Empress of Poisons ARC

by Bree Porter

They didn't close the church doors behind them, making it easy for me to crawl inside. It was much warmer here than it was in my room.

  None of the nuns were there–they would be asleep or watching television–just the two monsters. I hid behind a row of seats as they stood beneath the Big Bird. (Sister Anya said his name was something else but the statue had huge feathery wings, like a bird.)

  The monsters grew louder.

  "–Stop complaining, Morok!" Said the monster with iron jewellery.

  "I never complain." Morok retorted.

  The other monster snorted. "You're such a liar."

  "They call me Morok for a reason."

  "So they do." The monster looked around the front of the church. "Where did Serafima say they hid the keys?"

  Morok went for the priest's table. It was what he used to hold his Bible during teachings. I liked the table–it had pretty carvings and pictures on it.

  He pushed it over, breaking it into a million pieces. All the pretty carvings were ruined. Morok didn't care. He just leaned down and pushed away the rubble. After a second, he pulled a chain of keys out.

  "Sera was right–"

  Something grabbed my neck, hauling me backwards. I screamed, struggling to run–

  "Well, well." A foot pressed down on my hand, pinning me to the ground. "You're not meant to be here, little girl."

  "Oh, fuck! Jasha caught something." Morok yelled across the church, "Hey, Jash, what do you got there?"

  "She was spying." My captive said. I struggled beneath the monster's foot, squirming and shrieking. "We kill spies."

  My screaming grew louder.

  "Leave her alone." Said the other monster. "I'll put her back to bed. Maybe she'll think it's a dream."

  "She saw the keys." Jasha argued. "She needs to die." His weight grew heavier, my bones groaning in pain.

  "Let her go."

  A new monster. A new voice.

  All three monsters fell silent. Jasha moved his foot.

  I sprung up, scrambling back. The monsters were going to eat me. They were going to put me in an oven and cook me–

  A woman crouched down in front of me. She was older than the big girls but not older than the nuns. Pictures covered her arms and neck, and her hair was the color of crow feathers. When she smiled, I saw a silver earring on her tongue.

  "What's your name?"

  I shivered.

  The woman arched an eyebrow. "You don't have one?"

  "I don't like it."

  "Then tell me a name you do like."

  I shrugged.

  "My name is Crow and it's a name I like very much."

  "Like the bird?"

  She smiled. I didn't like her smile. It was the same smile Sister Anya gave before she made me write my name on the board. "Yes, just like the bird." She showed me her arm. There was a picture of a crow in black and white, it's beak and claws were sharp and scary.

  "Let me put her back to bed," the monster with iron jewellery said.

  I scowled at him. "I don't want to go to bed."

  Morok and Crow both laughed. "That's right, Vul."

  "Why would she?" Crow asked. "Everything worth seeing happens in the dark." She looked down at my bruised hand. "Jasha's a bit rough. If I knew your name, I could make him apologise to you."

  I didn't say anything.

  "Fine. I'll name you then." Crow rose to her feet. "What name do you think, boys, for our little spy?"

  "Sneak." Morok winked at me.

  "Little Girl," Jasha hissed.

  "Trouble." Vul finished.

  Crow's eyes were the color of shadows. They looked like the coal by the train-tracks. "Sneak, little girl, and trouble. You boys are useless." She scowled. "I think I'll name her...Kitti. Because you're sneaky like a cat, but small like a kitten."

  "I'm the taller than Vasilisa. She's seven."

  "Okay, Kitti." Crow jerked her chin to the front of the church. "Come on. We've got a crypt to rob."

  Shouts of alarm rose from the other monsters. None of them wanted me to come with them. They were worse than the other girls on the playground.

  "She can't–"

  "She'll tell–"

  "No, she won't." Crow looked at me. "Do you want to come with us, Kitti, or do you want to go back inside? I'll let Vul tuck you back into bed and you'll never have to think about us again." She crouched down, meeting my eyes. "Or you can come with us. We'll feed you, and keep you warm. I'll teach you how to be powerful, how to be the tallest and smartest. Do you want to be Kitti...or nobody?"

  I knew. "Kitti."

  She smiled and stood back up. "Problem solved."

  I followed them down the aisle. Morok gave me his jacket because I looked cold. I was cold and said thank you. Jasha kept kicking my shins but Vul made him stop.

  Crow took the keys from Morok and took us down lots of stairs. I thought I would get tired but we reached the bottom quickly. The other monsters spread out but Crow told me to stay close to her. She knew where she was going.

  We came to a room locked behind a big gate. Crow used the key to unlock it.

  "It's dusty." I said as I sneezed.

  Crow snorted in agreement. "It's old. All old things are dusty."

  "Sister Marya is dusty."

  She didn't laugh this time. "No more talking about Sister Marya, Kitti. You're one of us now. They're in your past."

  I nodded because I was happy not to talk about Sister Marya. She was a bit strange. Nothing like Crow.

  Crow found a big box and unlocked it. I sneezed more as it opened, but watched with watery eyes as she pulled a gun out. It was coloured like the church, with whites and golds decorating it.

  "What’s that?”

  Crow smiled, aiming the gun at an imaginary target. “It’s a weapon made a very long time ago. It tried to assassinate Alexander the Second and Trotsky before he fled to Mexico.”

  “It’s useless.” Jasha came into the crypt. I wished he had stayed with the other boys. He frightened me–and I wanted to have Crow to myself. “It’s the most useless weapon ever made. I can’t believe we went to all this effort for it.”

  “You can’t say I’m not a romantic, Jasha,” Crow mused. “Killing someone with an idiot gun…Imagine how embarrassed our victim will be.”

  I frowned. “Who are you going to shoot?”

  In that moment, Crow looked like a monster. Her face got dark and her lips curled like she was snarling. I think Sister Marya was right. Humans are the only monsters in the world.

  She looked straight at me and said, “I’m going to kill Natalia Tarkhanova.”

  Coming Next…

  Venomous Virtue

  Book 0.5 in The Tarkhanov Empire

  Some loves are meant to be...others are tragedies.

  Beautiful and talented Roksana Korevna has worked her entire life to achieve her dream of dancing for the Moscow Ballet Company. Nothing will get in her way–including the alluring and seductive Bratva soldier, Artyom Fattakhov.

  Artyom Fattakhov is from a world of danger and cruelty, but when he lays eyes on Roksana Korevna, he is claims her for himself...despite forces in their lives forbidding them from falling for each other.

  But when the one Roksana loves the most betrays her, it sets off a chain of events that forever change her world…and the only person who can save her is the very man she must avoid.

  From Moscow to New York, follow Artyom and Roksana as they meet, fall in love and endure tragedy...

  Coming 2021!

  Of Violent Lineage

  Book 1 in The Vigliano Underworld

  “My heart, if anyone in this world is going to kill you, it’s going to be me…”

  After destroying the Lombardi family and rising to power as one of the infamous Mob Bosses of New York City, Giovanni Vigliano has finally achieved all his goals. But his territory is threatened by the traditional families he reigns over and they will only be sa
tisfied one way: If Giovanni takes Isabella Lombardi, daughter of his enemy, as his wife.

  A pawn to her family and new husband, Isabella is caught up in a deadly game of chess, where one wrong move could end with her being permanently removed from the board. Determined to avenge her family, Isabella begins to spy on the Vigliano family…only to find herself falling in love with its members.

  However, the Vigliano’s enemies strike from the shadows and aim for those closest to her. To protect everything she holds dear, Isabella will go to ends she never thought herself capable of…and prove once and for all that she is of violent lineage.

  Coming 2021!

  Baneful Beauty

  Book 3 in The Tarkhanov Empire

  How do you know someone loves you?

  Roman Malakhov and Danika Baltacha have years of history. From adolescents to adults, the two have engaged in a fierce rivalry and reluctantly accepted each other as family.

  But when ghosts from the past threaten the ones they love, they must put their differences aside to keep them safe.

  As their resolves crumble, Roman and Danika must face the truth they have both avoided and confront their feelings for each other...but is the truth always worth it?

  Official blurb, release date and cover to be revealed!

  Serpents & Peace

  Book 3.5 in The Tarkhanov Empire

  Join Konstantin and Elena Tarkhanov again as they grow their family and handle the challenges that come with ruling over a Bratva. Secrets and old rivalries will threaten the couple and their loved ones, and sometimes happily ever after’s are harder to achieve than you think…

  Official blurb, release date and cover to be revealed!

  Acknowledgments

  Acknowledgements are always the hardest part of the story. It’s impossible to name every person, every influence and every inspiration without the book becoming a million words long. However, I will give it an honest go.

  First, I have to thank Laura Sunday, the sister God forgot to give me. This book wouldn’t have happened without you. When I was panicked and scared, you were my guiding light that led me safely back to shore. Thank you, Laura. Love you forever and I’ll see you soon! P.S. Roman says hi.

  I also have to thank Sheri, my editor. Without you, this book would be a collection of errors and Aussie slang. You take the coal I hand you and produce a diamond, every single time. I love our brainstorming chats and I am so excited to see what happens in the next few years!

  To Emily Alice, my P.A. There are not enough words in the English language to thank you for all you do! You were a gift from the Heavens and I am so thankful to work alongside you in Romancelandia!

  As always, a HUGE thank you to my author besties. Shanjida Nusrath Ali and JM Stoneback, my gals. I love you both endlessly and love our chats! I love taking this journey together and I can’t wait until we get to look over our shoulders and see how far we’ve come.

  To my ARC readers, the most patient and kind people in the world. Your ability to read so fast amazes me, and your love for my stories inspires me to go on. The reviews I get from you guys calm me more than I could explain. Thank you!

  To my Street Team, thank you so much for sharing all my news. My voice only goes so far but you are all ready to spread the news and support me always! Thank you forever.

  To Julie, Mary and Val. Every time I see a cover you make for me, my jaw drops to the ground. Then when I see the beautiful formatting, I have to pick it up off the ground so I can drop it again. Thank you for bringing my words right off the page and into existence. I can’t wait to work together for many more years to come!

  And to you, person reading this. Thank you for making it through my sappy comments and for picking up one of my stories. My readers mean the world to me and I feel blessed to have people want to read the words in my brain. Thank you endlessly! My gratefulness for you knows no bounds.

  About the Author

  Bree Porter came screaming into the world on Valentine’s Day, so she never had any choice but to be addicted to romance. Now she spends her day swooning over mafia romance and sexy capos, while conveniently ignoring her university assignment deadlines.

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