Sky in the Deep (Sky and Sea, #1)

by Adrienne Young

I twisted the corner of the blanket in my hands. “What about your family?” “I’ll go where you go.” This time, the words were unyielding.

I reached for him and he came down onto his knees in front of me, between my legs, and he let out a long breath as he leaned into me. I held his weight, holding him tightly. “I didn’t want to ask you,” I said in a cracked whisper. He set his head onto my shoulder. “You didn’t have to ask me.”

I pulled my sword and axe free, feeling their weight at my sides. My clansmen’s prayers began and I joined them, pinning my eyes on the darkness as my heart picked up speed. Each muscle awakened around every bone, calling my body to life.

There were two cots, one man and one woman. We didn’t hesitate. We each stood over a sleeping body, knives in the air, and I swallowed a breath as I pressed one hand to the Herja woman’s mouth and dragged the blade over her throat. She kicked back and I leaned into her, trapping the shriek as she writhed beneath me. I waited for her to go still.

We disappeared behind the tree line and didn’t stop. We pushed toward Hylli, running with light feet over the tree roots and rocks that tangled in a maze on the forest floor.

As the first morning light shined through the trees, we could see them in the distance. Coming after us.