Kiss of a Demon King
Read Kiss of a Demon King Online
Authors: Kresley Cole
New York Times
bestselling author
KRESLEY COLE
and her “devilishly passionate”
(
Romantic Times
) series
The Immortals After Dark
DARK DESIRES AFTER DUSK
“The snappy dialogue and sensual tormenting make this the best in the Immortals After Dark series.”
—
Romantic Times
“Kresley Cole is a gifted author with a knack for witty dialogue, smart heroines, fantastic alpha males and yes, it has to be said, some of the hottest love scenes you’ll read in mainstream romance…. You’re in for a treat if you’ve never read a Kresley Cole book.”
—RomanceNovel.tv
DARK NEEDS AT NIGHT’S EDGE
“Poignant and daring. You can trust Cole to always deliver sizzling sexy interludes within a darkly passionate romance.”
—
Romantic Times
“The evolution of this romance is among the most believable and engrossing I’ve ever read. Cole’s Immortals After Dark series continues stronger than ever with the latest installment.”
—Louisa White, Fresh Fiction
WICKED DEEDS ON A WINTER’S NIGHT
“Leave it to the awe-inspiring Cole to dish up a combustible mix of sorcery and passion. One for the keeper shelf!”
—
Romantic Times
(Four and a half Stars; HOT)
“Kresley Cole…effortlessly delivers heart wringing romance, likeable heroines, hot heroes and hotter sex…set against an original and exciting paranormal mythology that keeps both the story and the reader speeding along from one high point to another.”
—Love Vampires
NO REST FOR THE WICKED
“Sizzling sex and high-stakes adventure are what’s on tap in mega-talented Cole’s sensational new paranormal release…one nonstop thrill ride. Brava!”
—
Romantic Times
(Top Pick)
“
No Rest for the Wicked
has romantic conflict, passionate sex and quirky characters served up with a topping of action-packed mystical treasure hunting—a combination that is bound to make this novel a winner with paranormal romance fans everywhere.”
—Love Vampires
A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER
2007 RITA Award Winner
“Intense action, devilishly passionate sex, and fascinating characters…leads readers into an amazing and inventive alternate reality…. Hot stuff!”
—
Romantic Times
(Top Pick)
“Rich mythology, a fresh approach, and an excellent writing make this vampire tale superb.”
—Fresh Fiction
“A unique romance—it truly stands on its own.”
—
New York Times
bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon
“Not just another romantic read…it’s a powerful experience!”
—
The Best Reviews
Books by Kresley Cole
The Sutherland Series
The Captain of All Pleasures
The Price of Pleasure
The MacCarrick Brothers Series
If You Dare
If You Desire
If You Deceive
The Immortals After Dark Series
Playing Easy to Get
A Hunger Like No Other
No Rest for the Wicked
Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night
Dark Needs at Night’s Edge
Dark Desires After Dusk
 | Pocket Books A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 |
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2009 by Kresley Cole
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department,
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-8354-7
ISBN-10: 1-4165-8354-8
Visit us on the World Wide Web:
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For Gena Showalter, light o’ my life.
Extraordinary writer, treasured mentor,
and dearest friend.
Glossary of Terms from
The Living Book of Lore
The Lore
“…and those sentient creatures that are not human shall be united in one stratum, coexisting with, yet secret from, man’s.”
- Most are immortal and can regenerate from injuries. The stronger breeds can only be killed by mystickal fire or beheading.
- Their eyes change to a breed-specific color with intense emotion.
The Demonarchies
“The demons are as varied as the bands of man….”
- A collection of demon dynasties.
- Most demon breeds can teleport or
trace
to places they’ve previously been. - A demon must have intercourse with a potential mate to ascertain if she’s truly his—a process known as
attempting.
The Rage Demons
“The one who controls Tornin controls the kingdom….”
- A demonarchy located in the plane of Rothkalina.
- Castle Tornin is their capital.
- Were the guardians of the
Well of Souls,
a mystickal font of power located within Tornin.
The Sept of Sorceri
“The Sept forever seek and covet others’ powers, challenging and dueling to seize more—or more darkly, stealing another’s sorcery….”
- A breed-line broken from the enchantment caste of the House of Witches.
- Born with one innate power, their
root power.
If they lose it, they become slaves to their own kind called
Inferi.
They can trade and steal secondary powers. - One of the physically weaker species in the Lore, they used elaborate armors to protect their bodies. Eventually they held metals—and especially gold—sacred.
The House of Witches
“…immortal possessors of magickal talents, practitioners of good and evil.”
- Mystickal mercenaries who sell their spells.
- Separated into five castes: warrior, healer, enchantress, conjurer, and seeress.
The Valkyrie
“When a maiden warrior dies with valor in battle, Wóden and Freya preserve her courage forever in the form of an immortal Valkyrie daughter.”
- Take sustenance from the electrical energy of the earth, sharing it in one collective power, and give it back with their emotions in the form of lightning.
- Possess preternatural strength and speed.
The Vampires
“In the first chaos of the Lore, a brotherhood of vampires dominated, by relying on their cold nature, worship of logic, and absence of mercy. They sprang from the harsh steppes of Dacia and migrated to Russia, though some say a secret enclave, the Daci, live in Dacia still.”
- Consist of two warring factions, the Horde and the Forebearer Army.
- Like many demons, vampires can
trace. - The Fallen
are vampires who have killed by drinking a victim to death. Distinguished by their red eyes.
The Accession
“And a time shall pass that all immortal beings in the Lore, from the Valkyrie, vampire, Lykae, and demon factions to the phantoms, shifters, fey, and sirens…must fight and destroy each other.”
- A kind of mystickal checks-and-balances system for an ever-growing population of immortals.
- Occurs every five hundred years.
Or right now…
“With me, nothing is as it seems. It’s usually much, much worse. And then—What do you mean I only get one epigraph? I get as many as I please. Only pre-eviscerated people have ever said things like that to me.”
—Sabine of the Sorceri,
Queen of Illusions,
anointed princess of Rothkalina
“That sorceress might be an evil bitch, but she’s
my
evil bitch. And I’ll have no other.”
—Rydstrom Woede,
fallen demon king of Rothkalina