Through the Ever Night (33 page)

Authors: Veronica Rossi

BOOK: Through the Ever Night

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Perry’s hand settled on her hip, his grip firm. She felt their kiss shift into something deeper as his mouth moved with more urgency over hers. Suddenly there was real heat between them, and she had to force herself to draw away.

When she did, a soft curse slipped through Perry’s lips. His eyes were half-lidded, unfocused. He looked as overcome as she felt.

Aria leaned by his ear. “We’ll pick that up when we’re alone.”

He laughed. “That better be soon.” He took her face in his hands and drew her close so their foreheads touched. Aria’s hair fell forward, making a wall, a space that was just theirs. That close, all she could see were his eyes. They were glossy, shining like coins beneath water.

“You broke me in half when you left,” he whispered.

She knew she had. She’d known then, when she’d done it. “I was trying to protect you.”

“I know.” He exhaled, his breath soft on her face. “I know you were.” He ran the back of his fingers over her cheek. “I want to tell you something.” He smiled, but the look in his eyes was mellow and tempting.

“You do?”

He nodded. “I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while. But I’m going to wait until later. When we’re alone.”

Aria laughed. “That better be soon.” She lay back against his chest and couldn’t remember feeling any safer than she did then.

Outside, the hills blurred past. She was surprised by how far they’d gone. They’d reach the Tides soon.

“I swear that almost made me sick,” Soren muttered.

Aria remembered their last hurried exchange through the Smarteye.

“What?” Soren said, scowling at her. “Why are you looking at me that way?”

“You said you knew where the Still Blue was.” Their connection had been cut off, just before he could tell her.

Soren grinned. “That’s right, I do. I saw everything Sable and my father talked about. But I’m not saying a word in front of the Savage.”

Perry’s arms tensed around her. “Call me that again, Dweller, and it’ll be the last thing you ever say.” He shifted his back, relaxing again. “And you don’t need to tell me anything. I know where it is.”

Aria looked up at Perry. She moved too quickly, and pain shot down her arm. She bit the inside of her lip, waiting for it to subside. “You know where the Still Blue is?”

He nodded. “That fleet was moving dead west. There’s only one thing in that direction.”

The realization struck her before he’d finished speaking. “It’s at sea,” she said.

Perry made a low sound of agreement. “I was never closer to it than when I was home.”

Soren’s mouth twisted in disappointment. “Well, you don’t know everything.”

Aria shook her head, in no mood for Soren’s games. “Just say it, Soren. What did you find out?”

Soren’s lip curled like he was ready to say something snide, but then his expression relaxed. When he replied, his voice was even, and lacked its usual bitterness. “Sable says he has to go through a solid wall of Aether before he reaches open sky.” He made a dismissive sound, low in his throat. “He says he can do it, but it’s a lie. No ship can do that.”

No ship could, Aria thought, but there was another way. She spoke at the same time Perry did.

“Cinder.”

43
PEREGRINE

T
he Hover passed the Tide compound and glided north along the coast. Soren had to take them over the open ocean to reach the protected cove outside the cave, the bluff too steep for the craft to negotiate. Perry noticed that the ride was rougher over water. As Aria dozed in his arms, he looked across to the horizon and felt a surge of hope. They didn’t have Cinder, or the might that Hess and Sable would have together, but the Still Blue was somewhere at sea, and no one knew the sea like the Tides did. The ocean was their territory.

Talon and Clara woke as the Hover put down on the beach. Perry had an explanation ready as to why they’d needed to leave the compound, but seeing the huge smiles on their faces, he decided he’d explain later.

“Tell me I didn’t just land in front of a cave,” Soren said.

Aria stirred in Perry’s arms. Slowly she unfolded her legs and rose from his lap. “We can get rid of him any time.”

“I wish you weren’t joking,” Perry said. He already missed the feeling of her weight against him.

Soren pushed the steering console away and stood. “That’s some kind of gratitude for saving your lives. You’re both welcome, by the way.”

Aria smiled. She held her hand out to help Perry up, her injured arm tucked against her side. “Who said I was joking?”

Perry rose and followed her into the main cabin, ignoring the gasps of the Dwellers huddled there. Resting his hand on Talon’s shoulder, he stood beside Aria as she pressed a control by the door. The hatch opened with a rush of air that carried the sound of the waves, lowering to the sand.

In the morning light, he saw the Tides stream out of the cave, filling in along the beach. They gaped at the ship, caught between disbelief and panic. Behind him, dozens of Dwellers stared at the world outside, their fear palpable, strong enough to scent even with his smoke-blunted nose.

Perry spotted Marron and Reef. Bear and Molly. His gaze moved past the brothers—Hyde, Hayden, and Strag. Past Willow and Brooke. In search of Roar and Twig. Regret hit him as he realized that neither of them was there. He had to find them—and Cinder—but first he and Aria had to settle the Dwellers into their temporary home.

Flea trotted to the bottom of the ramp, whining at the sight of Talon and wagging his tail. Wagging his entire body. Talon looked up, his green eyes shining with eagerness. “Can I go?”

“Sure,” Perry said, and watched him run down the ramp with Clara.

Talon didn’t get far before Flea jumped on him, knocking him to the sand. Clara shot past them and jumped into Brooke’s arms. The tribe rushed forward, surrounding them, until Perry lost sight of them both.

He looked at Aria beside him. There were still so many problems to solve, but they had brought Talon and Clara home, and rescued who they could from Reverie. It was a good beginning.

They would need to form a new tribe now, and find the Still Blue.

Perry held out his hand, remembering his approach to the Tides with her weeks ago. Their awkward silence and the distance they’d put between them. They’d taken their greatest strength and hidden it like a weakness.

“Should we try this again?” he asked.

Aria smiled. “The right way,” she said, and wove her fingers through his. “Together.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First and foremost, thank you, Barbara Lalicki, for your support and guidance through the creation of this book. You steered me right many times with encouragement and sage advice. I am so fortunate to have an editor with the soul and talent of an artist. Thank you.

Andrew Harwell provided additional editorial input and helped in countless other ways. Andrew, you do it all with such a fantastic attitude. It is truly a pleasure to work with you. To Karen Sherman, my copyeditor: Thank you for your insight and thoroughness. You make me look good, and I would be nowhere without you. My gratitude also goes to the marketing, design, and sales folks at HarperCollins. There’s so much work behind the scenes. I appreciate your efforts very much.

Thank you to my ninja agents, Josh and Tracey Adams, for handling the business side so I can focus on the fun—I mean
creative
—side of things. You are wonderful. Thanks also to Stephen Moore for running the show in Los Angeles.

Lorin Oberweger, Eric Elfman, Lia Keyes, and Jackie Garlick were always available to brainstorm, read, or critique or just support me as I wrote
Through the Ever Night
. You are all invaluable to me.

The YA Muses—my home team of Katy Longshore, Talia Vance, Bret Ballou, and Donna Cooner—this wouldn’t be half as fun without you. Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me. YAH-Muses!

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a writer is belonging to the writing community. Thank you, Apocalypsies, for bringing me great friendships and much support during my debut year. A few years ago, the SCBWI opened a door for me. In particular, thanks to Kim Turrisi. I aspire to be like you by someday opening a few doors for others, too.

My family is my greatest treasure. My parents, in-laws, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews … I could write another book or two or ten telling you how much I love you. Thank you for believing in me. To Michael, Luca, and Rocky: You are the point of everything.

Last, but certainly not least, to the bloggers and readers out there—to
you
—thank you for sharing your time with Perry and Aria. Many of you have reached out to me and touched me deeply with your support and enthusiasm. Thank you.

Now, are you ready? It’s time to head Into the Still Blue....

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

VERONICA ROSSI graduated from UCLA and studied fine art at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. She began writing fiction for teens and received first-place awards in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and SouthWest Writers annual contests before completing UNDER THE NEVER SKY, the first book in her Under the Never Sky trilogy. It’s since been embraced by publishers in more than twenty-six countries worldwide and optioned for film by Warner Bros. Veronica lives in northern California with her husband and two sons. You can visit her online at www.veronicarossi.com.

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CREDITS

Cover design by Michelle Taormina

COPYRIGHT

Through the Ever Night

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-0-06-207206-1 (trade bdg.)

ISBN 978-0-06-224710-0 (int. ed.)

Version 02012013

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First Edition