Incendiary (Hollow Crown #1)(133)
“My brother is many things, apparently. I would like to find out.”
There it is again. Brother. I still can’t quite believe it.
“Whether he wants it or not, Dez is going to need our help. If he sees me, he’ll run. But if you’re with me—”
“I won’t let you use me to get to him.”
Castian gives a single nod. “I’m not asking you to do that. Convincing Dez to return to his rightful place in the palace is something I have to do on my own. But if we could find a way to stop the next war and bring peace to Puerto Leones—if we could heal even a fraction of the rift in this world—I’m asking you, Renata, would you help me?”
I stare at the hand that he extends. This prince I’ve hated for so long. This prince who tells me that Dez is alive. That they’re brothers. He remembered me when I wanted to forget.
I was wrong. He didn’t give me the answers I wanted, only more questions. I am a different girl from the one he helped escape the palace. Fate has brought us back together in the worst of ways, but here we are.
“We go after Dez and the Knife,” I say, lifting my gaze to his face. “At the end of all this, your father dies.”
His sea-blue eyes are bright, determined. “As long as I get to be the one to drive a sword through his heart.”
I take Castian’s hand in mine.
Acknowledgments
Thirteen gets a bad rap. But because Incendiary is my thirteenth published novel, I’m reclaiming it for the lucky ones.
The first people I thank are my family. My grandmother Alejandrina Guerrero. Your last name means warrior, and that’s what you had to be. Because of you we immigrated to a new country where we didn’t speak the language and learned to be new people. This is a book that made me think and rethink identity, borderlines, and who we choose to be. I am this person, this lucky, hopeful, and hopelessly romantic person, because my family allowed me to dream.
To the rest of my family. My incredibly hardworking mother and stepdad. The best brother, Danny Córdova. Caco & Tío Robert. My beautiful cousins Adriana, Ginelle, Adrian, Alan, Denise, Steven, Gastonsito. My aunts and uncles, Roman, Milton, Jackie. The entirety of my Ecuadorian clan. Gracias por todo.
To my wonderful agent, Victoria Marini, and the team at Irene Goodman Literary. To Hyperion for taking a chance on me. I never even let myself dream that I would be part of the Hyperion publishing family, but here we are. Laura Schreiber, who deserves her own Moria power branch. Visionári, maybe? Jody Corbett and Jacqueline Hornberger. The wonderful production team. Marci Senders for the incredible design, Billelis for the gorgeous artwork. Seale Ballenger, Melissa Lee, and Lyssa Hurvitz for being publicity rock stars.
To Glasstown Entertainment for the opportunity, especially Lauren Oliver, Lexa Hillyer, Emily Berge, and Stephen Barbara.
I’m eternally grateful to Kamilla Benko, Rhoda Belleza, and Kat Cho. This book wouldn’t be what it is without your magic.
My incredible friends. Adam Silvera for believing that I was the right person for this project. Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, Justina Ireland, the Goodies, Victoria Schwab, Mark Oshiro for watching me in various stages of my deadline process and not judging me. Well, maybe a little.
Dhonielle Clayton for being a cheerleader, my work wife, and for always saying yes when I go, “Hey, we should have a writing retreat in this random country we’ve never been to.” #DeadlineCityForever.
To the YA book community, online and off, for being voracious readers and uplifting literature.
To Latinxs. That’s it. That’s the tweet.