Loves of Shadow and Power — Edith Pawlicki

Are the worst demons within or without?Finally in the Underworld, Jin must find the black peony - and survive the immortal creatures that hunger for her.Xiao would prefer ravenous immortal creatures to his parents. Imprisoned and continuously drained of power, Xiao is spiralling into addiction and despair...Nanami doesn't know Xiao is drinking again. She just knows she needs to save the man she loves, even if it means getting help from an old foe. And if no one believes she can handle the powers she is challenging, well, Nanami has always defied expectations.Speaking of expectations, Bai is shocked by the power that mortal worship grants the gods. Humbled by a confrontation with them, he must reinvent himself if he wants to claim the place next to Jin.Separated by circumstance, the four friends must fight gods, monsters, and even themselves to come together again. But if they find each other, will they have changed too much to reunite?Loves of Shadow and Power is the richly written, tension-filled conclusion to Vows of Gold and Laughter -a decadent feast that is sure to leave readers replete.