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Back The Endless Skies Save as PDF
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

“Yes, and you know better. The king commanded that warriors be sent,” he says. “And warriors are going. We’re needed here. If the humans catch one of the teams, then they may launch a counterattack. And without all of the warriors, they’ll need us. We can all play a part. Loyalty above all.”

I give Bel a smile. “Way to drop our people’s motto on me.”

“It’s going to be fine,” he says, with a touch to my shoulder—the Leonodai sign of goodwill. He flies out with the other warriors-elect, but something in my gut makes me linger. Vera waits for me, but I tell her to go on ahead.

Everything Bel said is true, but I can’t stop from thinking on one last-ditch effort. The Glass Tower is nearly empty now. A few warriors remain, trading words of encouragement with the sentinels. I see who I’m looking for by the Second Sentinel, her fingers still wrapped around the fateful scroll.

I march determinedly up to my sister. “Lady Shirene.”

She turns at her name and frowns. “Warrior-Elect Rowan, I do not have time.”

“Lady Shirene, please.” I touch my right hand to her shoulder. “Let me join a team.”

“What?”

“Please. Just consider it.”

Her lips purse, but she exhales in defeat. “Meet me at the Princess Garden. On the hour.”

5

SHIRENE

One of the palace attendants offers me a glass of water, and I take it eagerly.

I feel bad for snapping at Ro, but she was out of line. At least when we’re like this, sentinel and warrior-elect. I outrank her. Still, Rowan’s always been eager to help, even if that help isn’t asked for. I put up with her following at my heels for years. Not being on a team must be killing her.

But you’re a sentinel, I remind myself. My loyalty is to the king and the citizens first. Besides, Rowan’s not the only one in pain.

I look over at Seth.

His arms are crossed as he waits with his team. Callen keeps close next to him, his hand to his chin in concentration. The other two, warriors Ox and Exin, speak quietly to each other, the former taking in the other teams and the latter with his hand firmly on his broadsword.

The four of them will do well together, I reassure myself. Seth will be just fine. When Sentinel Renna presented her thoughts on the teams, she carefully described each individual’s skills to the king. As head of all the warriors’ training, she spoke with a level of certainty that no one else on the Heliana could match.