Sisters of Sword and Song
Page 35
He drew in a deep breath and she shivered, from the cold and his beauty and his nearness.
A wry smile danced on his face. “Are you cold, Evadne?”
Ah, he had written about that night in his scroll. The night when they had been traveling to Euthymius. When they had lain back-to-back. It had taken him forever to fall asleep because he could not cease thinking about her.
“I am freezing, Damon.” She dared to reach out and touch him, uncertain until his arms came about her as if he had been waiting, dreaming of this moment. He held her close, and she felt his breath stir her hair, his hands touch her back where her wings had once beaten.
“My magic is gone, Evadne,” he said, mournful. Evadne drew back so she could look at him.
“Then we shall have to make our own.” She kissed him, soft and gentle, until he opened his mouth beneath hers.
The stars had begun to emerge, gleaming through the boughs of the olive tree, and Damon finally broke their kiss to whisper against her lips, “You have kissed me before, haven’t you?”
Evadne laughed, a pure, sweet sound. She found his right hand—his left was still bandaged—and she wove their fingers together and began to lead him on the path.
“You must be hungry. Let us go and eat with my family, before my father begins to worry and comes hunting for me.”
“Gods forbid,” Damon said, and Evadne smiled, tightening her hold on his hand.
They walked in the quiet starlight, the nightingales crooning above them, the grass and clover fragrant beneath them.
Gregor’s villa came into view, a house brimming with light and voices.
Evadne paused, soaking in the sight of home. She cast her eyes to Damon and saw he was regarding it, too.
“Sing with me tonight?” she invited.
Damon met her gaze and smiled. She saw the stars in his eyes, a slow awakening of joy in his face.
“I would like that,” he said.
He followed her into the villa, into the laughter and the firelight.
Acknowledgments
It’s hard to believe I now have three books out in the wild. Some days, it feels like I only just began this journey, and when I reflect on how each of my stories came to be, on all the people who have been instrumental in their creation and publication, I am deeply humbled.
First, to my husband, Ben. It’s about time I dedicated a book to you. Although I think my love for you is woven into every one of my stories. Thank you for all of the support and early-morning prayers, the encouragement and wisdom, the laughter and tears and love you have shared with me on this journey. For listening to me plot and dream and scheme, and for taking me out to dinner when I was too preoccupied with drafting and revising to cook. And for coming up with the nicknames Pupa and Sprout.
To my pup, Sierra. I can’t resist putting you in every book, too. Thank you for inspiring Arcalos. I’m always glad for your reminders to go for walks and get sunshine.
To my parents, Tim and Beth. For always encouraging me to dream. I would not be the writer I am today without your love and support. To my siblings, who I love and would absolutely offer to take half of your punishment in a trial (although let’s not test this, okay?): Caleb, Gabe, Ruth, Mary, and Luke. To my grandparents, who are my constant inspiration, and my in-laws, Ted and Joy Ross, and the entire Ross clan, who have loved me so well. To all of my extended family—aunts and uncles and cousins. Thank you for supporting me.
To the kindred spirits who continue to inspire so much of my characters: Kaylin, Deanna, Aly. You are my shield sisters and I love each of you dearly.
To Kristen Ciccarelli, Mindee Arnett, Adrienne Young, and Elly Blake—for your beautiful and generous words about this story. Your books, in turn, have inspired and filled my creative well.
To my lovely CP, Heather Lyons, who read an early draft of this book and has given me so much encouragement and insight. To Isabel Ibañez, who is the wind in my sails and can always make me laugh when I need it the most. To Taylor at the bookish ballad, for all of your love and support and excitement for my books. I am so happy you and I met at Comic Con, and I hope to see your own book on the shelf soon!
To Suzie. Agent Extraordinaire. You have been my rock and my champion, and I am eternally thankful for you and your passion for my stories. I know I say this time and time again and you always laugh when I do, but truly, I could not do this without you. Thank you for giving my dream the wings to take flight.
To Dani, for being so wonderful and helping me in all things. To the inimitable team at New Leaf: Joanna, Mia, Veronica, Kathleen, Cassandra, Pouya, and Hilary. I could not do this without each and every one of you. Thank you for making my dreams come true.
To my editor, Karen Chaplin. I’m so thankful I’ve had you for three whole books! If not for you, this would still only be Eva’s story, and I would have never written from Hal’s perspective. Which has, indeed, made this book so much fiercer. Thank you for all the hours and insight you have given to my characters and worlds.
To Rosemary Brosnan and the splendid team at HarperTeen. What a journey this has been, and I continue to be honored and humbled that I got to share it with all of you. From editorial to design to production to marketing to publicity and sales—I am thankful for all the many hands and eyes that have shared a part in the making of this book, and for the countless hours the team has given to me to make this story shine.
To the wonderful Epic Reads—I am so thankful for all of your posts and pictures and enthusiasm. You are the best.
To Kate O’Hara, who created the beautiful map and cover. It is everything I dreamt of for this book. To Molly Fehr, whose hand lettering is divine and who brought such vision together for my cover—thank you a hundred times over.
To R. G. Grant and his volume Warrior, for granting me insight into hoplite armor and weapons and their battle tactics.
To my incredible and passionate Street Team, who has gone above and beyond. I am immensely thankful for each and every one of you for joining the Legion, for helping me spread the word and celebrate the release of this book alongside me. I am simply awed and humbled by you, and can never thank you enough for your love and support.
To my readers and fans, in the United States and overseas, for all of your sweet messages and posts and reviews. For always believing in me. Thank you, thank you.
And to my Heavenly Father. I stand amazed.
Soli Deo Gloria.
About the Author
Photo credit Rachel G. White
REBECCA ROSS received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Georgia. In the past, she has worked at a Colorado dude ranch, as a school librarian, and as a live-time captionist for a college. She resides in northeast Georgia with her husband and her dog. She is the author of The Queen’s Rising and The Queen’s Resistance. This is her third novel. Visit her on the web at www.rebeccarossauthor.com or on Instagram @beccajross.
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Copyright
HarperTeen is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
SISTERS OF SWORD AND SONG. Copyright © 2020 by Rebecca Ross LLC. Map art © 2020 by Kate O’Hara. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or st
ored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
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Cover art © 2020 by Kate O’Hara
Cover design and hand lettering by Molly Fehr
* * *
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ross, Rebecca (Rebecca J.), author.
Title: Sisters of sword and song / Rebecca Ross.
Description: First edition. | New York, NY : HarperTeen, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2020] | Audience: Ages 14 up. | Audience: Grades 10-12. | Summary: “Halcyon faces a fifteen-year sentence after being charged with murder, so her younger sister Evadne offers to carry part of her sentence and tries to uncover the truth behind the supposed crime along the way”— Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020000849 | ISBN 978-0-06-247141-3 (hardcover)
Subjects: CYAC: Sisters—Fiction. | Relics—Fiction. | Gods—Fiction. | Magic—Fiction. | Fantasy.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.R728 Si 2020 | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020000849
* * *
Digital Edition JUNE 2020 ISBN: 978-0-06-247143-7
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-247141-3
2021222324PC/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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