Princes of Paradise (M.A.G.E. #1) Magical Academy of Gods and Elementals kailin gow KAILIN GOW Princes of Paradise Published by Romance on The Go, an Imprint of Sparklesoup.com Copyright © 2020 Kailin Gow All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, please contact: www.sparklesoup.com Second Edition. Printed in the United States of America. 2 Princes of Paradise (M.A.G.E. #1 ) DEDICATION For those who believe doors open when you take a leap of faith. 3 KAILIN GOW Prologue The stones glowed brightly, seeming in their otherworldly light to mirror the gleaming of the stars. The night was black, as black as a squid's ink, but she was not afraid. She had the stones – their ancient power calling to her as she held them in her hands. She had the book, its pages seeming to grow warm upon her fingers as she turned them. And she had her love – and she knew that he would keep her safe. The crimson sunset had vanished into the black waters, and now all was still. They stood at the top of the volcano, a volcano that had not erupted in many centuries – since the old days. Since long before the Erosion had come to change the shape of the world. But she felt its power. She knew that deep within the volcano, the power of flame lay waiting, like a dozing beast, waiting for her to harness its strength, to let the force of the 4 Princes of Paradise (M.A.G.E. #1 ) fire take over. She knew that she had the power: she would connect with the molten lava, with its heat, its beauty. She would make its strength her own. She was beautiful; she knew it now better than she had always known it. The stars and stones alike shone down upon her, casting her dark face and flashing eyes in their milky pale light. The stones were piled high – green and blue, yellow and red, precious gems from all corners of the island. She had found them all herself; they had called to her, each one, since she was a child. She had felt a connection with each tiny gemstone as she held it in the palm of her hand, pocketing it for her collection. Now, staring at the circle of stones she had made, she knew why. It was for this purpose that she had been chosen. It was for this purpose that her abilities had been formed. She sat cross-legged in the center of the circle, her book on her lap. It was the book of the Fire King, the god of fire, its ancient tongue intelligible to the Fire's children alone. She knew what her destiny was. She would bring back the Sacred Fire, its purifying force, its flames. She knew what the scientists knew and did not say – that the Erosion 5 KAILIN GOW was getting worse, that soon the whole earth would be engulfed in water. The ice caps would melt; the tides would grow stronger. The people did not know; the Earth did not know. But she knew. And she knew it was her duty to stop it. The Sacred Flame would come, at once creator and destroyer, push back the waves and call from its molten depths new lava, new earth. And she was doing it with her love at her side. She gazed at him, her heart beating faster. She knew his beauty; his beauty floored her, as if she were seeing it for the first time. It was always like the first time. She knew the source of his flashing eyes, his powerful animal muscles, his broad shoulders. The power of the flames rushed through him. He drew his beauty from the source – like her, he called upon the volcano and its ancient ways. He was the Fire King, and for thousands of years he had been searching for his Queen, the goddess from whom he had been separated. The goddess who had more power even than he to destroy and to rebirth. The true power of the twin ways of flame – death and resurrection. And only she 6 Princes of Paradise (M.A.G.E. #1 ) could regenerate the earth. Only she could rebuild its lost lands. He had searched for her, evermore frantic – knowing that he had to find her before it was too late. Before the Erosion grew too dangerous. Before the Calypticon. For the gods of Water would submerge the earth to suit their own ends – if the fire gods did not strike back. The girl knew the legends well. After all, she had grown up on the island. She had not mingled with the other outsiders, the generations of new settlers who peopled the island with fast cars and shiny beach homes. No, she was one with the Veteri – she sought them out. She knew their hiding places. She listened to their stories. And she knew the Fire God sought one born of a mortal, who would from her flesh reveal her powers. And she would win the love of the Fire God. The Fire God who had spent centuries seeking her, who had
