Lord of Embers (The Demon Queen Trials, #2)

by C.N. Crawford

“I’m going to have to decline that invitation, Congressman Corwin. I’m trying to cut down on the amount of time I spend being kidnapped and prodded with knives.”

There was no doubt in my mind that he was my father. I felt a lump in my throat as I read the name below the portrait: Duke Moloch.

Dark eyes like ours. If you took Duke Moloch here, gave him blond hair… Yeah, he’d look a lot like King Cambriel. Had my dad knocked up Cambriel’s mom?

A Swindler king, a golden ring to keep his heart alive. Take the ring, fell the king. The city yet will thrive.

“Guess what, Orion? You’re not the only one with a dead family, but you’re the only one using it as a license to be an absolute twat.”

“How is it you can talk so much and clarify so little? It’s like the world’s shittiest superpower.”

“I can’t stand you,” I said through labored breaths. My pride made me say it, since I knew how he felt about me. “The feeling is mutual,” he whispered against my neck, “but I will die if I don’t kiss you.”

“What do you do when you have nightmares now?” “Now, love, I am the nightmare.”

It kind of sounded like Goody Putnam had been wandering around the sex forest, hoping for a rut with the devil, but she was too weird, even for him.

Aria, I fear my time here is running out. The false prince, my disloyal son, is impervious to my threats to allow us to return. He does not know of our beloved creation, Rowan. I have spoken with the Dying God. He confirmed our fears. If the Lord of Chaos succeeds, the mortal realm will burn. Only Mortana’s ka can reign. Only the third Lightbringer can restore us. I will return to you as soon as I can. —Moloch