Kingdom of Blood and Salt

CONTENTS Copyrights Written by Alexis Calder Dedication Acknowledgments Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 A note from the Author Next in Series About the Author COPYRIGHTS This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including, but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from the authors. Copyright © 2023 Alexis Calder All rights reserved. Edited by Faywriter & Court of Spice Proofreader: BAH Cover Design by Fay Lane. All Rights Reserved. Interior Design and Formatting by Stephany Wallace at @S.W. Creative Publishing co. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing this book without permission from the author or the publisher is an infringement of its copyright. Published March 30th, 2023 WRITTEN AS ALEXIS CALDER Shadow Wolves Series Shadow Mate Royal Blood Series Obsession Hunger Rejected Fate Series Darkest Mate Forbidden Sin Feral Queen Moon Cursed Series Wolf Marked Wolf Untamed Wolf Chosen Royal Mates Series Shifter Claimed Shifter Fated Shifter Rising Academy of Elites Series Academy of Elites: Untamed Magic Academy of Elites: Broken Magic Academy of Elites: Fated Magic Academy of Elites: Unbound Magic Brimstone Academy Series Brimstone Academy: Semester One Brimstone Academy: Semester Two Kingdom of Blood & Salt Kingdom of Blood & Salt * * * WRITTEN AS LEXI CALDER: In Hate With My Boss Love to Hate You * * * DESCRIPTION In the last human kingdom, securing our future requires a sacrifice. I just never imagined it would be my heart… Surrounded by monsters, Athos is once again facing the Choosing. Every nine years, the Fae King demands human tributes in order to keep the peace. It’s supposed to be a time of celebration; in reality, it’s a death sentence for anyone selected. As the illegitimate daughter of the king, I am powerless to change the rules of the treaty, but that doesn’t mean I can’t play my part. The Fae King’s ambassador is arrogant, condescending, and inhumanly handsome. He’s also taken an interest in me. Which leads to my father’s request: keep the ambassador distracted while he’s in our kingdom. I despise the ambassador, and while I will do my duty to occupy him, I don’t keep my feelings about the Choosing to myself. The growing friction between us intensifies as threats rise from within Athos itself. Alliances blur and centuries of lies begin to unravel. And I’m faced with a choice. No matter how much I hate him, the ambassador might be the key to preventing war. But it may mean sacrificing everything…. * * * DEDICATION For those of us who are disappointed when the villain doesn’t get the girl * * * ACKNOWLEDGMENTS A million thanks are in order for this book. This was a work of my heart, and I wouldn’t have completed it without the support of so many. First, to my amazing readers, thank you for your support and your patience as I dropped everything else to live in this world for months. I am beyond grateful for all of you. The fact that I get to create imaginary worlds and dream up adventures I can share with others still blows my mind. Thank you for all the journeys you have taken with me. Thank you to my husband for being the best cheerleader I have. Your support while I ramble about make-believe worlds and swoon over imaginary characters keeps me going. Love you xo. Stacey, thanks for being my sounding board and first reader of this. All those conversations where you talked me down or gave me a push were completely necessary and so appreciated. None of my books would be what they are without the amazing team I have behind me. Thank you to my mom for always beta reading and to Faewriter for her excellent feedback. Magan, thank you for the edits and Every muscle ached, and my skin was tight from the coating of dried mud. The only thing I wanted to do was take a bath and hide away from the court until after the tributes were selected. But that wasn’t possible. My father would insist I attend every event for the next two weeks while we entertained the Fae King’s liaison, even if the queen didn’t want me anywhere in sight. The marble floor was cool under my sore feet and I lingered in the open air corridor, staring out at the whitewashed buildings of the city below. Everything was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, making it look even more ancient and worn than it was. From my view at the palace, I could see nearly everything my father ruled over. The cramped, crumbling structures in the city of Athos gave way to rocky cliffs that dropped off to the turquoise waters of the Mera Sea. Closing my eyes, I breathed in the air, catching the hint of brine. This was home, at least for a little while longer. Even if I was the one who had asked to leave, I’d miss this