A Kingdom of Venom and Vows (Stars and Shadows #3)
Holly Renee
AUTHOR’S NOTE
A Kingdom of Venom and Vows should only be read by mature readers (18+) and contains scenes that may make some readers uncomfortable.
This book contains depiction of sexually explicit scenes, violence, assault, and sexual assault. It contains mature language, themes, and content that may not be suitable for all readers. Reader discretion is advised.
For Lauren—
Thank you for your love of this series. You will always be Evren’s princess.
CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
The End
Epilogue
What’s next?
Thank you
Also by Holly Renee
About the Author
Acknowledgments
PROLOGUE
GAVRIL
M y steps echoed against the old, damp space as I made my way into the dungeon.
I didn’t want to be here, but my mother insisted that she be kept in the dungeon.
I could feel her as soon as I hit the bottom step. The bond between us pulling me forward even when I knew it was something I should have resisted.
As soon as I got to her cell, Leda’s blue gaze met mine. She was cowering in the corner of the cell, and I watched as her hands trembled in her lap.
“How are you?” I asked gently as I pulled the keys from my pocket.
Her pupils dilated and her gaze shifted, rapidly darting around the room as if she were looking for a way out. She pressed her lips together as her body tensed with each of my movements, fear radiating from her wide eyes.
It was palpable, and I couldn’t blame her for being so scared. At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel hurt by the way she cowered in suspicion and dread.
“Don’t touch her,” a hoarse, tired voice called from the cell next to her, the same one who always tried to stop me when I visited her, but I paid him no attention.
Adara’s father would serve his purpose soon enough, but this wasn’t it. He was far too weak from his many years spent in his cell to even attempt to fight me.
All of them were too weak to stop me.
“Just leave her be, or I’ll—” the man started, but I cut him off.
“You’ll what?” I asked as I slid the key into Leda’s cell door. “You’ll get yourself killed before you’re able to lay your eyes on your daughter again.”
I stepped into the cell, and even though I could still hear him spouting his threats at me, I blocked him out as I stared at her.
I moved across the cell and dropped to my knees before her. She was so beautiful. Her long blonde hair had lost its shine from the few years she had spent in this cell since my mother found her, but it did nothing to dim her beauty.
I reached my hand out to her, and she recoiled as if my touch burned her. My anger grew inside me, along with the foreign power that slithered through my veins. My fists quivered as I fought to keep control.
“I’ll be going to the Blood kingdom soon.” I spoke softly and reached out my hand for her again. This time I didn’t let her pull away. I clasped her hand in my own and ran my thumb over the dirt that clung to her pale skin. “I must feed from you before I do so.”
I didn’t tell her that I was forced to go to that godsforsaken kingdom because my brother, the man I had trusted more than any other, had escaped back there with my future queen.
He had betrayed me, and even when he returned home and tried to pretend like Adara had been taken by own enemy, I could see it in his eyes.
He had been my enemy all along.
I wished that my mother had killed him while we had the chance. The pound of flesh my mother had taken for his betrayal wasn’t enough.