Ion looked up at his father, over at Oceanus, and then rounded back on the monstrously tall Illyrian standing before him. He remembered his mother, and Vinya, and how they’d both taught him so much. He remembered their smiles and their hugs and the love always so present in their voices. He was lucky to have them when he had them, and to know that they loved him and he loved them. He was lucky—he knew that now.
Ion gazed up at the moonless heavens and said, “I’m going to miss her.”
“We’re all going to miss her, Mr. Reaves,” said Othum. “Those who bring that much love to this world cannot be forgotten, and so will always be missed.”
Ion smiled. “She loved me like...like a second mom.”
Othum sighed and looked to Father with a face that was suddenly sad and disappointed all at the same time. Father nodded, and looked Ion straight in the eyes.
“Ion, my sweet, sweet boy,” he said. “There’s something I have to tell you.” Father took a deep breath. “Vinya did love you like a mother...because she was your mother.”
Acknowledgements
I most definitely have to thank my dear friends Chaquita, Sacha, Nichole, and Todd—all of whom served as muses at one point in my writing of this story. Without all of you, I would have never finished this book and mustered enough confidence to even get it published. A special thanks to Melissa Jackson, whose editor eye is unmatched, Danica Paige, who poured her heart and soul into the amazing cover art, my sister, Hollie, who has been nothing but a gleeful supporter since our reunion two years ago, and all of my friends and family who have been there from day one to love and support me.
About the Author
Nikolas Lee was born in Evansville, Indiana, moved with his family to Las Vegas, Nevada, when he was eleven, moved back to Indiana when he was fourteen, then moved back to Las Vegas when he was sixteen. No, neither he, nor his family are under the witness protection program. Though that would be much cooler than the real reason.
He currently resides in Santa Monica, California, where he’s usually watching anything with Tina Fey in it, or writing. He and Ion have been friends since he was eight years old, when Ion’s name was Thunder and Nikolas’s concept of proper comma usage was poor at best.
Author Note: I’m pleased to announce The Iron-Jawed Boy and the Hand of the Moon is slated for release in December! And as always, I encourage all my readers to review, review, review.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE