BooksBarbecue
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

Turning, I touch his shoulder. His armor warms beneath my fingertips as I linger. On any other day, it would mean nothing. Today, it’s all my heart can muster without making a bigger mess of a problem that needs to wait until the sick children are better. Until we have the time and space to work things out.

I step back and shift into my lioness form, flying high and far away from him before I can hear him say anything else. Before I have time to wonder why I am so reluctant to say goodbye.

7

CALLEN

I watch her go and feel bits of myself fraying, unraveling so far that they won’t ever be fixed. Skies alive, I can’t die on Balmora now knowing the last word I spoke to the most important person in the world to me was okay.

I have to give her time and space, for real this time. And nothing says space like the miles of open ocean and enemy territory that will keep us apart for over a week. With a quick touch to my blue stone earring, I take my lion form and circle the city, heading to the Warriors’ Hall. The massive, U-shaped building’s glass roof shines in the sunlight as I get closer. I tilt my wings and aim for the second floor, where my room and the rest of my cohorts’ rooms are.

As I land in one of the Hall’s open entryways, I catch a glimpse of Ox and Exin leaning over the railing opposite my room. Ox sees me and gives a polite nod. I return it, a feeling in my stomach twisting like I’ve eaten something bad.

He’s a strong fighter, I remind myself. Warriors are trained in all manner of weapons, and Ox favors a bow. An archer is a solid asset to have if we encounter humans and want to avoid an outright battle as the sentinels instructed. I have no doubts about his loyalty to the king or to the city, but if I could pick a different member for my team, I would.

I glance down at the lush greenery and reflection pool on the Heliana’s lowest level, the Underbelly. A handful of warriors-elect linger in the walkways, their heads low as they sulk together. The excitement about getting to move up a level must have soured. I don’t envy the frustration every warrior-elect must be feeling.