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Back The Endless Skies
Chapters (57)
  1. Copyright Notice
  2. Dedication
  3. Map
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. EPILOGUE
  54. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  55. Also by Shannon Price
  56. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  57. Newsletter Sign-up

Curiosity bests me, and I open her drawers to look for the king’s letter. I find it, but before I open it, another folded parchment catches my eye, as does the sight of my name written on it. I unfold the letter, looking first at who sent it. My heart jumps.

There is no stopping the tears as I read Callen’s words, scrawled writing and all. His words burn into my mind as I ask myself the question of What if…? What if he’d died out there. What if he’d left me only this, his words, his heart, in a plain parchment without so much as a seal. What if he’d gone to the Endless Skies before I could know for sure.

The sound of the birds cuts off, replaced by a rush of golden wings.

Standing, I walk as fast as I dare to the balcony. With a trembling hand, I open the doors. The smell of smoke and pine trees clings to Callen’s clothes, and he must not be eating well because he’d lost some of his bulk. His gentle eyes, humbled by the time and distance, find mine. “Hi, R—”

I throw my arms around him, stifling whatever his next words will be. One of his hands wraps around my waist while the other cradles the back of my head.

“I came as fast as I could,” he says. “The messenger was there when I returned from helping build up a dam. The moment she said the ceremony had happened, I started flying.” His arms slacken. “Skies, I must smell terrible.”

“I’ll get over it,” I say, and he leans in to meet my kiss.

This, I realize. This was missing. Not only Callen himself but a feeling of peace. Callen brings a lifetime of shared memories with him. Shirene is gone, and we’ve lost so many friends. But this? This I refuse to lose.

I deserve to wear my warrior blues after everything I’ve been through. I am still my own person, still Rowan An’Talla, still my father’s daughter. But Callen is like a sunrise—his light makes every part of my life warmer, brighter. Better.

“Stay here tonight,” I say.

His breath catches. “Already bolder than usual, warrior.”

“Skies. You know what I mean.”

He laughs. “I do, and I’ll stay.”

The study door opens, and I jump, heat rising to my cheeks as my mother enters. She looks from Callen to me, then gives us a knowing smile.

“Welcome home,” she says.

And we are home—the both of us.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS