Eyrie:
Society of Feathers #2
Somewhere
between falling and flying...you will find the truth.
The
truth is being unveiled and Iris’ past is unlike anything she ever could have
guessed. For Stryx, finding your missing half doesn’t always mean finding your
mate. Iris has been missing a part of herself for so long that no one is sure
she will be able to put the pieces back together and her ever reliable dreams
may be forcing her astray. Coping with the death of someone she loved, she is
forced to face the truth and break free from the lies that have caged her.
Excerpt
Iris
lost herself in Falcon's arms, feeling the world drift away again as her lips
melted against his stronger, larger ones. The warmth spreading through her body
felt like electricity filling very part of her, pooling at the tips of her
fingers where she touched his shoulders then traced along his arms. The tension
that had worked its way up her back and through her own shoulders released as
his hand brushed lightly down the length of her spine, sending sparks through
every nerve.
"Please,"
she whispered softly, centimeters from his lips as they breathed in each
other's warm breath. She felt herself lean towards him, this time not holding back
as she moved his arm to her waist, making him wrap both arms around her fully.
His secure hold on her was the only thing keeping her upright.
"Anything,"
he whispered into her ear a few moments later after she had caught her
breath.
"Be
the one beside me when I enter the masquerade. Be the one by my side when I
change it all. I know I can do it on my own or with Nestor but...I don't want
to. I want you both
there
with me,” Iris said.
The
look on Falcon's face, the light in his eyes, showed her the joy he found in
her invitation. "I was waiting for you to ask. Waiting for you to want to
need me, even if you never will. It would be my pleasure, Izzy. I will always
be there for you. Nothing could pull me away." He didn't say the words but
they still hung silently between them, the knowledge that anyone who tried to
pull him away from her would die trying. She knew she should be afraid, but
somehow
he was the only person she knew she could trust, the only one her heart was
perfectly sure about, like a tether tied them together, connecting their
lives.
"I
do need you. Even if I don't, I still need you." She whispered and kissed
him harder, forgetting the world outside their doors, ready to explore the man
that the boy she had known had become. The man who felt like such a part of her
now that she had accepted him. She didn't know what she’d do if she ever lost
him. She had never felt a connection this powerful, this all
consuming.
"I
love you." He whispered, his eyes gazing into hers, their intensity only
pulling her
further
into the joy of just being close to him, just letting herself forget the world
she wanted so desperately to help, to change. "I want to do something for
you."
"What
is it?" Iris almost pulled back, not wanting to lose the moment between
them but instead she leaned the side of her face against his chest so that she
could hear his heart beating.
"I
want to show you what it’s like to run without hesitation, without taking away
the one part of running that makes it so magical̶the
freedom. I want to show you that freedom." He
bent
and traced his fingers along the back of her legs. They buckled but he lifted
her, taking it as an invitation.
She
smiled and leaned against his chest. This time he wasn't carrying her because
something was wrong. It was like when they were kids and he wanted to show her
he was strong enough to support her, that he could be that person who would
pick her up even if she hadn't fallen. He walked to the door and she turned the
doorknob for him. They found Autumn in the hallway.
"Wanna
go for a run?" Falcon asked Autumn, his voice a conspiratory
whisper.
"Sure!"
She said and smiled lightly when she realized what Falcon was planning.
"Every girl should get to feel the aves inside of her come
alive."
Iris
smiled feeling like she had her team. They were the people she needed and
wanted by her side. They were the ones who kept her human and kind, protecting
her at all costs. Nestor was upstairs with Nathaniel preparing for his duties
in their upcoming plans. The rest of her family was downstairs. As they jogged
by, they passed Jarem on the way, heading up to meet Diana. "We’re going
running, wanna come?" Falcon offered and Iris laughed.
"If
you invite everyone we may as well all go." Iris giggled and smiled
widely, looking forward to it, not caring who decided to come. Iris knew that
no matter how people surrounded her and Falcon, somehow they were always alone.
They were the only two people in on the secret. That was their unusual type of
love. It would only grow with time and trust as long as it was never
betrayed.
"Sure,
why not." Jarem said and smiled. He opened the door to Diana's room and
hollered, "We’re going running with Falcon, wanna come?"
"Absolutely!"
They heard Diana yell back. She joined them even though she was wearing a short
dress. Not bothering to change, she threw a pair of high-tops on with it.
As
they jogged through the house David joined them, leaving the fort to Neal,
Garah and Griffin so as not to disturb Nathaniel and Nestor. When they went out
the door, Diana led them to the back of the house, going through the garden to
a strange trail beyond it. "Is this the fairy trail?" Jarem asked.
When Diana nodded, he smiled and looked at Iris. "It's
perfect."
"Wooooo!"
Diana shouted, crying out like a hawk soaring through the sky. Jarem and even
Autumn joined in and Iris realized it was for her and Falcon, egging them on.
Falcon set her on her feet and knelt down the way he once had to offer her a
ride on his back. She blushed
feeling
like that same little girl for one beautiful moment, attaching herself to his
back and holding onto him tightly.
The
bird calls got louder and louder until Falcon got ready and whispered,
"You ready?"
"Yes."
She whispered next to his ear and then looked straight ahead realizing, she
really did need him. Falcon knew what she needed even before she did. As he
started running, she shifted her weight and realized, she fit so well against
his back, like they had been molded for just this moment, for him to give her
the freedom that her body robbed her of. Suddenly her grudges against her body
for being made the way it was disappeared as the wind whipped her hair away
from her face. She arched her back ever so slightly to get the full effect and
to keep her weight manageable for Falcon as he ran faster and faster. Her heart
felt like it was soaring for the very first time. There was nothing like it,
the faster he went the more amazing it felt. All she could feel was the earth
around her and the link to her aves.
She
couldn't help but giggle with glee as she watched Diana pass them, holding her
arms out at her sides like wings. The wind was pushing her arms behind her, and
her face was lifted toward the sunlight shining through the trees. Jarem sped
to catch up with her and they started to race each other, getting competitive
each time one of them would pass the other.
Autumn
was at Falcon’s side as she called out, "Oh come on, go for it. She'll
love it!"
"Faster!"
Iris squealed like a little kid, the sheer joy of movement giving her a rush
she had never felt before. As she leaned her face against Falcon's, she could
feel that he was smiling as he gained speed. He wrapped his arms behind her,
entwining his fingers at her back like he was stretching as his position formed
a brace for her. She leaned into it and as he went faster and faster. She
slowly let go of his shoulders and held her arms out at her sides like Diana.
The sun
beat
down on her face and arms. As she closed her eyes, she felt like she was
flying, really and truly flying.
Author Emma
Michaels
Emma
Michaels is a multi-talented bookish girl. Not only is she the designer of
beautiful covers, but she has many other accomplishments under her belt. She
started book blogging in 2009 and was first published in 2010 (The Thirteenth
Chime). She started The Writers Voice in 2011 as a way to help readers get to
know authors on another level.
She
moved to Washington at seventeen to be with the man that she loves, who asked
her what she secretly wanted to be when she grew up. Naturally, she told him
that she wanted to be an author, but at the time she thought "it was a
pipe dream." He encouraged her to pursue her dreams and taught her that
"sometimes reaching for the impossible can make a world of difference in
your life." Now she is published and reaching well beyond what most people
can imagine.
Book 1 is now 99 cents on
Kindle!
Add Book 3 to your Goodreads
list!
coming October 13, 2014
coming October 13, 2014
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