The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk (Crowns of Nyaxia #4)

by Carissa Broadbent

This is the tale of how a fallen one ascends. Long ago, I told you a tale of a chosen girl who fell to the darkness. Now I will tell you the tale of a boy who was born within it.

And he cared about none of it, because he was losing the love of his life. Carve out your heart for it.

This is the tale of how a fallen one ascends. He does it in countless cascading decisions, over years, over centuries. He does it with the desperation of a starving soul willing to sacrifice anything, everything, for a single chance at redemption. But in the end, he loses her every time.

“You killed Atroxus,” Vincent confirmed, though his tone seemed almost insulted he had to admit I’d done such a thing. “The sun fell as he did. Ushering in an endless night.”

“Fate and luck are twin sides to the same coin.”

A fair-haired man wearing a white suit, a black cigarillo between his fingers, giving me a curious smirk. Septimus, prince of the House of Blood. The very same man who had once attempted to help Raihn and Oraya’s rivals overthrow the House of Night.

“For whatever of your mistakes, Mische Iliae,” he said, quietly, firmly, “for whatever of your faults, for whatever unintended pains you may bring this world, I will love you anyway.”

“So. This Asar character.” I stiffened. “Mm-hmm?” I said, too casually. “Just how hard have you fallen?” “I don’t know what you’re⁠—” “For fuck’s sake, Mish. That entire apartment reeked of sex.” My face heated. “Gods, Raihn,” I squeaked. “And the man follows you around staring at you like you’re a goddess. And when he came to us, when we all thought we were losing you . . .” His face darkened. “I know that look. Like his entire world was ending. No wonder the man is about to go rip apart the fabric of the universe for you.” “The apartment did not reek of sex,” I repeated, because for some stupid reason, it was still the only thing I could think to say.

Mische introduced me to a woman named Lilith—the wife of their general who was retrieving the blood, and, apparently, the one responsible for most of their work distilling it. When she had pushed her wire glasses up her nose and stretched out her hand to grasp mine, she’d paused and cocked her head.

“Never thought a necromancy wedding could feel so romantic.” He kissed the tears from one cheek, then the other. “I think it’s perfectly fitting,” he murmured. “You have resurrected me, Dawndrinker.”

Acaeja—The goddess of spellcasting, fate, and lost things. Member of the White Pantheon. Alarus—The god of death and husband of Nyaxia. Exiled by the White Pantheon as punishment for his forbidden relationship with Nyaxia. Considered to be deceased. Atroxus—The god of the sun and leader of the White Pantheon. Bloodborn—Vampires of the House of Blood. Born—A term used to describe vampires who are born via biological procreation. This is the most common way that vampires are created. Dawndrinkers—A term used to describe certain worshippers of the sun god, Atroxus. The Deadlands—The realm that sits between the mortal and divine planes. This is the territory where Alarus was betrayed and dismembered by the White Pantheon.

The Descent—The transitionary realm in between the mortal world and the underworld. It consists of five Sanctums that a soul must travel through to reach true death: Body, Breath, Psyche, Secrets, and Soul. The Descent was created by Alarus before his murder, and is now suffering the effects of many years of neglect. Egrette—The current legitimate Heir of the House of Shadow. Daughter of King Raoul of the House of Shadow. Asar’s half sister. Heir Mark—A permanent mark that appears on the Heir of a vampire kingdom when the previous Heir dies, marking their position and power.

The House of Blood—One of the three vampire kingdoms of Obitraes. Two thousand years ago, when Nyaxia created vampires, the House of Blood was her favorite House. She thought long and hard about which gift to give them, while the Bloodborn watched their brothers to the west and north flaunt their powers. Eventually, the Bloodborn turned on Nyaxia, certain that she had abandoned them. In punishment, Nyaxia cursed them. The House of Blood is now looked down upon by the other two Houses. Vampires of the House of Blood are called Bloodborn. The House of Death—Another term for Vathysia, the extinct kingdom that had been the capital of Alarus’s territory, before Obitraes and vampires existed.

The House of Night—One of the three vampire kingdoms of Obitraes. Known for their skill in battle and for their vicious natures, and wielders of magic derived from the night sky. There are two clans of Nightborn vampires, Hiaj and Rishan, who have fought for thousands of years over rule. Those of the House of Night are called Nightborn. The House of Shadow—One of the three vampire kingdoms of Obitraes. Known for their commitment to knowledge; wielders of mind magic, shadow magic, and necromancy. Those of the House of Shadow are called Shadowborn. Ijakai—Goddess of animals, livestock, and the hunt. Member of the White Pantheon. Ix—Goddess of sex, fertility, childbirth, and procreation. Member of the White Pantheon. Kajmar—God of art, seduction, beauty, and deceit. Member of the White Pantheon.

The Kejari—A legendary, once-per-century tournament to the death held in Nyaxia’s honor. The winner receives a gift from Nyaxia herself. The Kejari is open to all in Obitraes, but is hosted by the House of Night, as the Nightborn hold the greatest mastery over the art of battle of the three vampire kingdoms. Malach—The firstborn son of King Raoul of the House of Shadow. Killed by Mische in the Nightborn palace. Asar’s older half brother and the vampire who Turned Mische.

Mask of Vathysia—Alarus’s mask, which served as the crown for his kingdom. A symbol of it is depicted on the Shadowborn crest. Melume (Night of the Melume)—A rare natural phenomena taking place in the House of Shadow, in which the past is superimposed over the present. Melume festivals are often attended by all vampire houses. Moon Palace—A palace in Sivrinaj, the capital of the House of Night, specifically there to house contestants of the once-in-a-century Kejari tournament held in Nyaxia’s honor. Said to be enchanted and to exert the will of Nyaxia herself. Nightborn—Vampires of the House of Night.

Nightfire—A form of star-derived magic wielded by the vampires of the House of Night. Nightfire is commonly used in the House of Night but very difficult to wield masterfully. Nyaxia—Exiled goddess, mother of vampires, and widow of the god of death. Nyaxia lords over the domains of night, shadow, and blood, as well as the domain of death inherited from her deceased husband. Formerly a lesser goddess, she fell in love with Alarus and married him despite the forbidden nature of their relationship. When Alarus was murdered by the White Pantheon as punishment for his marriage to her, Nyaxia broke free from the White Pantheon in a fit of rage, and offered her supporters the gift of immortality in the form of vampirism—founding Obitraes and the vampire kingdoms. (Also referred to as: the Mother; the Goddess; Mother of the Ravenous Dark; Mother of Night, Shadow, and Blood)

Obitraes—The land of Nyaxia, consisting of three kingdoms: the House of Night, the House of Shadow, and the House of Blood. Oraya—Queen of the House of Night. The Order of the Destined Dawn—A major sect of worshippers of the god of the sun, Atroxus. They are known for their skill in wielding fire, as well as their occasionally violent crusading. Raihn—King of the House of Night. Raoul—King of the Shadowborn, known for being a ruthless master of torture and spy craft. Deceased. Sanctum of Body—The first Sanctum in the Descent to the underworld, in which a soul loses their body. Sanctum of Breath—The second Sanctum in the Descent to the underworld, in which a soul abandons their life force. Sanctum of Psyche—The third Sanctum in the Descent to the underworld, centering around a soul’s memories. Sanctum of Secrets—The fourth Sanctum in the Descent to the underworld, in which souls must confront their hidden shames and desires.

Sanctum of Soul—The fifth and final Sanctum in the Descent to the underworld, in which the dead undergo the transition of their soul from the mortal world to the underworld. Septimus—Prince of the House of Blood. Youngest of seven sons, but the only one still alive. Shadowborn—Vampires of the House of Shadow. Shiket—Goddess of war and justice. She bears six swords in her back, each representing a different divine gift. Simon—A prominent Nightborn noble, closely related to King Neculai, who attempted unsuccessfully to overthrow King Raihn and Queen Oraya for control of the House of Night.

Sivrinaj—The capital of the House of Night. Home to the Nightborn castle and the Moon Palace, and host to the Kejari once every hundred years. Turning—A process to make a human into a vampire, requiring a vampire to drink from a human and offer their blood to the human in return. Vampires who underwent this process are referred to as Turned. Vathysia—The capital kingdom of Alarus’s territory, predating the creation of Obitraes and the existence of vampires. Also referred to as the House of Death. The Veil—The boundary that separates the realm of the living from the realm of the dead.

Vincent—The former king of the House of Night. Father to Oraya, queen of the Nightborn. White Pantheon—The twelve gods of the core canon, including Alarus, who is presumed deceased. The White Pantheon is worshipped by all humans, with certain regions potentially having favor toward specific gods within the Pantheon. Nyaxia is not a member of the White Pantheon and is actively hostile to them. The White Pantheon imprisoned and later executed Alarus, the god of death, as punishment for his unlawful marriage with Nyaxia, then a lesser goddess. Zarux—The god of the sea, rain, weather, storms, and water. Member of the White Pantheon.