The War of Two Queens (Blood And Ash, #4)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Her name is a shadow in the ember, a light in the flame, and the fire in the flesh. The Primal of Life has forbidden us to speak or write her name.”

“If you think that Granddaddy is the true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death, then you know nothing.”

I mean, he had me totally hooked on this tale about a girl picking flowers who had been startled by a god, falling to her death from some cliff.

You are the Chosen, spoken of long before your birth. You were foretold. Promised.”

“Because we have always served the True King of the Realms.”

“‘From the…from the desperation of golden crowns and born of mortal flesh, a great primal power rises as the heir to the lands and seas, to the skies and all the realms. A shadow in the ember, a light in the flame, to become a fire in the flesh. When the stars fall from the night, the great mountains crumble into the seas, and old bones raise their swords beside the gods, the false one will be stripped from glory until two born of the same misdeeds, born of the same great and Primal power in the mortal realm.’” She took a deep breath. “‘A first daughter, with blood full of fire, fated for the once-promised King. And the second daughter, with blood full of ash and ice, the other half of the future King. Together, they will remake the realms as they usher in the end. And so it will begin with the last Chosen blood spilled, the great conspirator birthed from the flesh and fire of the Primals will awaken as the Harbinger and the Bringer of Death and Destruction to the lands gifted by the gods. Beware, for the end will come from the west to destroy the east and lay waste to all which lies between

“Vikter told me why no one was allowed to know the Consort’s name, and why those who did were not allowed to repeat it in the mortal realm.” My lips parted. “Okay, I was not expecting that.” Tawny laughed. “Yeah, me neither, but Vikter said that her name is power, and that to speak it is to bring the stars from the skies and topple the mountains into the sea.”

What a powerful little flower you are. What a powerful poppy. Pick it and watch it bleed. Not so powerful any longer.

“Remember what I told you before? Our mother isn’t strong enough to do such a thing. But she created something that was. Penellaphe

“Love. Such a strange emotion. I’ve seen it take the most powerful beings down,” he said. Millicent’s words knocked around in my head again. “I’ve seen it give others unbelievable strength. But out of all the many, many years I’ve lived, I’ve only seen love stop death once.” “Is that so?” Callum nodded. “Nyktos and his Consort.”

“Your anger. Your passion. Your sense of right and wrong. Your love. Your power. All of it. At the end of the day, you are just like me. You will do what you were born to do, my dear daughter.” She raised her glass to me. “You will bring death to my enemies.” All you will liberate is death.