Brandon Sanderson Standalone Books Novels & Stories

Chapter 19: The Council of Stone and Shadow The Hold, built for defense, not diplomacy, transformed into a theater of power. The great hall, once a shadowy cavern, now blazed with torchlight. The clan banners were displayed with pride beside the royal standard. The air was thick with conflicting scents: beeswax polish, roasting meat, the metallic tang of nervous sweat, and the ever-present, cold breath of the mountain.

When I first started writing Kingdom of Ash and Blood, I never imagined how far this story would carry me. What began as a spark — a single image of a woman standing in the ruins of her past — became a journey that taught me more about strength, love, and survival than I ever thought a story could.

She held my hand, urging His Majesty to bring my marriage forward because she feared I would regret this. His Majesty looked pleased, too. He and my husband-to-be, Gideon Swain, were blood brothers. Naturally, the bond between them was stronger than others. I knew little about Gideon, even in my past life. All I knew was that he had a reputation for being a devil incarnate. He was stationed with the army in Morbeck with the task of guarding the nation's borders and rarely returned to the capital. That was why none of the noble ladies in the capital wanted to marry him.

It is a huge compound filled with huge men training each other in combat, taekwondo and gun fights. The Saint Clan is the empire our father built over the years and I was obligated to follow in his footsteps once he retires as the Bratva and I take over. The duty of a Bratva was flung over my shoulder from birth and until death, I would be responsible for the Clan. “Welcome, Capo.” The men at the entrance door to the Bratva’s mansion greeted me and Alessandro and as always, I never responded to their greetings. We walked down the hallway leading to the huge dining hall, where the Bratva and my brother, Leonardo, were waiting for us.

Gloria’s POV From the edge of the collapsing forest, Gloria watched him break. Watched the dragon boy scream himself hoarse against a sky that had already decided its victor. And she smiled. Because she knew the truth. Sierra wasn’t gone. Not yet. She had been claimed. The air split once more, fire opening like a curtain, and Gloria sank to her knees as the figure emerged fully. Vorath Kane. Dragon King. Ruler of ruin. Father of shadows. His wings unfurled behind him, dripping darkness like rivers. His eyes, molten gold, burned holes into the night. The very ground shook under his presence.

"Don't. I've made it clear. You were the ones who initially attacked the Hawk Eagle, and I seized your first kill. I've gained a lot. If you hadn't distracted the Blood Fiends, I wouldn't have had a chance. I'll choose one item as a reward." Sebastian insisted, and the Mage woman had to agree. Sebastian wasn't polite and directly chose the gauntlets. The properties of these gauntlets were excellent. Although he didn't use them, keeping them or selling them would be beneficial. As for the others, Sebastian wasn't interested. There was a book on spear technique for Spear practitioners, but it required the Foundation Building Realm to learn. At the current stage, it wouldn't sell for much even

I was tired of her bullshit and wanted a more secure life for my kids, my wolf has decided to let her go as we are not willing to die for a cause that has nothing to do with us. I may be a rogue but I was an Alpha before my father banished me from his land and I became a Rogue, I never wanted to fight in Roman's war, but lucky for me, I ended up badly injured and was not able to take part in the final battle that killed him. Jerrod was a foot soldier who survived and escaped before the final battle, he is all about power and I know deep down he is using Esmerelda but right now it's every man for himself. If I don't take over soon, the rogues will rebel and take us all out, a lot of rogues wa

The Deads – this name still gives me the chills – go to train with the other warriors, saying that they want to see if the wolves have any chance against the Undeads heading our way, and Thea and Leo’s sons drag Lia and Blake outside, having mentioned something about getting to know their cousin. Thea and Leo also decide to leave, which means I’m now alone with Ren. Only after we’re alone does my man shed his tough mask and lets me see how worried he really is. This… crisis we’re facing is tearing him from the inside. He bears the weight of this war and every life involved in it on his shoulders and it’s wearing him out.

Cassie’s POV I stood in front of the massive mansion, its towering pillars and sprawling grounds as familiar as they were overwhelming. Nostalgia swept through me in a wave I wasn’t prepared for. This place had once been my sanctuary, but also my cage. Compared to my small condo, this was paradise, yet I had left it behind because I couldn’t breathe here. My mother never supported my dream, so I chose to chase it alone. Now, with my career in shambles, I wondered if walking away had been worth it.

“No doubt why Lee is so much into books. I bet after reaching your age; she will also give lectures like you.” “Sorry, Mon amour. I just carried away.” Brandon chuckled and forwarded his hand toward Sophia. Sophia held his hand and smiled at him before sitting beside him. “So, what were you talking about?” Sophia asked, wondering how these two got along. “Nothing. I was telling him about Black Council, the hub of rogues.” Brandon said, on which Sophia furrowed his eyebrow, wondering why Theodore was interested in these things. “They practically kill one another to survive. And only the strongest could survive there.”