Breaking Sky

  Phoenix darted above them in his flirting way.

  Chase throttled forward.

  The speed reached for her, connecting everything into one stretch of earth. One humanity. One wild pulse.

  “Ah, Nyx,” Starling started, “where are we going so fast?”

  “Everywhere,” she said through the mach rush.

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  Acknowledgments

  First and foremost, I thank my grandfather, father, and brother for their inspiring service in the U.S. Air Force. Their dedication and skill have left me honored to say that I come from a military family.

  Many loving thanks to everyone at the Writing for Children & Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Additionally, I offer thanks and call signs to the following flyboy friends and family who gave their enthusiasm to this story:

  Kelly “Steam Queen” Barson

  Nick “Awesome Neighbor” Borders

  Winifred “Marathon” Conkling

  Mary “Mermaid” Cronin

  Anna “Princess” Drury

  Tina “Steve” Elliget

  Conor “Stinker” McCarthy

  Evan “Beager” McCarthy

  Mark “Poppy” McCarthy

  Joan “Dynamite” McCarthy

  Tara “Bat Mama” Nickerson

  Christian “Scholar Hot” Peterson

  Maverick “Winnie Pooh” Peterson

  Tirzah “Mac” Price

  and

  Trent “Frost” Reedy

  This book would not have been possible without my ever-supporting literary agent, Sarah “Wingbuilder” Davies, and my keen-eyed editor, Aubrey “Sherlock” Poole. A special thank-you to Leah Hultenschmidt for inviting me into the Sourcebooks family.

  My fascination with the military sustained me during my toughest school years, and this story came straight from that struggle for direction. For that reason, an André the Giant–sized thank-you goes to Alissa (McFerren) Arnold for sleepovers, inside jokes, and innumerable viewings of Top Gun. Also, a blushing thank-you to the real Tristan, whose name proved too perfect to fictionalize.

  I would not be a writer without the love, respect, and support of my parents, family, and friends. And most importantly (*!), I would not have had the courage for this story without the guidance of my RIO, Amy Rose “Aurora” Capetta.

  Aim high. Fly, fight, win.

  Love & cheers,

  Cori “Sparks” McCarthy

  About the Author

  Cori McCarthy was born in Guam, a military brat. She studied poetry and screenwriting before earning an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Kirkus called her debut YA novel, The Color of Rain, “[an] elegantly written and emotionally cathartic page-turner.” Cori aspires to fly in a fighter, but until then, she sticks with roller coasters and skydiving. Find out more at www.CoriMcCarthy.com.