Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows, #1)

by Devney Perry

What if I jumped? Would anyone care?

I wanted to jump. I wanted to dive into that ocean blue. I wanted to be unshackled from everyone’s expectations for just one godsforsaken moment.

He laughed again. Poison. I was definitely poisoning that man.

Fine by me. My stomach was too twisted for food. Though the idea of wine, a lot of wine, didn’t sound so bad.

“Come along, Sparrow. You’re late.” What if I pushed him overboard while we were at sea? Let the ocean do the killing for me. I almost liked the idea of watching that son of a bitch drown.

Only one person remained on the docks as we sailed out of Roslo Bay. Jocelyn’s mother. She kept waving. She never stopped. Her arms had to be tired, but she kept waving to her daughter. I might be the woman wearing the crown, but Jocelyn was the one with the riches, wasn’t she?

He might be a jackass, but at least he was handsome. There were worse things to behold at the end of a life than a nice face.

“Not all monsters are born from the gods, my queen. Some of us were made.”

Given his tendency to pop up like an itchy rash, I was certain he was lingering around somewhere.

“If you’re not going to send him here, I guess I’ll have to find his tent myself.” “Feel free to wander into mine, Princess.” He leaned in closer. “Zavier likes to share.”

“Thanks,” I deadpanned. “And I was certain I wouldn’t earn any compliments today.” “Praise is for the bedroom, Cross. Not the training ring.”

Now all I wanted was a bedroom and a bath and to forget the outdoors forever.

So I dwelled. On. Everything. My own mind had become my worst enemy.

I’m tired of being shoved to the wayside. I’m tired of being dismissed. I’d like to prove to them, to myself, that I am more than a token to be traded.”

you can threaten to take away my freedom all you want, but I will fight you. Every step of the way. Until my last breath. And I will not go quietly into a cage.”

“Relax,” he ordered. Relaxing meant I’d have to lean against him. Sink into that broad chest. Melt against his frame. Not. A. Chance. “I am relaxed.” “Sure you are.” His voice was too close to my ear. A shiver rolled down my spine. And without a doubt, he felt it.

“What you call gifts, I call a curse. Yes, I believe in the gods. I believe they watch us from their precious shades. And I believe they’re vindictive, manipulative bastards intent on tormenting us from their thrones.”

“It’s beautiful.” The forest. Those eyes. He dropped his gaze, meeting mine.

There was only one way for me to break free. Knowledge. Every secret I exposed would lead me to freedom. The freedom of choice. So I could decide where I wanted to go. Where I wanted to live. Who I could become.

He saw me in a way that no one else had ever tried. He didn’t stifle my sarcasm or snide remarks. He teased me about the questions, but lately, he’d indulged my curiosity the way he did Evie’s. He gave me the freedom to be myself. To stop hiding. He was a man who’d follow me off the cliff, who’d jump at my side, not pull me away from its edge.

I wasn’t sure who moved first. One moment, my heels were on the ground. The next, a hundred butterflies took flight in my belly, lifting me off my toes, reaching for him as he crushed his mouth to mine.

A decent princess would have stood her ground. But I wasn’t a good princess.

Reality vanished. Gods, how I’d wanted this. For weeks and weeks, I’d refused to let myself want this. To crave Ransom. I’d refused to believe this was ever a possibility.

So I let loose a sigh and let him hold my hand, because damn it, I liked it. “You’re a pain in my ass.”

People changed when they were heartbroken.

Love had its way of building us up. And bringing us down.

“Forgive me, my queen. Please.” Ransom didn’t give me the chance to respond before his mouth brushed across mine. He kissed the tip of my nose. He nipped at my bottom lip. Then he sealed his mouth over mine,

“You are mine.” His hands dove into my hair, fingers threading through my curls. “Even if we are kingdoms apart, you are mine. But I’d rather not be a kingdom apart.”

“When I am nothing but dust and ash, Turah will endure. I do not need a crown. And I have made peace with my destiny. But before I step into my grave, my choice is you.”

And he was mine. “You were hogging the bed.” I closed my book, setting it beside Faze on my lap. “Has anyone ever told you that you sleep like a starfish?”

“I’ve got you,” Ransom murmured. “I won’t let go.” He didn’t.

He held me until I fell asleep. Until we reached the dawn of a new day. Until the cracks I feared would never join slowly began to fuse.

“In those books, I found the adventures I’d been denied.

“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.”