Eternal Rider - Larissa Ione [0]
LARISSA IONE
NEW YORK BOSTON
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Table of Contents
A Preview of Immortal Rider
Copyright Page
Sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe that my writing dream has not only come true, but has far surpassed even my loftiest visions. With this first book in a new series, I’ve realized just how far I’ve come. So this is for the authors who inspired, encouraged, and taught me. (And yes, Lynn Viehl, that dictionary was damned lucky!)
And for all my awesome readers out there, with a special shout-out to the Writeminded Readers, the Underworld General Hospital RPGers on Facebook, and all my Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads buddies. Your support, enthusiasm, and ability to entertain keeps me going. Happy reading!
Acknowledgments
Books don’t come together by themselves, and I’m always amazed and humbled by how many people are willing to help at the drop of a hat and even without a bribe.
So huge thanks to Jennifer Rowland, April Renn, Larena Wirum, Yvette Lowe, Melissa Bradley, Ann Aguirre, and Lea Franczak for their incredible generosity.
Thanks, too, to Fatin Soufan and Lillie Applegarth for all the work you do at Writeminded. Huge hugs to you!
More squishy hugs go out to some people who have put time, effort, and their very hearts into their passions and have been good to me… Maggie Atchison, Heather Cass, Jackie Spencer, and Tricia Picky Schmitt.
And, as always, to the entire team at Grand Central Publishing. You’ve been behind me and my books from the beginning, and I can’t thank you enough. Amy Pierpont, your guidance (and patience!) has been a blessing. Lauren Plude, you make my life so much easier, even though I probably drive you nuts!
Finally, thanks to Irene Goodman, for believing in and supporting this new project. It’s great to have you by my side!
Prologue
Her name was Lilith, and she was an evil succubus. His name was Yenrieth, and he was a good angel.
After hundreds of years of seducing humans, Lilith got bored. So she set her sights on Yenrieth, the ultimate challenge. He resisted. She pursued. He resisted some more. This went on for decades, until the inevitable happened. She was, after all, beautiful, and he liked his wine a little too much.
No one knows what happened to Yenrieth after their night of passion, but nine months later, Lilith gave birth to four children, three boys and a girl. She named them Reseph, Ares, Limos, and Thanatos. Lilith kept the girl, Limos, with her in Sheoul, and she planted the males in the human world, exchanging them for the infants of wealthy, powerful families.
The boys grew into men, never suspecting the truth about their origins. At least, not until demons rose up, spreading terror and seeking to use Lilith’s sons against the humans. Limos escaped from Sheoul, found her brothers, and revealed the truth about their parentage.
By this time, the brothers had seen their lands and families destroyed by demons and, blinded by hatred and the need for revenge, Lilith’s children encouraged (manipulatively and forcibly, sometimes) humans to help them fight violent, never-ending battles against the underworld abominations.
This didn’t go over well in the heavenly realm.
Zachariel, an angel of the Apocalypse, led a legion of angels to Earth, where they met in battle with demon hordes. When the earth and waters ran red with blood, and humans could no longer survive on the poisoned land, Zachariel struck a deal with the devil.
Lilith’s children were to be punished for slinging mankind to the brink of doom in their selfish bid for revenge. Because they had nearly brought about the end of days, they were charged as the keepers of Armageddon. Defenders or instigators; the choice would fall on their shoulders.
Each of them was given a Seal, and with each Seal came two prophecies. Should they protect their Seals from breaking until the prophecy laid out by the Bible came to pass, they would save their souls—and mankind.
But should they allow the Seals to be broken prematurely, as written in the Daemonica, the demon bible,