Rose Read online

  Ra

  It took Briar’s family no time at all to pack. In less than an hour, the SUV was loaded and they were ready.

  “If you need us—” Marcus started.

  “We won’t,” Ra assured him. This wasn’t the first time he and his brothers had gone to war.

  “Right…” His old friend sighed and held out his hand. “You can stay here as long as you want. Just please…” He squinted at the brick house. “Don’t fuck up my floors.”

  Ra chuckled. He gripped Marcus’s arm in the old way, forearm to forearm. “No promises.”

  Inside the car, Briar lifted a hand in a wave. Marcus got inside, and they were gone.

  Ra watched them until the vehicle disappeared and then glanced around the quiet, snow dusted neighborhood.

  Enemies could be silent. Watchful. Well, he was patient, too. And he had all the time in the world for revenge.

  They’d hurt his brother. Hurt Rose.

  Dr. Stone had the upper hand once, but he’d never have it again.

  41

  Seti

  Rose curled up on the couch, hands clasped under her cheek. On her arms, thin, nearly invisible lines traced her skin. He could make out another line along her collarbone before it disappeared beneath her shirt. By tomorrow, there would be no sign of the wounds she’d suffered.

  But he’d remember them.

  “I can’t sleep.” She opened her eyes and held out her hand to him. “Do you want to rest with me?”

  He wasn’t tired, but he wanted to hold her. Moving quickly, Seti wrapped her in his arms and settled her against him. Rose propped a hand under her head, watching as he made himself comfortable.

  He patted his chest. “Come here.”

  But she didn’t. Leaning forward, she moved her hand to his chest. Her gaze went to his lips.

  He wanted her to kiss him. He could move, close the distance between them, but something about her fierce expression made him wait.

  He was glad he did.

  When their lips touched, Seti’s world exploded. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. This was a kiss of survival, of taking the breath directly from his lungs and drawing it into her own. Her tongue dragged against his, fingers holding his cheek, keeping him in place.

  Like he wanted to move.

  Seti could stay here forever. The world could be on fire—maybe it was—but he would kiss Rose until it turned to ash.

  Her hair was soft against his palms. He held her in place the same way she held him. Each kiss, each gasp, each sound she made only built his desire. Perfect, perfect, perfect. She was one hundred percent perfection.

  Everything in his body wanted to push for more, but it was too soon. She didn’t really know him, not like she should. And what she learned—he could only hope it didn’t scare her away.

  But as her eyes opened, blinking like she was drunk, a dopey grin appeared on her face, and he thought maybe there was hope.

  42

  Horus

  Staring into the mirror, Horus tilted his head back and traced the path the knife had made as it slit his throat.

  There was no scar. Nothing to show that he’d died and come back to life.

  He swallowed, remembering the sensation of being smothered. He’d drowned in blood, eyes on Rose as she fought to get to him.

  His lips burned, and he touched them with his fingertips. Though he was healed, he could still feel the icy burn of her blood on his lips. He’d heard her calling to him, begging him to survive. Weak, powerless, all he could do was let his mouth fill with her blood.

  Had it saved him? Maybe. Probably.

  Blood was blood, and as injured as he was, her blood might have allowed him to survive until his brothers arrived.

  His hair was damp from the shower, and he turned from side to side. No. Nothing about his appearance had changed, but inside, something felt very very different.

  43

  Rose

  Rose dreamed of blood. She dreamed of sharp teeth and knives and wanting to scream, but unable to find her voice.

  She dreamed of watching Horus’s eyes—bright and pain-filled—become dull and unfocused. His skin turned sallow, then gray. He was a statue made of ash.

  In her dream, the wind blew. She could feel the ice on her skin. She turned her back to it, trying to shield Horus’s form, but it was impossible to stop the wind.

  She dreamed of watching Horus turn into ash and disappear.

  When she blinked awake, safe and content in Seti’s arms, she made herself a promise. Dr. Eben Stone was going to die for what he did.

  And she would be the one to kill him.

  Afterword

  Rose’s story will be continued in Echoes of Blood and Glory.

  About the Author

  Author Bio:

  Ripley Proserpina spends her days huddled near a fire in the frozen northern wilds of Vermont. She lives with her family, three magnificent cats, and a dog she doesn’t deserve.

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  Also by Ripley Proserpina

  Midnight’s Crown:

  Briar

  Shadow of Thorns

  Diadem of Blood and Bones

  Daylight’s Crown:

  Rose

  Echoes of Blood and Glory Coming soon!

  The Searchers Series:

  Finding Honor

  Finding Nora

  Finding Valor

  Finding Truth

  Finding Courage

  Finding Strength: Coming in August 2019!

  The Replacement Duet:

  Forge and Fire

  Iron and Ashes Coming soon!

  Wishes and Curses Series:

  Wrath and Ruin

  Revolution and Rising

  Valos of Sonhadra:

  Whirlwind

  Standalones:

  Just Jayne

  Matched with a Demon

  The Ice Bride

  Missing Linc

  While Beauty Sleeps

  Co-Written with Rebecca Royce:

  The Storm Series:

  Lightning Strikes

  Thunder Rolls

  The Deluge

  Wards and Wands:

  Meow, Baby