Sky Breaker (Night Spinner Duology) Addie Thorley (best english books to read for beginners .TXT) 📖

Ziva turns and, with a wave over her shoulder, a handful of Namagaans emerge from the trees pulling wagons piled with food and blankets and tarps and furs, as well as everything that was left behind in the barracks during our rush to recapture the herds.

The shepherds shriek and clap. A large majority break into heaving sobs, while the rest hug one another and Ziva and Serik. A few even embrace me, which is when I know the tide has well and truly shifted.

“How did you convince King Ihsan to give us these supplies after everything?” Serik gestures to the floodwater below and the scorched canopy above.

“I didn’t need to.” Ziva flips her curls away from her face. “While he was consoling his people, I commandeered several wagons that were loaded for the journey to Verdenet, which the Namagaans will no longer be needing, and made it clear to the people guarding them that they could either follow me or be obliterated by starfire.” She turns to the Namagaans now and shoos them away with a flick of her fingers. “You may go.”

“As for where to journey next …” Ziva continues. “Verdenet isn’t the only territory that needs freeing.” Her eyes meet mine over the carts, and a thoughtful grin climbs my cheeks. Once again, I was so focused on freeing Verdenet, I didn’t allow myself to consider other options—a different order of events.

“We go to Chotgor.” My voice rises with excitement. “If they’re unaware of the Sky King’s death, we can deliver the news, which will give them the strength they need to rise up in rebellion. If they’ve already heard, there’s no reason they shouldn’t join with us. We’ll be stronger against the Zemyans, united. And they needn’t fear reprisal from the imperial guards if the foundation of the empire is crumbling.”

The group explodes with chatter—whether it’s about our plan or the supplies, it’s hard to say. It doesn’t matter at this point. There’s a path forward. A clear way to navigate this disaster. And I know what I need to do to play my part in it. Something I should have agreed to from the beginning. A small way to show my commitment and, hopefully, begin to regain the shepherds’ trust.

“I’ll train you as we travel,” I tell Ziva. “We need every bit of strength the Lady and Father have given us. I was wrong to deny you before. Scared and doubtful and threatened, which is a shameful way to live.”

She blinks at me for a long moment. So long, I expect her to fling a retort back at me and insist she doesn’t need or want my help anymore. But then she bounds through the mud, throws her arms around my neck, and hugs me tightly.

After a few shocked breaths, I lightly pat her back, silently praising the Lady and Father for this miracle, and so many others.

“To Chotgor,” I say, looking to the filthy but smiling shepherds.

“To Chotgor!” they agree.

We leave at once, traipsing northward through the flooded marshlands with a surge of newfound energy. The shepherds pass out food and dry clothes with minimal bickering, and more than enough people volunteer to pull the heavy wagons. It’s amazing, what a little bit of hope can do.

“Can you believe this?” I ask Serik, who walks beside me. “I thought we were finished.”

I expect a proud, moon-eyed grin, but he shrugs and drags the toes of his boots through the mud.

I reach for his arm. “What’s wrong? Everything’s coming together. It’s nothing short of miraculous.”

He looks at my hand instead of my face. “Chotgor is so far north, and so cold. Even colder than Ashkar. And I’m already exhausted. It will be miraculous if we don’t freeze to death.”

The strain in his voice makes my heart squeeze. Our new plan may have lifted the weight from the rest of our shoulders, but it’s settled squarely on Serik’s. He’s been so strong and unflappable since we left Sagaan—the steady hands reaching down to lift me and the shepherds out of every pothole.

It’s about time someone eased his burden.

“Keep going. We’ll catch up in a minute,” I tell Ziva. Then I lace my fingers through Serik’s and guide him into the forest. Out of sight of Ziva and the shepherds, where the air is thicker and bullfrogs welcome us with throaty croaks.

“Where are we going? We should stay with the group.” He tries to turn back, but I tighten my fingers on his sunburst cloak, drag him around an enormous tree, and tug him closer. So the entire length of our bodies touch—arms, legs, and chests fitted together as if chiseled from the same mold. “What are you doing?” he whispers, hazel eyes wide.

“Thanking you. For refusing to back down and never giving up on me. For standing beside me when no one else would. For believing me, even though I gave you every reason not to. You’re the strongest, bravest, most loyal person I know, and I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I thank the Lady and Father every day for their kindness. I figured it was about time I thanked you, too.” I lean up on my toes, eyes locked with his, and gently tilt forward until our lips touch.

His mouth is warm and soft, and tingles explode in my stomach. It shouldn’t be possible for such a small touch to make my body flare with heat, but I am burning, blazing, bubbling with need … until I realize Serik isn’t kissing me back.

I pull away, cheeks flaming. “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have—”

He reaches out and takes my face in his hands, his thumb trailing over my scars. “Yes, you most definitely should have. I should have been ready, considering I’ve spent half my life imagining this moment.”

“Only half?” I say with a breathy laugh.

Then his lips are on mine and his hands are in my hair, and even though our clothes are