“You had me wear them in the Crescent Shallows to test that.” I inhaled as he nodded in confirmation. At least his expression was one of guilt.
“I’d hoped the truth properties of the shallows would remove any blocks on your mind. I did not anticipate the extreme reaction it caused.”
“Do they really lock the gates of Hell?”
“Yes.”
Internally I breathed a sigh of relief. At least not everything I’d been told was a lie.
“I have one final question for now, your highness.” I placed my hand on his chest, feeling the steady thumping beneath my touch. His attention dropped to that tiny connection before he dragged it back to mine. “Pretend there’s no curse. No magical betrothal. Or romantic urges created by our bond. Would you choose me? To reign beside you. To be your queen. Your friend. Your confidant. Your lover.”
“Emilia…”
“You tricked me into a blood bargain with you before I crossed into the underworld. Do you recall what you said?” I swore his heart stuttered a beat before furiously picking up its pace. “You told me to never make a bargain with the devil. ‘What’s his is his.’”
“It was a figure of speech. A blood bargain does not equate possession.”
“Perhaps not technically.” My hand fell away and I stepped back. “You did it as another means of protecting me. In case I didn’t want to accept our bond. You claimed no other prince of Hell would be stupid enough to challenge you. It was your secret way of offering me a way out of any contract with another demon House. The blood pact I made with Pride included. Am I wrong?”
“No.”
“Don’t answer now, but I want to know if what you said then stands.”
“You’ll have to be more specific. I said a great many things.”
“If I am still yours.”
He stilled. My words hung between us, heavy and lingering. Like his gaze.
“If I am, I would tell you that you are mine. That I am choosing you as my husband. There is no one I’d rather confront my demons with, no soul I’d travel through Hell with. And no one else I want standing beside me when I go to the Shifting Isles tomorrow.”
He was quiet for a long moment, seeming to gauge my sincerity and weigh it against his own feelings. “And if I don’t require time to think it over?”
Thank the goddess.
I exhaled quietly and moved from the balcony into his bedchamber, tugging the strings of my tunic loose as I passed by him. I glanced over my shoulder, noting with satisfaction the desire darkening his gaze as I slipped the shirt from my body and let it drop to the floor.
“Then I suggest coming to bed, your majesty.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing a book during a global pandemic was quite a challenge, and I am immensely thankful for the following people who cheered me (and this story!) on.
Stephanie Garber—I am forever grateful to the hours of brainstorming and talking through scenes. But even more than that, I am so thankful for our friendship outside of publishing.
Anissa de Gomery—our friendship and love of books and food and all things romance is the best, just like YOU.
Isabel Ibañez—I am so happy I get to call you a dear friend. Thank you for reading early and giving stellar notes and for literally driving the extra mile(s) to come visit me with everyone. (Shout out to our lunch crew: Kristin Dwyer, Adrienne Young, Stephanie Garber, and my sister Kelli!)
To my family—I love and appreciate you beyond measure. Special thanks to my sister Kelli (Dogwood Lane Boutique) for reading early and whose store continues to inspire so many details in my books.
Barbara Poelle, my agent, friend, and forever champion, cheers to a DECADE of being partners in publishing crime.
To my new team at Little Brown Books for Young Readers and the NOVL, you took over this series with excitement and enthusiasm and your love of the characters shines brighter than Wrath’s metallic tattoo. From my publishers, to the editorial team, marketing, library and publicity, the amazing production crew, the art department, and our sales and sub-rights departments, I am forever thankful for all of the hard work you do behind the scenes.
Special thanks to my editor Liz Kossnar for fully embracing the romance in this book, Virgina Allyn for creating the stunning map, Alvina Ling, Siena Koncsol, Savannah Kennelly, Stefanie Hoffman, Emilie Polster, Victoria Stapleton, Marisa Finkelstein, Scott Bryan Wilson, Tracy Shaw, Virginia Lawther, Danielle Cantarella, Shawn Foster, Claire Gamble, Karen Torres, Barbara Blasucci, Carol Meadows, Katharine Tucker, Anna Herling, Celeste Gordon, Leah Collins Lipsett, Janelle DeLuise, Elece Green, Michelle Figueroa, audiobook narrator Marisa Calin, and my publishers Megan Tingley and Jackie Engel. Publishing a book is no small feat, and you all made magic happen during a pandemic.
JIMMY Patterson Books—I’ll always remain grateful for all this team and James Patterson has done to help launch my books into the world.
My UK family at Hodder & Stoughton—Molly Powell, Kate Keehan, Maddy Marshall, Laura Bartholomew, Callie Robertson, Sarah Clay, Iman Khabl, Claudette Morris, and the whole team, you are such rock stars and I am so happy I get to work with each of you.
To booksellers, librarians, indies, bloggers, Instagrammers, the Bookish Box, FairyLoot, the Librarian Box, and beloved, enthusiastic BookTok fans—you are the true magic makers. Thank you for talking about this series, for handselling it, and for all of the positive word of mouth. Each and every one of your efforts is appreciated more than you will ever know. I hope the magic you help create comes back your way tenfold.
Want more James Patterson?
See what’s coming next, win advance copies, and find deals.
The official James Patterson newsletter.
Love YA? Join NOVL Nation:
theNOVL.com/enewsletter
Booked all week.
theNOVL.com
Instagram.com/TheNovl
TikTok.com/@TheNovl
Twitter.com/TheNovl
Facebook.com/TheNovl
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside New York City, where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats. She is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper quartet and Kingdom of the Wicked. She’s always excited to share early snippets and teasers on Instagram @KerriManiscalco. For news and updates check out kerrimaniscalco.com.
JIMMY PATTERSON BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULT READERS
James Patterson Presents
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco
Becoming the Dark Prince by Kerri Maniscalco
Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
Twelve Steps to Normal by Farrah Penn
Campfire by Shawn Sarles
When We Were Lost by Kevin Wignall
Swipe Right for Murder by Derek Milman
Once & Future by A. R. Capetta and Cory McCarthy
Sword in the Stars by A. R. Capetta and Cory McCarthy
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan
Girls of Fate and Fury by Natasha Ngan
You’re Next by Kylie Schachte
Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews
It Ends in Fire by Andrew Shvarts
Tides of Mutiny by Rebecca Rode
Freewater by Amina Luqman Dawson
Hopepunk by Preston Norton
&nb
sp; Confessions
Confessions of a Murder Suspect
Confessions: The Private School Murders
Confessions: The Paris Mysteries
Confessions: The Murder of an Angel
Crazy House
Crazy House
The Fall of Crazy House
Maximum Ride
The Angel Experiment
School’s Out—Forever
Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports
The Final Warning
MAX
FANG
ANGEL
Nevermore
Maximum Ride Forever
Hawk
City of the Dead
Witch & Wizard
Witch & Wizard
The Gift
The Fire
The Kiss
The Lost
Cradle and All
First Love
Homeroom Diaries
Med Head
Sophia, Princess Among Beasts
The Injustice
For exclusives, trailers, and other information, visit jimmypatterson.org.