Starlight
Page 31
The shield closed around them as metal flew into the air. The Shadows soared too.
Only when the ash had settled did Natalia release the shield. They all stepped from it wearily, yet unharmed. Natalia looked around. No ash seemed to want to reform and no new Monsters seemed willing to take the old one’s place.
“Look at you.” Natalia searched for the voice, but no one was looking at her. Where was the voice coming from? It sounded like her voice, but they weren’t her words. She gulped. Was it inside her head? “You are free now, and I will come for you, my queen.”
Natalia whirled and still found nothing but ash. When she looked up, everyone’s eyes were locked onto her. “What?” she asked, confused.
“Look at you,” Jasper said, mirroring the words she’d just heard.
A chill ran up her spine. “What?”
Like a secret, he whispered, “Your wings.”
Natalia gasped and spun round in circles to see them. She couldn’t stop looking. Like a butterfly’s, they had a left and right side and then them sides were split in half to make four sections – the bottom two sections on either side were larger than the top ones.
After all this time, they’d finally come out.
And then she noticed what was wrong, what sent her heart quivering.
They weren’t an opaque bronze like she’d been led to believe they would be.
They were glass with bronze specks.
★T H E E N D O F B O O K O N E★
Acknowledgements
For this novel, there are quite a few people I owe the words found within too. So instead of waffling on, I think I need to dive in the deep end.
Firstly, to my mum. Thank you for supporting me, whether that’s by giving me a word I need when I shout at you from the other room, or for simply listening to me prattling on and on and on. I know it’s not been easy watching me do this self-publishing thing, but I know you have my back. For that, I’ll forever be grateful. And I do love you more than Hula Hoops, I swear.
To Sophie. My “little” sister. You write too, so you know how challenging this whole process is. It’s a mess. We’re a mess. I know you pretend not to care, but I know you do – somewhere deep down, at least. I know you’re proud – again, somewhere deep down – as I’m proud of you. Ew, right?
To Hannah. My personal screaming cheerleader bestest friend. We’ve had some adventures out in that big, wide world and I hope we have more soon. In writing, you clear my mind-fog and laugh at me whenever I say I’ve written 7,000 words for a chapter, and the loving insults in general are just class. You’re brave to have read every version of this damned book, and I’m sure you’ll read the sequels in all their forms too. Also, I’m so proud of you and of everything you’ve become! Here’s to more gin and wine writing sessions, and to more of us sharing one brain cell.
To Kirsten. I cannot thank you enough for all the advice you’ve given me! From publishing to just writing. You’re a wonderful human and our friendship is incredible – even if you tell me off for reading too quickly… Also, I’m still up for a swap? Jasper for Calder?
To Hannah L. The support you throw my way? Unparalleled. Even when you’re busy, you come and hype me up. This book is for you too. This is how I say thank you for our friendship and your kindness, and for all the orange hearts I send you in return for the red ones you send me.
To Danni & Gennie. Though you two don’t know each other, you are both my sisters from other misters. I’ve known you for years, and constantly I’ve had your backs and you’ve had mine. Never have you let me down and you’ve always been there whenever I’ve needed you, whatever I’ve needed you there for. The best I could ever ask for. I hope I can always be there for you and I hope I’m always in your lives. You’re both boss ass queens, never forget.
To my other writing buddies. You lot are fantastic. You should ALL be proud of yourselves for how much you’ve written, for how far you’ve gotten, and for how awesome you are. I will support you, always!
To my buds on bookstagram. Can I just say wow? To all of you? From the moment I released the cover for this book to its final stages, you have been part of the squad. A chaotic yet delightful squad. Starlight squad. Your cheers and shares and comments of love really lifted me up and I don’t think I can ever repay that kindness – I hope this book goes a little in the way of that though.
To my “real life” friends. Your support has been incredible. The way you may not know what’s fully going on yet see my posts and hype them up no matter what is all I could ask for. You really are people I can count on.
To Gabrielle. You truly made Starlight come alive. You gave it a face, a cover. The artwork is incredible. Even from my really dodgy brief you seemed to capture what I wanted and then somehow built on-top of it to create this masterpiece. I am totally biased when I say it’s the best thing ever, but I’m allowed to be. And thank you for being such a wonderful human – for answering my emails and dealing with me! You have the patience of a saint.
To Sydney & Lilac Daggers Press Editing. Literally every word in this book belongs to you. You took the trash-fire and made it look like a delightful cloud. Working with you was fantastic and so great! I know I pestered you more than one too many times, but you were always sweet and kind and funny. Oh, and Sydney? I’m going to need your next book pronto, ok? Thank you! I need to fuel my addiction.
To Evenstar Designs Ltd. The designs. The looks. The way this book is, is because of you. Julia, you have gone above and beyond for me, and I appreciate every single drop of care you have given. All the stars in the sky could never shine bright enough to thank you for making the final pieces fall into place for this book. Its beauty is your beauty. It shines because of you. It has life because you gave it. I also want to thank you for your patience in dealing with me and with the way you handled my ideas and worked with them, adjusting them, to make them absolutely gleam.
TO THE END. I did it. Go me! Take a moment and breathe, will you? You wrote a whole ass book. Celebrate that. And then move onto the next one, because you cannot be stopped now.