Falling Kingdoms
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Synopsis: In a land where magic has been forgotten but
peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms
grapple for power—brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process.
Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates
forever intertwined:
Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.
Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.
Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.
Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword. . . .
The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?
Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.
Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished—and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.
Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.
Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword. . . .
The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?
Sneak Peek
They turned to see in the gathering light a tall,
dairk-haired boy moving towards them along the road. Cleo froze in place as he
swiftly caught up to them. Her breath caught as she realized it was the very
same boy who haunts her dreams.
Jonas Agallon.
"What are you--" she began.
He gave her an unfriendly grin. "Morning, princess.
Such an honor to see you again."
And then he slammed his fist into Nic's face, dropping the
boy to the ground. Nic scrambled back to his feet immediately, his nose gushing
blood.
Cleo screamed. "What are you doing?"
"Relieving you of your protection." Jonas swung
Nic around until he faced Cleo and pressed a dagger--the very same jeweled
dagger that Aron used to kill Thomas!--to Nic's throat.
"Don't!" she shrieked. "Please, no! Don't
hurt him!"
This was all happening too fast. How did he even know she
was here?
"Don't hurt him?" Jonas eyed her. Nic fought
against him, but Jonas was much taller and more muscular. He was able to keep
the skinny boy easily under control. "Are you saying that you care for
him? That his death might cause you pain?"
"Let him go right now!"
"Why should I?" his dark eyes swept over her. She shivered
under the coldness of his glare.
"Run, Cleo!" Nic shouted.
But she didn’t run. She would never abandon him like this.
"What do you want from me?" she demanded.
"That’s a dangerous question. I want lots of things,
none of which would set your pretty mind at ease. For now, I want to kill your
friend and watch you grieve his loss."
"No, please!" she staggered forward with an
immediate urge to grab his arm and wrench the knife away from Nic's throat. But
she knew she wasn’t nearly powerful enough to do that. This was a very strong
boy, one who hated her for what happened to his brother. One who had threatened
in public to kill her. She had to think. She had to remain calm so she could
negotiate with this heathen.
"I can give you plenty of money if you spare his
life."
His expression turned to ice. "Money? How about
fourteen Auranian centimos for each case of wine? Sounds fair doesn't it?"
Cleo swallowed and tried not to sound as if she was begging.
"Don’t kill him. I know you hate me for what Aron did--"
His eyes flashed. "Hate
is such a small word for what I feel for you."
"Your gripe is with me, then. Not with Nic. Let him
go!"
"Sorry. I don’t follow orders very well."
"You mean to kill me to avenge your brother's death."
Her throat thick with fear.
His expression tightened. "No. My goal today doesn't
include such a pleasure as that. Your friend here, on the other hand, might
find that today is his last."
"Cleo, are you deaf?" Nic snarled. "I told
you to run!"
"I'm not leaving you!" her voice broke and tears
burned her eyes.
Jonas frowned at her. "Isn't that sweet? You should do
as your friend suggests and try to run. You wont get far, but you can try. It
would be a moment of bravery for such a cowardly girl."
She glared at him. "If you think I'm cowardly, you know
nothing about me."
"I know enough." (Pgs 250-252)
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