Page 1 of Queen of the Wicked (Afterlife #1)

T he screaming child was born with deathly shadows surrounding her in a burning halo of smoke.

King Amos, who gazed in horror upon his baby girl, suspected this power radiating from his precious child was the furthest thing from sacred.

Black magic flowed in her veins, her very blood— so powerful that it was a dark glittering shimmer around her tiny body as she screamed her newly-developed lungs out on Queen Adia’s bare chest.

“It is not possible,” Haleth whispered. She watched the black mist roll off the slab of rock Queen Adia lay upon and evaporate into the floor, leaving a quiet rumble of power in its path. “The Makers claimed?—”

“Indeed,” the king interrupted. He knew what this meant for his daughter, for her future.

If anyone discovered her powers… If they suspected she possessed black magic amongst the people of Heaven, she’d be exiled to Hell, and she was too innocent to be exposed to the truth of who she’d become.

To be transformed into a pawn used in a game much too complicated for her to comprehend.

Haleth attempted to slow Queen Adia’s bleeding, but she had stopped being responsive as soon as she had pushed their daughter, Alessia, out of her womb. The king didn’t need to guess how she had died.

Black magic .

“Your Majesty, I’m sorry, but—” Haleth stared at the queen’s blood flooding off the stone slab, a mixture of despair and regret written across her face.

Being a loyal servant and gifted seer to the queen for centuries, she had gained a friendship that ran just as deep as his own to Adia, and although grieving was what they both yearned to do, they couldn’t. There wasn’t enough time.

“I need you to read Alessia, Haleth. Tell me what you see.”

“Your Majesty, I do not know if I?—”

“ Please . For the future of the realms, I command you to tell me if history is repeating itself.”

Haleth stared reluctantly at the screaming infant, fear radiating from her body.

One tiny child could bring immense change, tipping the realms on their axis and threatening to dismantle the kingdom King Amos and his wife had worked tirelessly to maintain.

A newborn filled with power that would have the seraphim and archangels bowing at her feet, not out of loyalty but out of fear.

She would be the realm’s most significant weapon; he couldn’t let that happen.

He wouldn’t.

With a short nod, Haleth hesitantly placed her palm to Alessia’s forehead and closed her eyes, gathering her power to see into his daughter’s future.

The heat seemed to drain from the healing chamber in seconds, and a cold chill followed suit.

The king’s teeth chattered as Haleth remained utterly still, not of this world, as her mind drifted into the unknown darkness.

Alessia continued to wail at the foreign touch, but after a few long moments, the fire lights of the chamber vanished, casting them in total darkness.

The king could feel the black shadows swarming, attempting to fight off Haleth’s powers.

His lips were numb, the air cold as ice until he heard Haleth scream, the fire lights erupting into large, powerful flames once more.

The king adjusted his eyes to the light, witnessing pure trepidation radiating from Haleth as she tried to catch her breath with a hand placed over her heart. Alessia screamed in protest, as if aware someone had penetrated her mind.

“Erebos,” she breathed out. “Erebos Moloch. He is the vessel.”

The king gritted his teeth. He had known from the legends of his ancestors that this was what she would likely see, but he wished it hadn’t been true.

He didn’t want his daughter to be in danger, let alone become a chess piece in the Makers twisted game, but even with him crowned king, Alessia wouldn’t be safe here.

Not with her black magic on full display like this.

“Glamour my wings and find Elyana. Quickly. Before Bastian arrives.”

Things hadn’t been safe in Heaven for centuries now. His brother Bastian had been seeking his title since they were born, always envious of their differences. Where Amos had a heart of gold, Bastian’s was filled with deceit and lies.

For years, he’d tried to create an army to revolt against the entry process of Heaven. He believed all lost souls should hold a place here in sacred eternity, even the ones made of pure evil who would threaten the balance Earth required to function properly.

Bastian’s army had gained enough strength to have the potential to overthrow him, and, as of a few days ago, rumor had it they were on their way from the Telestial kingdom, the lowest level of glory in Heaven, to invade Celestial, the highest, where King Amos resided.

It was only a matter of time before they killed him once they arrived so that Bastian could take his place on the throne, and if that happened…

Realization dawned on Haleth, tears gathering in her eyes as she reluctantly cast the glamour of his wings.

“Keep this between us,” he ordered. “This secret never leaves this room.”

Haleth gave a curt nod before leaving to retrieve the general of his army, and while she was gone, the king reached out to pull Alessia to his chest, blinking away tears when her bright green eyes glowed, a red ring encircling the iris.

If she were to be the one responsible for saving the realms…

If half of her heart rested within the vessel…

He couldn’t save himself, but he might have the potential to save her .

Closing his eyes, he placed his palm above her tiny chest and inhaled deeply, gathering up every ounce of power and every bit of light he had until it was burrowing in a thick ball at the center of his chest. His body shook from the intensity of it all, at the sheer strength it carried, and with a ripped scream, he shot his power into her with a jolt.

The chamber around them shook, the firelights quivering in their goblets as every bit of light inside him faded. Until the last drop was placed into his daughter's chest.

Light and evil.

Sunshine and darkness.

A combination so lethal she could accomplish what he couldn’t and save the realms, finally restoring peace that hadn’t existed for centuries while simultaneously safeguarding her happiness.

He just prayed she’d live long enough to figure out how.

“I will live inside of you every day, my love,” the king whispered into her ear, cherishing the last few moments alone with her that he had. “Listen to your heart. Always. The truth will follow.”

The door to the chamber opened, Haleth stepping forward, followed by Elyana, the general of his army.

He watched as she eyed the queen lying lifeless on top of the jutted rock, bowing her head to offer her condolences.

His wife should have given birth in their palace surrounded by angel feathers and aquatic skies, but instead, she had to be protected, and the only way was for her to give birth here in the healing chambers.

She had died on a bed of stone. The king would never forgive himself.

“Bastian and his forces were spotted a few miles south, Your Majesty. It won’t be long. ”

The king nodded, accepting his impending death.

Without his powers, there would be no chance at surviving his brother.

“Alessia is our only hope and must be protected at all costs, which is why I’m sending both of you to Earth to protect her.

” He glanced at Haleth. “I need you to cast an enchantment spell. Hide her powers until she is old enough to understand them.”

Haleth knew not to question him, and it only took Elyana one glance at Alessia before she understood what was necessary. Wasting time was useless. They had to act now if they had any chance at saving his daughter’s life.

“Release her from the enchantment on her twenty-sixth birthday, when the brain is fully developed in mortals. Only then will she be capable enough to learn her true identity and have a chance at survival.”

“And if something happens before then?” Haleth asked. “If she is in danger?”

The king eyed them heavily, the entire chamber growing eerily silent. “Then contact Erebos. The future Lord of Hell will be your only option.”