To Kill a Kingdom (Hundred Kingdoms, #1)

by Alexandra Christo

I HAVE A HEART for every year I’ve been alive.

Hearts are power, and if there’s one thing my kind craves more than the ocean, it’s power.

Unlike sirens, mermaids have stretched blue husks and limbs in place of hair, with a jawlessness that lets their mouths stretch to the size of small boats and swallow sharks whole.

And when they steal the hearts we keep, it isn’t for power. It’s because they think that if they eat enough of them, they might become human themselves.

“His face makes no difference.” I drop her hand. “It’s his heart I’m after.”

TECHNICALLY, I’M A MURDERER, but I like to think that’s one of my better qualities.

There’s nothing in the world but pain and the rare moments that exist in between.

“Lies aren’t answers.” “But they sound so much better than the truth.”

“That’s the thing about risks,” Kye says. “It’s impossible to know which ones are worth it until it’s too late.”

“Wars aren’t won by running,” she says. “You can’t win a war,” I tell her. “Someone else just loses.”

We continue on that way, swords arcing through the air, our breath ragged. Soon there’s sun in the distance, or perhaps even moonlight. Everything is muted and as Lira swoops her blade down on mine once more, I let it all fall away. My mission, my kingdom. The world. They exist somewhere other than in this moment, and now there is only this. Me, my ship, and a girl with oceans in her eyes.

Lira can keep secrets but she can’t, by any stretch of the imagination, keep peace.

Some people burn so brightly, it’s impossible to put the flames out. Thankfully, that’s just what I need.

“I saved a monkey with a knife wound to the ribs once. There was an accident with a balloon bursting. It’s not that different.”

“People don’t tell secrets because someone needs to know them. They do it because they need someone to tell.”

How strange that instead of taking his heart, I’m hoping he takes mine.

Any human who takes a siren’s heart will be immune to the power of their song. Only Elian didn’t need to take my heart; I gave it to him.