This Vicious Dream (Kingdom of Death, #1)

by Stacia Stark

Burning is a terrible way to die. So I push the soldier overboard as my flames engulf him. “You’re welcome.”

The world twists, colors blurring and darkening, and I let my mind take me away. Away to another place, where I’m not trapped. Where I have a purpose. A life.

His mouth tightens as he looks at the graveyard I’ve left for him. Sixty-four bodies, wrapped in thorns, positioned at the entrance to my tower. A few blood-red roses peek out from amongst the bodies.

My sanity was a small sacrifice to pay for the power I’m sinking into my thorns.

For now, my muscles won’t respond. For now, my body will remain useless, a prisoner within stone, just as I’m a prisoner in my own flesh. And then I will strike.

I’m excruciatingly aware that this power is limited. Limited, because some part of me knows that if I took more, I would become a monster greater than anything this world has seen for centuries. Perhaps these people would deserve that.

His blood feeds the thorns. Feeds the dark power. Feeds me.

“Interesting design choice.” He calls, waving his hands at a collection of skulls high in the thicket of thorns. His eyes linger on one of my roses, nestled next to a long femur. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”

It’s my first night of freedom in three years. My chest aches, my eyes burn, and yet I don’t cry. I can’t.

Kyldare’s words repeat on a loop. “I’ll see you soon, Madinia Farrow.” Madinia Farrow. I fought in a war. I saved a continent. I will not break here. I will protect it with my life.

Madinia Farrow just became priceless, her safety more important than anything else.

“I did a little research about you, Madinia Farrow,” he says. “Did you? Then you know I could turn your insides to kindling.”

Who do you need killed? Or perhaps you have someone who wants to kill you? Name the time and the place, and I’ll be there to protect you.”

“I may not remember much, but I remember this: I’m Madinia Farrow. I don’t need a hulking brute to keep me safe. And I don’t need a liar trying to fool me at every turn.” Harnessing my temper, I blow him a kiss. “Thanks for the cloak.”

My mind throws me back to the feel of her settled on top of my thighs, her plush red lips curved in a smile as she leaned close. Luring me in. A trick I’ll make sure she regrets.

“I think you don’t want to remember. You’re blocking it yourself, because remembering will be painful. You’ll find yourself wondering how you ended up here alone, and where those so-called friends are.”

I drop to my knees as memories slam into me. This isn’t the first time I’ve burned men alive.

I grew up without a mother and I watched as my father was beheaded by a tyrant king’s soldier. I lived at court as one of Regner’s queen’s ladies, forced to fawn over that queen daily.

Sansa is that you???????

Just days ago, I was trapped in that tower, unable to move. Now I’m alone, with money, horses, and most importantly…freedom. I know who I am, I know where I’ve come from, and I know what I’m protecting.

“Finally,” she says. “You took your time.” “I’m sorry, was my torture and imprisonment inconvenient for you?”

“The dark god has already found me. And he’s looking for the grimoire I brought to this continent.”

She’s powerful, I’ll give her that. The little minx’s flames eat at my ward, but I’m furious enough that I lean close, growling into her ear. “You’re just tickling me, sweetheart.”

I stand by my first thought when I recognized Madinia Farrow. No one should steal her freedom.

I’m…tired. Tired of the blank space before my life began in that forest. Tired of searching for my vengeance.

When I tuck the lock of hair behind her ear, she flinches. Something twists in my chest.

This woman would slit my throat if she could. And then she would gleefully burn my body to ash. There must be something wrong with me, because that look in her eye makes me want to crush my mouth to hers.

Neither of us speak. I bury my rage beneath grim determination. And only one of us is surprised when we stumble upon the troll.

The troll is a male. And it’s naked.

HAHAHHAHAHHAHHA

And still, even knowing how dangerous he is, how he could ruin this world, ruin me…I can’t take my eyes off his wide shoulders. I can’t stop watching the way he carelessly swings his sword, warming up his wrist. Clearly, the moment I free myself, I’ll need to find a man so I can release some of this tension.

“I hate you.” “Well, sweetheart, I’m currently not too fond of you either.”

“There you go. Find the grimoires. Protect them. Just don’t let them in or you will become a worse threat than the dark god.”

Hundreds of years spent wandering this world. The ones who did this to me will pay.

Madinia has made her choice, but she’s not happy about it. Because she’s convinced I will destroy this world.

Madinia knows nothing of the second or third. Have they also caused the same pain and suffering on other continents? Centuries from now, will humans and hybrids and fae curse my name?

She lost people to Regner’s evil. People she cared about. Because of me.

Who might Madinia Farrow have been if not for me?

I ignore the voice whispering in my head. The one urging me to become whole once more. The one whispering that if Madinia stands between me and my full recovery, she will be the first to die.

“I’ve only got one room free,”

I haven’t seen the ruin of my back. But I’ve felt the roughened skin. And Kyldare made sure to describe just how ugly it is. There’s not an inch left unscarred.

“Madinia.” “Why?” “So I can kill whoever hurt you.”

For the first time in years, I feel…safe. Relaxed.

And even without my memories, I know she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

“I’ve tussled with witches before.” “She’s not just any witch. She’s a monster.”

I haven’t felt it since it helped me escape the tower. The fact that it’s now calling to me is as unnerving as it is comforting. It’s as if even the grimoire wants to watch Kyldare die.

“I don’t take orders from birds. Or gods.” I match Calysian’s glower with one of my own. He heaves a sigh. “Is there anyone you do take orders from?” “No.”

“Perhaps if you squawk some more, you’ll annoy him into regaining consciousness.”

I could have escaped. And instead, I attempted to save this unconscious brute. This stubborn, infuriating man who won’t wake up.

“You never should have let me taste you. Now I’ll stop at nothing to make you mine.”

“Who do I think I’m talking to? You reject any plans you haven’t chosen. You probably wonder to yourself ‘what would Calysian prefer for me to do,’ and then you do the exact opposite.”

“Weren’t you listening? I decide. One day, I will find you, Madinia Farrow. When you’re ready to be the woman I think you are.”