“Jordan?” he whispered, stepping around the wheel and mindful of the sparks.
She blinked and stumbled back a pace, her hand falling to her face in awe, the lightning nothing.
Nearly toe-to-toe with her, Rowen lifted his hand, reached out to touch her face and paused there, letting it hang in midair. Overhead lightning threw them both into stark contrast and his eyes traced the strange pattern still fresh and pink on her face. The scar. “You have—”
“—been kissed by lightning,” she said, looking away. “Much has changed since we last saw each other.”
The world went wild around them, guards pouring onto the deck to be greeted by friendly shouts and traders bearing gifts.
A little girl slid up beside Jordan, her hand grabbing a pleat of fabric at Jordan’s waist.
Lightning vaulted across the sky, but the black clouds softened, grayed, and a sad and somber mist pervaded Topside.
“Yes,” Rowen agreed, his voice going soft and low. “Much has changed.” His fingers brushed her cheek and she shrank back. “But not everything,” he said, “not everything,” he assured her, his eyes searching her face. “You are still the most beautiful girl I know.”
She looked down and closed her eyes. So much had changed. He read it in every move she made—and the multitude she dared not.
This was not the Jordan he’d allowed the Wardens and Wraiths to drag away on the night of her birthday.
This was a far different girl.
In the flicker of lightning flashes, Rowen saw before him a shadow of the girl he had known.
And loved.
A distant stranger who pulled back from his touch.
There was a squeal and a yip-yip and a blur of red-gold. A fox kit zipped past Rowen, tiny feet scrabbling, stomach hitting the floor as it turned too quickly and dove behind Jordan. Not far behind, Rowen heard the angry bellow of Cookie and the stomping of heavy feet as she shouted for her spit-dog.
Jordan jumped, spinning to look behind her for it, but as she turned it followed the train of her dress, and for a moment they both spun, Jordan laughing, and Rowen watching them play.
Jordan stopped suddenly and threw a hand out, catching Rowen’s arm to steady herself. His hands shot forward and he grabbed her shoulders, bracing her. She raised her eyes slowly and met his. His breath and hers intermingled, his gaze and hers locked. They stared at each other as the color drained from her cheeks again. She looked away.
“Where is that beast?” Cookie growled, barreling toward them.
Jordan peeled finger after finger off Rowen’s arm and straightened. A brief glance passed between them and she tipped up her chin and flipped her skirts out to cover the frightened little fox.
Rowen’s heart stuttered in its beating—for a moment catching sight of the old Jordan.
No, he corrected himself. Of the real Jordan.
Cookie roared past them, never seeing the very tip of the fox’s tail peeking out from beneath the hem of Jordan’s dress.
The second fox raced to join its sibling, moving so fast it bolted beneath Jordan’s skirt and knocked into her legs, sending her toppling into Rowen.
For a moment the world disappeared and she leaned against his chest, her ear resting by his heart.
Slowly, carefully, he reached out and wrapped her in his arms.
Jordan sighed.
And there she stayed in Rowen’s grasp.
ALSO BY SHANNON DELANY
THE 13 TO LIFE SERIES
13 to Life
Secrets and Shadows
Bargains and Betrayals
Destiny and Deception
Rivals and Retribution
THE WEATHER WITCH SERIES
Weather Witch
About the Author
SHANNON DELANY has written since she was a child. Previously a schoolteacher, she loves blending authentic history with dark fantasy in reimagined settings. The author of the popular 13 to Life series, Delany writes from Upstate New York and teaches the importance of research and inspiration while demystifying the publishing process. Find her online at www.shannondelany.com.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
STORMBRINGER. Copyright © 2013 by Shannon Delany. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover photographs: girl by Mark Owen/Arcangel Images; landscape and airship by Shutterstock.com
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Delany, Shannon.
Stormbringer: a Weather Witch novel / Shannon Delany. — First St. Martin’s Griffin edition.
pages cm.
ISBN 978-1-250-01865-6 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978-1-4668-4092-8 (e-book)
[1. Airships—Fiction. 2. Witches—Fiction. 3. Social classes—Fiction. 4. Fantasy.] I. Title.
PZ7.D3733Sto 2014
[Fic]—dc23 2013032018
e-ISBN 9781466840928
First Edition: January 2014
Shannon Delany, Stormbringer
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