A Poison Dark and Drowning (Kingdom on Fire #2)(104)
“Look at it.” Maria parked us beneath the shade of an oak. “Did you ever think to see such a place?”
Did I read some fear in her eyes?
“Never.” I nudged her. “Are you ready for your great destiny?”
“If you’ll stay with me.” She sounded breathless. “Can’t see how I’ll do it alone.”
“Then we shall remain together, always.” As far as I could see it, she was now my great duty in life.
“Aye. Two of a kind, that’s us.” She stepped into the sunlight, which fired her red hair. I hung back, leaning against the tree. Maria strode farther into the light. Healthy and fearless, she was the ideal savior. While I, well, I found comfort in the shadows. Lighting my hand, I watched the fire play over my knuckles. Black still threaded itself through my blue flame. What could it mean?
Bother that. I focused on Maria.
Below us, Sorrow-Fell waited, the sight enough to ease my pain. Looking at the house, I noted the lush growths of ivy that decorated the walls and twined up the brilliant white columns, and I touched Porridge’s carved design. We were meant to come here, the stave and I. Even without prophecy, it had the touch of fate. Here, the kingdom hung in the balance. Here, all our destinies would be decided.
If book one is the courtship, book two is the marriage. In the first book, everything is wide open and wonderful, filled with possibility. The second book requires work and planning as much as love. Thankfully, there were many great people involved in this particular marriage. An odd thing to type, yes, but still true.
First thanks have to go to Chelsea Eberly, who is never too busy for a phone call, never less than certain that something will work out even when I’m convinced it won’t. Thank you for being a brilliant plotter, a helpful listener, and a tireless champion for these books. Every day I’m grateful that I get to work with you. I don’t deserve such luck, but I’ll happily take it.
Thanks to Brooks Sherman, who treats every question I have with intelligence and care, even when I ask something truly ridiculous. Thank you for making time, no matter how inconvenient it is. You’re a tremendous agent, an equally wonderful person, and a peerless brainstormer. Thank you for being in my corner.
Thank you to the incredible team at Random House, who have put so much into this series. Special thanks to Allison Judd, Casey Ward, Bridget Runge, Mary McCue, Hannah Black, Melissa Zar, and Mallory Matney. I’m proud to be a Random House author. Thank you, Ray Shappell and Christine Blackburne, for the gorgeous cover. Thanks also to the team at the Bent Agency, especially Jenny Bent and Molly Ker Hawn, for insight and support.
The greatest part of the publishing experience has been meeting and learning from many brilliant, talented, and kindhearted people. Thank you to Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff, Kiersten White, and Arwen Elys Dayton for your wisdom and humor and for eating cold pizza while driving to Denver. Thank you to Stephanie Garber, a jewel of a human being and a powerhouse author. Thank you, Roshani Chokshi, for dispensing invaluable advice, being one of the kindest people I’ve met, and having the most fabulous Instagram of all time. Alwyn Hamilton, for drinking great champagne, being a GIF goddess, and just being a friend. Emily Skrutskie, for not freaking out when my car broke down three times. Kelly Zekas and Allison Senecal, for talking about hot Victorian men with SO MANY CAPS LOCKS. Kerri Maniscalco, for pizza and sweetness. Rosalyn Eves, for being my historical-fantasy buddy. Nicole Castroman, for Poldark in all his glory. Tobie Easton, Audrey Coulthurst, and Romina Russell, for being LA writer friends and genius women. Hannah Fergesen, for notes, laughs, and Other Girls. Most of all, thank you Traci Chee and Tara Sim for being the other parts of my triangle. Whether DMing like mad, giving helpful advice, or freaking out, having you two with me is the greatest gift of all.
I have so many people in my day-to-day life who make even the most difficult tasks fun. Gretchen Schreiber, Brandie Coonis, Alyssa Wong, the entire Clarion family, Josh Ropiequet, Jack Sullivan, Aidan Zimmerman, and Martha Fling, thank you for your belief and your acceptance of my crazy. Most of all, thank you to my family for laughter and for never giving up.
Finally, thank you to the readers, librarians, and booksellers who have found these books, loved them, and recommended them. A writer really is nothing without a reader, and I’m so grateful and glad you’ve come on this journey with me.
JESSICA CLUESS is a writer, a graduate of Northwestern University, and an unapologetic nerd. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she served coffee to the rich and famous while working on her first novel, A Shadow Bright and Burning. When she’s not writing books, she’s an instructor at Writopia Lab, helping kids and teens tell their own stories. Visit her at jessicacluess.com and follow her on Twitter at @JessCluess.