‘Even the smallest child in Avar knows that not all fairy tales come true…’

Josiah Rose was a man raised in death. His mother died when he was young and the Kingdom of Avar was run by the Vampiric Regime of Sias Amman—descendant of the victors of the War of Blood Hollow.

After his father’s passing, Josiah was caught in a fierce battle between his step mother over his childhood home. Now at twenty-one, there is only one word surrounding the market: Marriage.

Talks of nobles far and wide coming for a ball to swoon one Prince Malik Amman ring loud as Josiah finds himself in a carriage on his way into the lions den. Now Josiah has to put on his best act to survive dancing with eyes as red as blood. All the while, it feels like someone’s staring at him in the shadows.

How does one dance in slippers made of glass? How does one not get burned to cinders by dragon’s flame?

Cinders is created by Emma Silver, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author

Cinders

The journey from the manor to the castle was a mostly silent one. I say mostly silent due to hearing different whispers of the guards behind me. I tried to ignore them the best I could, focusing on the scenery as we passed by the trees and into the market.


As we went through the market, the crowd cheered and waved at us as we went past. I looked behind me when I heard a familiar whistle and saw Levi waving after me. I didn’t want to risk falling off of Asmodyus’ horse, so I sent him a quick wave in return.


I looked back up at Asmodyus as I felt him gently place a hand on mine. “They’re all cheering for you,” he whispered back towards me. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to believe him. From the way I saw it, they were all cheering and parading fake smiles to appeal to Malik. I didn’t like the guilty feeling that came over me as I watched the people watch me get swept off to live in the palace.


Chapter 17: Den of Thieves