Empire of the Vampire (Empire of the Vampire, #1)

by Jay Kristoff

The sky above was dark as sin. The horizon, red as his lady’s lips the last time he kissed her. He ran one thumb across his fingers, the letters inked below his knuckles. “Patience,” he whispered.

“Patience, coldblood.”

“Who the fuck told you I was a hero?”

You said you’d be climbing onto my wife later,’ he said, defiant. ‘I don’t ’ave one.’ “‘Count yourself blessed, boy. Now, which way to the fucking pub?’”

God didn’t want me. And the devil was afraid to open the door.’ I took one step forward, eyes narrowing. ‘You look frightened too, Danton.’

God go with you.’ “‘I’d rather he minded his own fucking business, if it’s all the same.’

One hand holding a sword is worth ten thousand clasped in prayer.’

In those few moments I had them, and if only then, I was immortal. Because they were immaculate. And they were mine.

“‘I will never leave you,’ I vowed.

I snatched up a burning candle from the altar, set to drop it into the book’s ruins. “Dior grabbed my wrist, looking into my eyes. “‘… Would it work?’ she whispered. “‘I don’t care,’ I replied. “And I let the candle fall.