Kellyn offers his hand to me, and I don’t accept it.
Kymora may be directly responsible for injuring my sister, but Kellyn could have stopped it.
If he’d just listened. My sister is more important to me than my own life. He knew that. But he came after me instead.
I would feel guilty to accept his hand or any other comfort he tried to offer, knowing that Temra is hurt.
It isn’t long before I can’t stand not to be near my sister. I hate that Kymora is in the back with Temra. If I hadn’t broken the warlord’s knee, she could have walked alongside the horses.
I climb into the bed of the cart and position myself between Kymora and my unconscious sister.
It’s a week to the capital, and that’s exactly how long the healer expected Temra had to live.
We’re cutting it too close, but this is the only option I have.
With the last of my family on one side of me and the woman who murdered my parents on the other, I close my eyes, hoping this journey will be smoother than the last one.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Book number five is here, and I can barely believe it’s time to write another one of these.
As always, I like to start off by thanking the two amazing ladies who make what I do possible. Rachel and Holly: You guys are the best! Thank you for championing my novels. Thank you for continuing to believe in me and support me. Thank you for taking a chance on a feisty pirate named Alosa.
Thank you to everyone on the Macmillan team who works on my books! Special thanks to Brittany, Allegra, Jordin, Jacqueline, Starr, and Liz. And thanks so much, Sasha Vinogradova, for the beautiful cover art! I’m simply blown away by it. And thanks as well to Noverantale for the gorgeous map of Ghadra!
I appreciate everyone else who gave this book a read and offered feedback: Dillon West, Cale Dietrich, Charlie N. Holmberg, Haley Gibson, Bridget Howard, and Caitlin Lochner.
Special thank-you to Alisa for brainstorming with me when it was crunch time and I needed ideas fast for revisions. I’ve never come out of one of our sessions empty-handed.
Thank you to all of my family for your continued support, even those of you who won’t buy my books because they’re too racy.
Mom and Tara, thanks so much for answering my medical questions. I’m so glad I have you to call up when I need to brutally maim my characters.
Special shout-out to Caitlyn Hair and Mikki Helmer for taking the time to talk to me during my low points and provide encouragement and give feedback.
And last but certainly not least, thank you to all my readers. Your enthusiasm and support are what allow me to continue doing what I love. Thanks for reaching out on social media, saying hello at events, and sharing my books with your friends. It all means so much to me!
THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FEIWEL & FRIENDS BOOK.
THE FRIENDS WHO MADE
BLADE of SECRETS
POSSIBLE ARE:
JEAN FEIWEL, Publisher
LIZ SZABLA, Associate Publisher RICH DEAS, Senior Creative Director HOLLY WEST, Senior Editor ANNA ROBERTO, Senior Editor KAT BRZOZOWSKI, Senior Editor DAWN RYAN, Senior Managing Editor RAYMOND ERNESTO COLóN, Director of Production ERIN SIU, Associate Editor EMILY SETTLE, Associate Editor RACHEL DIEBEL, Assistant Editor FOYINSI ADEGBONMIRE, Editorial Assistant LIZ DRESNER, Associate Art Director STARR BAER, Associate Copy Chief
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK OR VISIT US ONLINE AT FIERCEREADS.COM.
OUR BOOKS ARE FRIENDS FOR LIFE.
ALSO BY TRICIA LEVENSELLER
Daughter of the Pirate King
Daughter of the Siren Queen
Warrior of the Wild
The Shadows Between Us
Blade of Secrets
Master of Iron
(coming in 2022)
PRAISE FOR TRICIA LEVENSELLER
“Blade of Secrets was an addictive page-turner. Loaded with action, betrayal, slow-burn romance—honestly, that is the best first kiss scene ever—I couldn’t put it down. I fell in love with Ziva, her sister, and their very ‘interesting’ companions. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and gasp.”
—MARY E. PEARSON, New York Times–bestelling author of The Remnant Chronicles, on Blade of Secrets “Exciting, romantic, and filled with magic, Blade of Secrets is a fast-paced journey through a fractured kingdom. Ziva is an amazing main character, with a gentle heart and a fierce need to do what’s right, even in the face of incredible odds. This is a book you’ll want to read right away—and then reach for that sequel.”
—JODI MEADOWS, New York Times–bestselling author of My Lady Jane and the Fallen Isles trilogy, on Blade of Secrets “Blade of Secrets is an impactful, eye-opening journey of social anxiety that is flawlessly blended with Levenseller’s signature flair for adventure and romance. It’s the best kind of story, inciting understanding and compassion while allowing the reader to escape reality.”
—Bookstagram sensation BRIDGET HOWARD, @darkfaerietales_, on Blade of Secrets
“My favorite kind of fantasy: dark, mesmerizing, and completely addictive. With a gripping mystery and layered characters, it’s a glittering tale of love and the pursuit of power. Put simply: it’s the Slytherin romance we’ve all been waiting for.”
—KERRI MANISCALCO, #1 New York Times– and USA Today–bestselling author of Stalking Jack the Ripper, on The Shadows Between Us “A decadent and wickedly addictive fantasy.”
—KENDARE BLAKE, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series, on The Shadows Between Us “A wickedly fun romp with corsets and jeweled daggers … The Shadows Between Us will heat up the page—and your heart.”
—EMILY R. KING, author of the Hundredth Queen series, on The Shadows Between Us
“The action! The world-building! The voice! This book kicks so much ass.”
—CALE DIETRICH, author of The Love Interest, on Warrior of the Wild
“Rasmira’s quest is thrilling, her emotional journey compelling; this adventure sings.”
—BOOKLIST on Warrior of the Wild
“This high-octane novel is filled with mythical creatures and showcases a heroine who wants to be a warrior, a woman, and a leader.”
—SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL on Warrior of the Wild
“[Levenseller’s] words will pull you in, and there’s no escaping them.”
—CHARLIE N. HOLMBERG, author of the Paper Magician Series, on Daughter of the Siren Queen “With a cunning plot, robust writing, and complicated characters, any reader will enjoy being manipulated in Levenseller’s capable hands.”
—ANNA BANKS, author of the New York Times bestseller Of Triton, on Daughter of the Pirate King “Levenseller makes an impressive debut with this funny, fast-paced, and romance-dashed nautical fantasy … This one’s not to be missed.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY on Daughter of the Pirate King, starred review
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tricia Levenseller, author of the Daughter of the Pirate King duology, Warrior of the Wild, and The Shadows Between Us, is from a small town in Oregon but now lives next to the Rocky Mountains in Utah with her bossy dog, Rosy. She received her degree in English language and editing, and she is thrilled that she never has to read a textbook again. When she’s not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing volleyball, and watching her favorite TV shows while eating extra-buttered popcorn. You can sign up for email updates here.