In the shadows and flames, Primals will fallâŠ
And from the blood and ash, new gods will rise.
What was dreamt.
Poppy was never meant to awaken, and the consequences are devastating and far-reaching, stirring ancient powers from their slumber and transforming Casteel and Kieran in ways even the Fates couldnât have foreseen. But what that means is the least of their concerns. For now.
What was foreseen.
The Blood Crown has fallen, but what has risen is a far greater danger than theyâve ever faced. From flesh and fire, the Great Conspirator has returned to the mortal realm, and he wants only one thing. They must stop the true Primal of Death before he regains his strength, and it wonât be easy. Even weakened, his influence is undeniable. His power, unthinkable.
Has come to be.
While the future of the realms rests upon them, they wonât stand alone. The gods have awakenedâeach harboring their own blood-soaked secrets. But they must navigate an unbalanced realm, where every choiceâpast and presentâhas the potential to not only undo everything theyâve fought for but also destroy the very bonds that have Joined them together.
For the Harbinger and the Bringer of Death and Destruction has risen.
Why You Should Read This Book
Tropes
Trigger Warnings
The Primal of Blood and Bone
âHe is a pitiful excuse for a man. Do not pity him.â
âShe hasâŠknee-jerk reactions when it comes to her temper. A hair trigger. She wouldâve burned the whole realm. But you would not, and that is a good thing. You will never know the horrors of the devastation giving in to your anger can inflict.â
âI did not come here to harm you. The last thing I want to deal with on top of the mess your wifeâs Ascension caused is said pissed-off wife.â
âNever, Poppy. I never forgot it was you.â
âI may be an idiot sometimes, but Iâm not a fucking idiot.â
âA true Primal of Death can break any bond. If you were to fall to him in battle, it would sever the bond. They would not die.â
âNothing. Absolutely fucking nothing will ever change what I see when I look at you or feel when I think of you.â
âItâs inappropriate to engage in foreplay with an audience, my Queen.â
âWhat she desired and what those who aided her wanted were two very different things. She may have realized that if she had not been blinded by vengeance and wrath.â
âI said the Arae are cowards. Am I wrong? None of you wants to deal with the other Ancients because there is a good chance you will fall to them.â
âFucking gods. You really donât have any sense of self-preservation, do you?â
âMother and Father are fighting. Again.â
âI donât know how much longer I can waitâthat any of us can, butâŠI need her to wake. I need to see her eyes open again and see only her staring back at me. I need her beside me, even if she doesnât remember meâeven if she never remembers me. As long as itâs just her. If you bring her back to meâŠI will do anything. Give anything. Please, Seraphena. Bring your granddaughter back to me.â
âIt had to be ravens. My people see them as an omenâwell, not so much any longer. But the eldest of the wolven? They did. Itâs because of what they represent to the gods. Ravens serve as a warning. Of death and destruction.â
âIt doesnât sound like theyâve been doing that great of a job keeping the balance.â
âYouâre both completely wrong about Casteel. Heâs not a monster who cares nothing for others.â
âReally? I donât have to do shit I donât want to do? Better than anyone else, you know that isnât true. So, you want to rethink that statement?â
âSeraphena didnât want you to be born because she didnât want this for you. I know that doesnât change shit, but she never wanted you to be in this situation, and if she could, she would take your place. So would Nyktos. Neither wanted this for you.â
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