Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows, #1)

by Devney Perry

She was the Sparrow.

Nightmares were born in those eyes.

The Guardian. A man rumored to be more vicious and deadly than any creature crafted by the gods.

The man who entered next didn’t look like a god incarnate. He didn’t appear to be a ghost. He was tall and broad, like the other Turans. Muscled to the point of distraction. His chocolate-brown hair tickled the tops of his shoulders, and his chiseled jaw was covered in a short beard of the same shade. At first glance, he was just a man. Striking. Intimidating. But still, just a man.

Yet his irises did not have the typical Turan green starburst. They were solid, molten silver. Liquid metal. Colorless, like my dress. The Guardian.

The lionwick must have gotten bored with my tree. It prowled to the next, its muzzle against the ground as it sniffed. I pointed to the monster, mouthing, Kill it. The Guardian shook his head. “You kill it.” I gave him a flat look. Yeah, right.

“Odessa, wait.” It wasn’t his order that made me stop. It was my name. I was always Cross or Sparrow or my queen. But rarely Odessa. I’d never loved my name more.

He nodded. “Ransom. My name is Ransom.”

Thats the name? Should of kept it hidden

“What did you do?” “I decided to set you free.”

Hot tears dripped to the dirt at my boots. “I love you.” “Yes, you do. Don’t forget.” “Never.” “Neither will I.” His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “I will find you. Here, or in the shades.” The crux landed at his back, the ground shaking as she dropped. And Ransom, my Guardian, turned to fight.

Instead, I’d pulled my sword from this woman’s body. A woman with red hair, the spiraling curls a mix of orange and strawberry and copper. Odessa’s hair. I unsheathed a knife from my belt and sheared off a lock. Then I tucked it into my vest beside Zavier’s circlet. My circlet.