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The silver-haired woman standing before another as the stars fell from the sky, her hands balled into fists. Her words came from my lips, “I will not let you harm him or any of my friends.”
“Interesting,” he murmured, his gaze flicking over me. “Now I understand why sleep has been so hard lately—why we dream so intensely.” A brief pause. “And you do not need anyone to stand before you in defense.”
“You were expecting us.” “No.” He sat in the chair and reached for the bottle. “I was expecting you.” I stood there. “Then we didn’t wake you.” “Oh, you woke me quite some time ago,”
“I do not threaten death. I make death happen. I was simply curious to see what you and your chosen were made of.”
stated, swishing the red liquid in his glass. “Unthinkable sacrifices were made to ensure that their sickness could never infect the world again, but obviously, mortals were rightfully wary of the gods. We entered into a blood treaty with them, one that ensured that only gods born within the mortal realm could retain their powers there.” Quicksilver eyes lifted to mine once more. “None of the gods can enter the mortal realm without weakening greatly…and resorting to what is forbidden to ensure their strength. That is why we have not intervened. That is why my Consort sleeps fitfully, Poppy.”
“Are you a Primal?” “I am.” He stared at me. “And that means you have Primal blood in you. That is what fuels that bravery of yours. That is why you are so powerful.”
“Do you know what the Revenants are?” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “An abomination of life and of death.”
“You were born of flesh with the fire of the gods in your blood. You are a Bringer of Life and a Bringer of Death,” Nyktos interrupted. “You are the Queen of Flesh and Fire, due more than one Crown, one kingdom. What you seek, you already have. You always had the power in you.”
“I don’t know. You said she had silver hair?” “Her hair was a silvery blonde.” “I can’t think of any of the gods that resembles her, but maybe she was one of the Primals Nyktos spoke of.”
“I… Okay, to be honest, I was hoping you didn’t know that.” “Me, too,” I admitted wryly, and her lips formed a perfect oval shape. “Only because you are very beautiful and don’t resemble a barrat,”
“I have no feelings for your husband,” she said. “Not before, and definitely not now.” “Good.” I met her gaze, smiling. “Because if you did, I would probably tear you apart, limb by limb, and then feed what remained to a pack of hungry barrats,”
The best type of vicious
sea.” Kieran glanced at Sven. “Thanks to you, we have a ship.” Sven smiled. “More like thanks to my son, who is currently loading several crates of wine—well, mostly wine bottles full of water and horse piss,”
“Lift your ass, my Queen.” A giggle crept free. “That is a sentence that sounds wholly inappropriate.” He grinned, and a hint of a dimple appeared. “I’m sorry. Let me rephrase that. Please lift your ass, my Queen.”
“You are a King. My King. And you will always be my everything, but never will you be a thing.”
“They aren’t simply created. They are born, the third sons and daughters of two mortal parents. Not all carry this…trait, but those who do remain unremarkable unless discovered,” she said, and a sickening knowledge rolled through me. The children given to the Rite. This is what became of some of them. “The blood of a King or one destined is needed to ensure that they reach their full potential, but apparently…”
“Coralena survived the attack, by the way. She was a Revenant, after all.” She smoothed her hands over the ruby chains at her waist. “However, she did not survive my wrath.”
Wow thats rude
“The first name I was born with is one you’ve probably heard. It was Isbeth.”
“When deities Ascend a mortal, they do not become a vampry. They become something without the pesky limitations the Ascended have.”
“I was his mistress. I loved him. I still do. That is no lie. And then your mother had to go and ruin him. But, no. I am no longer the mistress of any man—mortal or god.” “God?” I coughed out. “Malec was—” “A god,” Isbeth cut me off. “He was Nyktos’s son, and Nyktos is no normal god. He is a Primal, something far older and more powerful,” she said, and I knew that part to be true. “Any that carry his blood would be a god. But Eloana never knew that, did she? I did. I knew exactly who and what he was. A deity cannot make a vampry, and neither can a god.”
“Come now, you do know your own history? I lived it, Casteel. How do you think Malec managed to kill the other deities? Seize power like he did? A deity couldn’t have done that, not even one descended from Nyktos. And there were no deities of that line. There has only ever been the two sons.”
And as I said, I am not a vampry, and I am not a deity.” Her gaze focused back on me. “Because a god Ascended me, I became one.”
think it’s safe to say that we do not agree to your terms.” “You don’t really have that authority, do you?” Queen Isbeth said, her lips thinning. “I know what she is. She is the true ruler of Atlantia. You’re just a pretty accessory.” “Oh, I’m pretty, all right.” Casteel’s chin dipped. “And I’m also a very deadly accessory. Don’t forget that.” The Blood Queen smirked. “I haven’t. Trust me.”
“She’ll have every Revenant on hand guarding him. She’ll have him watching over your King,” she told me, and I knew that she spoke of the Prince. “You won’t get near him.” She lowered her bow, her shoulders settling. “Unless you can bring the fire of the gods with you, none of you stands a chance.”
“In the entirety of the two kingdoms, I couldn’t give a fuck if you or any other member of the Council likes me. It does not change that I am your Queen, and your tone and the manner in which you address me is highly inappropriate.” I watched pink seep into the man’s cheeks, and I smiled tightly. “Not just because I’m your Queen, but because I am the grandchild of Nyktos, and you speak to a god with such disrespect.”
“I can summon Nyktos’s guards, and I will. Isbeth may have her Revenants, her knights, soldiers, and those who support her.” My grip tightened. “But I will have the draken.”
“I’m going to Iliseeum. Once I return, I will send the Blood Queen the kind of message only Casteel would be proud of.” “Knowing what my son would be proud of,” she said, voice thickening, “I can only imagine what kind of message that will be.” I felt my lips curve up in a tight, savage smile. “And then I’m going to finish what you started centuries ago. I will return these lands to Atlantia, and I will return with my King at my side.”
“Before you speak, you must be sure, for these words cannot be rescinded. Once you summon the flesh and fire of the gods, to protect and serve you, to keep you safe, they will be cast in fire and carved in flesh.”
“Then you plan to take what is owed you and bear the weight of two Crowns?” I forced my hands to loosen. “Yes.” His head bowed slightly. “And will you help bring back what was ours to protect? What will allow the Consort to wake?” Kieran sent me a glance of concern, and I really had no idea what Nektas was speaking of or what would happen if the Consort awakened. But I asked, “What is it that I need to help bring back?” “Your father.”
“Malec?” “Malec is lost to us. He was lost to us long before any of us realized.” Confusion swept through both Kieran and me. “I don’t understand,” I started. “Malec is—” “Malec is not your father,” Nektas said. “The blood that courses through you is that of Ires, his twin.”
“Ires was lured from Iliseeum some time ago,” Nektas said. “Drawn into the realm with my daughter while we slept. We have not been able to look for Ires. Not without being summoned, and he…he has not called for us. But we know he lives.”
“Could Ires shift forms?” “He, like his father, could take other forms. While Nyktos preferred that of a white wolf, Ires was often fond of taking the shape of a large gray cat, much like Malec.”
“She…she says she’s a god because Malec Ascended her.” “A god?” A rough, dark laugh left the ancient draken. “A god is born. Not created. What she is…she, like the Revenants, are an abomination of all that is godly.”
“If a god of Primal blood was entombed, what happens to them?” “Entombed by the bones of the deities? They would simply waste away, day by day, year by year, but they would not die,” he answered. “They would just exist in a place between dying and death, alive but trapped.” Gods.
“I...I summon the flesh and fire of the gods, to protect me and those I care for. To ride at my side and stand guard at my back. I call upon the bloodline birthed of flesh and fire to awaken.”
Nektas faced me. “From this moment to the last moment, they are yours, Queen of Flesh and Fire.”
It was obvious that the Blood Crown truly saw me as no threat. And, well, now I truly was offended.
“The one beside me comes from the line of those given mortal form by Nyktos himself. The one who stands to your left reeks of decay and rot.” The Revenant frowned. “I do not.” He plucked at the front of his tunic. “Rude.” “Oh, I’m sorry.” I stared up at the Blood King. “Is it you who taints the air instead?”
“And what do you think she is? Ileana, the goddess?” “What do you think?” he challenged. “I know a god cannot be made,” I said. “She is nothing more than a twisted mess of bitterness and greed made manifest.”
“The only message I will deliver for you is one of submission.” “I’m sorry. I misspoke,” I said, forcing a silly little laugh. “It’s you that’s the message.”
“I want you to deliver that to her. Let her know that I have his crown. It’s mine now. I want you to thank her for me, for teaching me to fight like a god. Tell her that was for Ian.”
“Now this is the really important part. I need you to make sure she understands that I’m coming for her. That I will burn every Revenant that stands between her and me. I will strike down every Ascended who defends her. I will topple every castle she seeks to hide in. Make sure she understands that her survival hinges on Casteel. She will release him, or she will see each and every one of her cities leveled. If she touches him again, I will destroy her precious Malec, and I can. I know where to find him. He lives. For now. And if she kills Casteel? If anyone kills him?” I tilted my head,
...more
“Make sure she knows that I am the Chosen, the One who is Blessed, and I carry the blood of the King of Gods in me. I am the Liessa to the wolven, the second daughter, the true heir, owed the crowns of Atlantia and Solis. I am the Queen of Flesh and Fire, and the gods’ guards ride with me. Tell the Blood Queen to prepare for war.”
