Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian—royalty who feed on mortal pleasure.
Born with an intuition that never fails, Calista knows her talents are of great value to the power-hungry of the world, so she lives hidden as a courtesan of the Baron of Archwood. In exchange for his protection, she grants him information.
When her intuition leads her to save a traveling prince in dire trouble, the voice inside her blazes with warning—and promise. Today he’ll bring her joy. One day he'll be her doom.
When the Baron takes an interest in the traveling prince and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the prince’s temporary companion. But the city simmers with rebellion, and with knights and monsters at her city gates and a hungry prince in her bed, intuition may not be enough to keep her safe.
Calista must choose: follow her intuition to safety or follow her heart to her downfall.
Why You Should Read This Book
Tropes
Trigger Warnings
Fall of Ruin and Wrath
“Someone sounds like they had the common sense fucked out of them.”
“No being is so powerful that they cannot become weak. Not even a lord, a prince, or a king.”
“I am not a possession. I am owned by no one.”
“I can touch a caelestia for a little while before I start to know things, but I’ve never touched a Hyhborn before, and whenever I’m asked something that deals with them, I sense nothing. So, I’m not sure.”
“But as with most things that are beautiful on the outside, there is nothing but ruin and wrath on the inside.”
“Then that … that would mean he’s a caelestia. The leader of the lowborn rebellion isn’t even a lowborn?”
“It … has many meanings. One of them is … used to describe … someone who is brave.”
“My heart hasn’t beat in a long time, not as it would for a mortal.”
“After all, one cannot ask others to fight for their homes and lives if one is not willing to fight oneself.”
“You are braver than I even realized.”
“Don’t worry, my dear. We will keep you safe from the Prince of Vytrus.”
“You do know that Hyhborn cannot tell a lie.”
“Anyway, as I was saying, I don’t have to work myself to death in the mines or cleaning up after others. Nor do I have to marry to feel secure. I choose what I do with my days and with whom. Besides, I like fucking and being fucked.”
“If you’re one of the Baron’s favorites and he sent you to service me, then you know exactly how you are servicing me at the moment.”
“Na’laa. You should’ve known better than to run. I will always catch you.”
“I don’t know how much I am like the others, but I know how I am not. I will not make you do what you truly do not want to do.”
“Ingesting our blood would kill a mortal, but smooth … it over a wound? A scar? It will be healed. Sprinkle it on barren land and crops will flourish. Bury a hand … in freshly plowed soil, and crops will flourish there too, ones insusceptible … to drought or disease. Our teeth dropped into water can create coin.”
“It’s actually not complicated. The Princess believes that it is time for a queen instead of a king to rule.”
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