to the glow of the ring.

the east has BDE

“Speak clearly, my love,” Eryka said, a little curl to her mouth when Gunnar took a place beside his mother on the parapet. The thieving prince tugged down the mask covering his face. “You wish to fall on your blades. The lot of you.”

Oh to be Eryka

“I don’t fight for him.” The boy slashed his blade again. “I fight for my king.” “Your king?” I chuckled. “He does not even fight for the same reason. He seeks the earth bender.” “And I seek to keep him alive.”

BABY TAIT

I gained a single, worthless step by the time the bastard rammed his sword through Tor’s spine. Like a coward, he struck from behind and forced the tip of his curved sword through the front of Tor’s chest.

EX FUCKING SCUSE ME??

Blood dripped over his lips when he coughed. His eyes were hazy and unfocused, he looked around, as though searching for someone. Searching for Sol.

SOMEBODY SAY SIKE RIGHT NOW

“I love you,” Tor whispered. “Always . . . always have. I’ll save . . . I’ll save your seat, Sol Ferus.”

NO. NO. I REFUSE.

Bo sobbed against the unmoving chest of Rune—the winged fae who’d befriended Saga and my Golden King. They’d taken so long to love each other after the battles in the South. Now, their time was stolen too soon.

No whatthe actual FUCK

Halvar lowered to one knee beside Tor’s legs and gripped his friend’s ankle, like he wanted to be there as he stepped into the hall of the gods.

THIS BROKE ME

Without a word, the Ever King began to trudge back to the trees. Before I could think, the words came. “Your story is only beginning. Take care with the hearts you claim.”

TAKE CARE WITHTHE HEARTS YOU CLAIM

“I need to know she will be shielded from that ass.

This sentence is so unserious i cant

She gave me another quick kiss. “I love you. Bring us to him, Silas. I’d like to get on living our last lifetime together.” “Consider it done, Little Rose.”

Four thrones of fated light, Rise and claim your fight. Each with a place, have it be known. Rid lands of hate and claim each throne.

“Burn in the hells,” she whispered, twisting the blade a little more in his neck. A bubble of blood erupted over his lips. Saga yanked the sword free with a grunt.

Gah damn