Published: June 24th, 2013
Description:
Kiora needs answers. Who is the Shadow? Who is Jasmine? Are they connected? And even more pressing—how can she stop the Shadow from using her dreams as a map to find them? They have escaped three times, but are living on borrowed time—and everybody knows it.
Kiora’s search will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the dragon mountain of Toopai, and lead straight back to Meros—where magic will finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years.
But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, the rebels are hurtling toward one outcome: war. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to change that path, but will fate allow it? Or will it teach her a hard lesson about following her own destiny?
Kiora’s search will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the dragon mountain of Toopai, and lead straight back to Meros—where magic will finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years.
But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, the rebels are hurtling toward one outcome: war. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to change that path, but will fate allow it? Or will it teach her a hard lesson about following her own destiny?
EXCERPT:
KIORA HAD BEEN MENTALLY calling for Arturo for so long that the sun was nearing the horizon, shooting flames of pink and orange into the few clouds that dusted the sky.
“Still not answering?” Drustan asked.
“No.” She groaned, rubbing her temples. “I don’t understand—Eleana said he would always be nearby.”
“To be fair,” Drustan said, “Eleana did not understand what we were walking into. She probably assumed he would track your thread.”
Alcander warmed his hands by the fire while Emane paced back and forth. Kiora wasn’t sure if he was pacing because she was flying into a dragon colony or because he was trapped in a small space with them.
“Or maybe something is keeping Arturo from hearing you,” Alcander said.
“Like what?” Kiora sighed, still rubbing her temples. Her head was pounding.
“There is a reason why Taveans generally can’t use the calling spell,” he began, rising fluidly to his feet. “And a reason Eleana wanted me to join minds with you. Our minds are closed to all others. Using my mind to block yours may be limiting your ability.” Kiora felt panic rise in her chest. “Try calling Emane,” he suggested.
Taking a deep breath, Kiora sent out a thought, Emane? Opening her eyes, she looked at him expectantly. He shook his head. Tears began pouring down her cheeks. Calling had been the only thing she had left with Emane.
“Kiora, stop,” Alcander nearly commanded.
“Don’t yell at her!” Emane snapped.
Drustan rolled his eyes. “I hope the end comes soon because if I have to deal with the three of you much longer, I am going to end it myself.”
Alcander swiveled to glare at Emane. “Can I fix this? Or would you like to baby her to death?”
Emane’s jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring. But instead of a snappy retort, he dropped next to Drustan without a word.
Alcander knelt in front of her. “I need you to look at me and calm down.” His voice was strong and firm. Kiora wiped her tears away, realizing how foolish she must look to him—bursting into tears at the slightest provocation. “A few Taveans have managed calling, but only with extensive mental practice. It is a skill most of us would not want—opening our minds is more of a violation than a gift. But for you, having already done it, you may be able to peel away the influence of my mind.”
“How?” she asked.
He looked uncomfortable and swallowed hard. “First you will have to find me.” Kiora frowned. “I was worried my mind would be an invasion on yours,” he explained. “I have tried to keep it to myself. But if you want to learn how to move it, you will have to feel it.”
“Do I have to be here for this?” Emane groaned.
Alcander turned again to look at him with undisguised distaste. “No, actually. It would be easier if you weren’t. There is another shelter just up there.” He pointed to the large, flat rock. “Drustan, take Emane.”
Drustan raised his eyebrow, but did not move.
“Come on, Drustan,” Emane said. “He’s not going to say please and if I am locked in this tiny space with him any longer, I might try to kill him.”
“Try would be accurate,” Alcander said.
Emane’s eyes narrowed. He walked straight at Alcander, who turned to face him. Kiora hurried to her feet, looking anxiously over Alcander’s shoulder, shaking her head vehemently.
Emane stopped, looking back and forth between them. “Come on, Drustan. Please,” he added. Drustan finally pushed himself to his feet and bubbled the two of them.
As soon as they were alone, Alcander asked, “Are you ready?”
“Is it going to hurt?”
“Everything hurts, doesn’t it?”
“Not everything.”
“You may want to get comfortable,” Alcander said gruffly, his eyes sliding off hers.
Stretched out on the ground, she closed her eyes. “All right, I’m ready. Now what?”
“Take a deep breath.”
She breathed in deeply and was slammed with a presence that was not her own. She gasped, her fingernails scraping against the rock.
“I’m sorry,” was all he said before the presence came again. It doubled and then tripled in strength. Kiora felt like she was being shoved to the back, drowned in her own head. Alcander’s mind was like a lumbering giant marching through her brain. There was immense strength there, and cold, hard logic. His mind contained layers upon layers—it was almost unfathomable to her.
“Alcander, you are drowning me.” Kiora could barely form the words; her back arched in pain.
“It’s not comfortable for me either.” As he said it, his mind made it clear to hers what he meant. There was nothing more personal and vulnerable than what he was allowing.
“What am I supposed to do?” Kiora grunted, flipping her head violently from side to side, trying to clear the heaviness.
“Push through it. You have to find your way out.”
She pushed her mind forward, trying to do as he asked. It was like swimming through memories made of molasses. She shoved through his memories, watching as she passed through them. Training with Lomay, Alcander’s childhood home, and then there was a room—a library. Lomay was there with Alcander. They were arguing about something.
“No!” Alcander yelled, mentally shoving her backwards. “Not that!”
She took a deep breath and pushed with all her might, hurtling through memories so fast, she couldn’t recognize them. Alcander groaned in pain as she did. A moment later, she slammed to a stop at a virtual wall in her mind.
“There it is.” His breath came raggedly. “The edge of my mind. You have to get through it.”
Kiora slammed into it again and again.
“Please!” he finally exclaimed. “Gently.”
“I can’t get through.”
“I know. I’m trying to let you through, but I feel like I’m being attacked. I can’t let it drop.”
Being at the edge of his mind was less oppressive, like she had managed to swim to the surface and was now bobbing on the top. Taking a breath, Kiora gently probed at the borders.
After an exhausting amount of time, Alcander said, “I’m sorry, Kiora, I can’t pull it down. I don’t know how to let you through.”
Kiora cracked one eye to look at him. He looked dreadful. He was crouched a little ways from her, his head drooping, his hair wet with sweat. His skin was pale, eyes hollow.
Ever so carefully, she got to her knees, cautious so as not to lose her place within his mind. Crawling across the rock, she made her way to him. He looked up at her. She had seen so many layers stripped away from Alcander over the past few days—each time, she thought she was seeing him, seeing behind the walls. But the truth was, there had always been another wall, another wall of protection and pain. Now his blue eyes were young and open and so very vulnerable. Her heart swelled, wanting to protect him.
Leaning her head in, she gently pressed her lips against his. She had intended a gentle kiss, but the feel of his lips took her breath away and she deepened the kiss as the magic flowed between them in blissful waves. As Alcander slid his fingers through her hair, Kiora felt the wall in her mind become pliant and loose. With one final effort, she peeled the wall back and then she was through. She gasped, falling against him in relief.
His chest was rising and falling heavily as if he had just run for miles. Gripping her arms, he gently pushed her up, his cheeks flushed. “Call Arturo. Ask him if he remembers where Lomay used to live. That is where we are going.”
About the author:
Devri Walls lives in Kuna Idaho with her husband and two kids. She has worked as a music teacher and currently, a preschool teacher. She majored in theater and her love of a story still drives her today. Thankfully, she has finally found an outlet for all the voices in her head. Her first novel, Wings of Arian, is available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and Apple. The second book in the Solus trilogy, Wings of Tavea is scheduled for release Nov 2012.
4 comments:
Thanks for sharing your post and the giveaways. I have not read any of this series yet, but I have added it to my TBR. I love the cover! Very cool! evamillien at gmail dot com
That cover is AMAZING! Looks like a great read!
Thanks for the giveaway
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