Poison Princess

this.

He can save me—

The house groans beneath the weight of my vines and limbs, the frame snapping. The foundation quakes. Though I’d practiced with my new powers, they are not yet completely under control. My weakness makes me clumsy with them.

I begin to withdraw my soldiers in a churning, snakelike retreat, but before they can fall back, dormant once more, they’ve ruptured the entire house wide, like a broken egg.

Jackson’s jaw slackens. His gaze darts from one half of the house to the other; then he squints at something off to the side.

Oh. Part of the Alchemist. The little doll’s got teeth, Cajun.

What will he say? Do?

I nervously rub my thumb over my claws until blood drips anew. He told me we could get through anything. Can I trust that?

Save me, Jack. . . .

He stumbles back, making the sign of the cross. Just as I once predicted.

With that one gesture, he has broken my heart utterly.

—And yet I could not be prouder, Empress— seductive Death whispers in my mind.

I hear him so clearly; he must be close. I now have nothing to lose, no reason to live in fear of him. Watch your six, Reaper, I’m on the hunt.

A rasping chuckle. —Your Death awaits.—

I start laughing, and I can’t stop.

Jackson pales even more. I hope he deserts me now and takes the other three with him, out of my reach.

Because otherwise, the Empress might just kill them all—

Moisture tracks down my face. A tear?

Rain.

As Jackson and I stare at each other, drops fall between us. . . .

© DEANNA MEREDITH STUDIOS

KRESLEY COLE is the #1 New York Times and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of the Immortals After Dark paranormal series. Her IAD books have been translated into seventeen foreign languages, garnered two RITA awards, and consistently appear on bestseller lists in the United States and abroad. Poison Princess is her first young adult novel. She invites you to visit her at thearcanachronicles.com and kresleycole.com.