Sleigh lives in a city at the very tops of the age-old valor trees, where babies born defective are taken and delivered to the other defects living on the Surface. When Sleigh’s sister is born one of these 3re-breathing, earthquake-inducing monsters, she follows the transporters to the Surface in secret, desperate to learn what will become of her. There, she discovers a new world of incredible people she’s instantly drawn to, one man in particular. Everything she’s been taught is a lie. She also 3nds out the Avarice will have her killed if her disappearance is detected, so she’s forced to return to her city after only a brief escape, feeling more like their captive than someone living under their safeguard.
Four years later, the stars foretell her sister’s capture and enslavement by centaurs, along with the murder of her beloved, Gabriel. No matter the cost, she’s determined to return to the Surface and do whatever it takes, even offering herself in their place, to prevent both such disasters. If only she’d known what sort of trouble this reckless act would really get her into: putting her at the heart of a prophecy to end human slavery to centaurs, being forced to seek out and wear the lost wings of Hendraya, which makes her the leader in a massive Surface war against a most deadly race of centaurs thought to have gone extinct over a century ago.
During the day, April Marcom works as a substitute teacher for grades K-12. But in the evening, the alluring world of romance takes over as she pours it out on paper. Her favorite thing to do, though, is to spend time with her sports-car-loving husband and three incredibly energetic children. She also loves chocolate, her five very rowdy dogs, and livin’ the simple life out in the country. April grew up a southern bell in Mississippi, but is now a proud Oklahoman.
“Chief is probably going to insist on me having someone on my back when we do go to battle, especially since I’m our greatest warrior…” He crossed his arms over his chest, forcing all his muscles to bulge out impressively. “You’re a scrawny, inexperienced luminary. You’ll be nearly useless in battle. But you put yourself in danger to save my life, and saved the life of Tiberion. I trust you. That’s not something your greatest fighter could offer me. I know I said before that you would not always ride on my back, but maybe you would ride with me into battle?”
Wow. I was both insulted and honored. Having the choice offered to me alone was such a privilege. There probably wasn’t a better place to be in the approaching war than on the back of the Elyxeos’ greatest warrior. Of course that might also make me a target. “Would you always be in the front line of things?” I asked.
He nodded slowly. “I would.”
“So the Trios may want you dead most of all?”
He cocked his head back, blowing out a large gust of his breath. “Probably.”
My head and my heart clashed in disagreement. It seemed stupid to ride with Amphion, but I knew I’d never get another offer like this one. No matter what, if anyone stood a chance at surviving this war, it was certainly him. And he’d earned my trust just as I had his by protecting me so well to this point. “I would be honored to ride with you, Amphion.”
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