by Fiona Paul
Maximus nodded. He disappeared into the kitchen.
Cass followed him inside. Striding quickly to her room, she laced on a new cuff and then saw that her hair was coming undone. As she began to tuck the unruly locks of hair back into the elaborately braided hairdo Narissa had insisted upon, she noticed a piece of folded parchment tucked in the edge of her mirror.
Her brow furrowed as she folded back the edge. She knew as soon as she saw the sketch of a starling whom the message was from. Falco hadn’t stayed for the wedding, but he’d left her one final message.
Congratulations, starling. You were meant to fly.
Smiling slightly, she slipped the note inside the dressing table’s top drawer. Then she turned toward the doorway, toward the portego, where her husband awaited her.
Luca da Peraga. Her wings. Her heart.
Acknowledgments
Grazie:
To my friends and family who are under the mistaken impression that I am all kinds of famous and blow them off to work a zillion hours a week because I have some sort of addiction to being busy. I swear it isn’t true! Someday I will find more time to eat bratwurst and watch terrible B-grade horror movies with you guys, I promise.
To Jill Santopolo and everyone else at Philomel (whom I will not attempt to name again, as I am sure I will forget someone). Thanks for teaching me so much about books and publishing. You guys rule. To Stephen Barbara and everyone at Foundry. You guys also rule.
To Lexa Hillyer, Lauren Oliver, and everyone at Paper Lantern for helping me find my wings. Extra-special thanks to Beth Scorzato. You made this book better. You made me better—for reals. Can I be on your team when you take over the world?
To the über-supportive kidlit writing community, including the Apocalypsies, the Blueboarders, the YA Valentines, the Literaticult, my crit partners, and all of the authors and bloggers who have sent me happy tweets or answered my Very Important Questions on Twitter. They Who Must Be Named: Jennifer Laughran, Marcy Beller Paul, Cathy Castelli, Jessica Fonseca Honiotes, Julie Heidbreder, Antony John, Jasmine Nazek, Ken Howe, Heather Anastasiu, Jessica Spotswood, Elizabeth Richards, Tara Kelly, Christina Ahn, Jamie Krakover, and Eleanor Herman. I have just one word for all of you: Respect. (I would also put some hearts and smiley faces here, but the copy editors don’t like that.)
To Adam. I have no idea where either of us will be when this book hits the shelves, but wherever we are, I hope we’re happy. We’ve both got a lot of ducks. Maybe someday they’ll all walk in the same direction.
Finally, to you, the reader, for taking this journey with Cassandra and me. Always remember, you were meant to fly.
