Empire of the Dawn (Empire of the Vampire, #3)

by Jay Kristoff

Memory is an unreliable narrator at best, and at worst, a lying fiend.

It helps to hate the things you fight. But it’s far better to love the things you defend.

“‘I’m a gentle man by nature, Lachlan á Craeg,’ Baptiste said softly. ‘But speak ill of my love again, you’ll learn just how fierce a gentle flame can burn.’

“‘It matters not what you hold faith in. But you must hold faith in something.’

“You’re about to start listing all of your accolades again. Slayer of Whatshisface. Victor of the SuchandSuch. Hung Like a Rogue Wildebeest. Bangs Like a Privy Door in the Wind.”

Darkness not deep enough to drown in? Fire to be danced near, but not burned by?’

The Fifth Martyr,’ Dior muttered. ‘Yves the Peerless.’ “‘He who united Nordlund under the One Faith.’ “‘Or led a religious pogrom that killed thousands of innocent men, women and children. Depends on your point of view, doesn’t it?’ “‘History does tend to make idolatry of brutality.’

‘How the hell could ye let her bend us over like that, ye dozy, cunt-struck fuckweasel?’

“‘I confess I’ve never encountered a penis that gets its owner into quite as much hot water as yours.’ He glanced up at me. ‘I hope it was a grand romp? I’d hate to think we’d thrown away our one true chance of slaying the Forever King for a humdrum shag.’

One day as a lion is worth ten thousand as a lamb, mes amis, mes frères, mes sœurs tous! And if this be the day I die, I vow I will make it a day to be remembered!’

“If threat of punishment was all that drove me to goodness, how could it be good? “Obedience under deception. Fealty under thrall. Love under fear. “How could this be holy?

“‘Never regret a single day. The worst give us lessons. The best gift us memories. But all of them are sacred. And this day is the most important of your life. Make it count.’

“‘I still don’t love ye, Gabriel de León.’ “‘I don’t love you, too.’ I shook my head and smiled sadly. ‘But if I were a decent man, I’d have married you, Phoebe á Dúnnsair.’ “She grinned as she offered her wrist. ‘Who ever said I wanted a decent man?’

“‘Do you love it enough to die for it? ’ I murmured.

‘You’ve all walked with me through hell. We fight or fall as we have this whole way. Together.’

“By the blood of the Five was it done. By the blood of the Five shall it be undone.” “… What?” The boy sneered, hissing through bloody teeth. “You should have learned Rousseau, leech.”