A Sorrow Fierce and Falling (Kingdom on Fire, Book Three)

by Jessica Cluess

  I did not feel shy or self-conscious. Rather, I was utterly free.

  This was what the truth felt like.

  Magnus rose, his expression suffused with pure light. He took me in his arms, and there was nothing left but to kiss him.

  The instant our lips touched, I forgot the world. I had heard those old tales of princesses awakened from an enchanted slumber by a true love’s kiss, but I had been awake for so long. Now I needed something of which to dream.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you.” I tasted the sweetness of those words.

  “So.” Magnus raised an eyebrow. “You’re sure you wouldn’t rather have a prince or a duke for young Stephen’s stepfather?”

  “Oh, you mean I’d the choice? Well, in that case…” I laughed as he kissed me.

  “Hush. Or I’ll ride off again.”

  “I’d have to hunt you down, as you’re still on my land.”

  “Mmm, that sounds rather delicious.”

  Arm in arm, we strode back up the path until we found ourselves at the edge of the party. The girls tumbled over the grass with squeals of glee. Lilly and Dee had arrived and were seated upon a blanket with a plate of strawberries. They spoke with Fenswick, who had worn his best violet coat for the party. Aunt Agnes bounced Stephen on her knee and dangled a toy before him. He clutched at the puppet with forceful concentration. Maria and Fiona hung by the tables, speaking softly to one another. When Maria discovered Magnus and me standing side by side, she gave a sly wink.

  They were all waiting for us.

  “Shall we?” Magnus gave me his arm again. I felt a quick flare of fire under my skin, and the blue flame appeared and disappeared as quickly as breathing. My joy had been light and heat incarnate. Swiping ash from his sleeve, Magnus chuckled. “Suppose I’ll have to watch out for that from now on.”

  Our hands clasped. With the summer day blazing overhead, and the party waiting for us, we moved forward. Together.

  “Yes,” I said. “It will be quite an adventure.”

  To finish a book is one thing; to finish a series, another. It feels less like the end of a project and more like the completion of a chapter. Henrietta and her friends have been a large part of my life for half a decade, and now I’m leaving them behind. They changed the entire course of my life, as did the people who helped bring them to publication. Thankfully, I’m not saying goodbye to the people, but I would like to say thank you.

  Thank you to Chelsea Eberly, for fighting so hard for this series. From the first phone call, I knew you were the creative partner I needed to grow these characters and this world. The series wouldn’t be what it is without your guidance, and I’m forever grateful to you, as a colleague and a friend.

  Thank you to Brooks Sherman, for your savvy, your humor, your know-how, and your won’t-back-down-ness, which is not a word but should be. Henrietta and I landed in the safest of hands when you offered to be my agent.

  Thank you to the Random House team for welcoming and believing in me, and in this series. Special thanks to Barbara Marcus, Mallory Loehr, Michelle Nagler, Barbara Bakowski, Allison Judd, Hannah Black, Jenna Lisanti, Mallory Matney, and Ray Shappell. It’s been a perfect pleasure. I hope we can do it again.

  Thank you to my closest friends, Gretchen Schreiber and Josh Ropiequet and Brandie Coonis and Jack Sullivan and Alyssa Wong. You make every day a delight. The Rosenblums and the Forbes-Karols, thank you. Thank you to Alexa Donne and Alyssa Colman, for nights of Cobbler Club and more than a few drinks. Thank you to Adriana Mather, for coffee dates and brainstorm sessions. Thank you to Alwyn Hamilton, Stephanie Garber, Roshani Chokshi, S. Jae-Jones, Gwen Katz, Margaret Rogerson, Elly Blake, Erika Lewis, Kerry Kletter, Audrey Coulthurst, Arwen Elys Dayton, Kiersten White, Amie Kaufman, and Jay Kristoff. Being welcomed into a community of excellent writers is good. Being welcomed into a community of friends is even better.

  Thank you to Traci Chee, Tara Sim, and Emily Skrutskie. More than anyone, you three have been there for me for every wild DM session, every frantic question and nebulous fear. Traci, your generosity and genius know no bounds. Tara, you are a strong and fabulous writer and friend. Hello, Yuri. Emily, why Kung Fu Panda 2? What is wrong with you?

  Thank you to my family, for cheering for me and loving me.

  Thank you to all the teachers who have helped to shape and inspire me.

  Thank you to all the readers and teachers and librarians and bloggers who have supported this series. You are the reason to write.

  Wherever I go from here, this will always be the first step on the journey. As such, it’ll always be the most special. Thank you for coming along.

  JESSICA CLUESS is a writer, a graduate of Northwestern University, and an unapologetic nerd. After college, she moved to Los Angeles, where she served coffee to the rich and famous while working on her first novel, A Shadow Bright and Burning. When she’s not writing books, she’s an instructor at Writopia Lab, helping kids and teens tell their own stories. Visit her at jessicacluess.com and follow her on Twitter at @JessCluess.

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