Shield of Sparrows

by Devney Perry

“Your former fiancé must not have a big sword.” The Guardian’s eyes flashed emerald green, the innuendo dripping from his tone.

“Are you all right?” Zavier asked, his voice low. “Fine.” If fine meant I wanted to die, then yes, I was fine.

man. You’re too short and slow.” “Thanks,” I deadpanned. “And I was certain I wouldn’t earn any compliments today.” “Praise is for the bedroom, Cross. Not the training ring.”

“I didn’t ask to be married to a stranger and shipped across the continent. I didn’t ask to come to Turah. I didn’t ask to be jailed in a wilderness treehouse. Those were decisions made for me by the whims of men. So 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.”

“Did you ever stop to think that maybe the door to your cage has always been unlocked, Sparrow? And all you had to do was push it open?”

“As is your true nature,” I spat. “Only fools and liars burn books and people’s homes.”

It wasn’t the first time I’d been overlooked. It wouldn’t be the last. So when would it stop hurting? When would I stop expecting anything different?

“Shh,” he murmured, pressing a finger to my lips. “I know you start to squirm if you go more than ten minutes without asking a question, but I promise to tell you the whole story.”