black tiger (Black Tiger Series Book 1)

by Sara Baysinger

  “Did you know there’s a bridge?” The words slip from my lips before I have time to really organize my thoughts. But I look at Dad and decide to finish. “A bridge that crosses out of Ky territory?”

  Dad nods.

  “Do you—” My breath hitches. “Do you want to…cross it?”

  Dad blinks. “Do you?”

  “Maybe. I haven’t thought about it much, but I think we should leave. Just get out of here. I mean, Titus knows I’m his sister. He’s never going to let up. He’s always going to be suspicious of me.” I swallow hard and look back at the blue paint smeared across the canvas. “I think I just want to get out of this place.” I don’t bother telling him my thoughts on recruiting any possible survivors from across the river.

  Dad frowns. He crosses his ankle over his knee and drags his hand across the back of his neck and looks at the floor. “Let’s wait until things cool down a bit. Let’s wait for Forest to leave, because as much as you trust him, I don’t.”

  My heart sinks, but I nod. Dad hates politicians. Of course it would take him longer than an evening to warm up to Forest.

  “Let’s wait,” he continues, looking at me now. “Until Titus believes you’re not a threat and not watching your every move, and then we’ll leave Ky.”

  His words lift every last grain of apprehension off my shoulders and a my heart skips with the thrill of leaving. I’m so ready to get out of Ky. And, even though I knew Dad would be on board, to hear him say it out loud makes all the difference.

  “Promise?” I ask, just to be sure.

  “I lost your mother to the chief. I almost lost you, too. I don’t want to take that risk again. When the chief least expects it, we’ll hightail the hell outta here.” He holds my gaze, his features serious, but his eyes filled with so much hope. “You have my word.”

  END OF BOOK ONE

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  First of all, can I just say thank YOU a million times for reading this book? Thank you for taking a break from life and choosing my book as an escape. I hope you enjoyed reading Black Tiger as much as I enjoyed writing it. And even if you didn’t love it, I hope it still left you better off for having read it.

  I thank God for placing the passion for story in my heart and giving me the courage to pursue my dreams. I started writing when I was in a dark place, and this newfound obsession completely flipped my life. Thanks, God!

  Michael. My love. My hero. My other half. Thank you for believing in me.

  Digory and Aravis: Thank you for having patience with Mama while she had conversations with the people in her head, and for patiently enduring the constant clickety-clack of typing while you were nursing on her lap. Good babies, both of you.

  Loads of love to my parents for their continuous encouragement and support. Becki and Luke: Thanks for being my very first readers EVER…and still cheering me on. Nicole: Thanks for asking questions about Black Tiger that have forced me to write it into a better story.

  To Ron, Donna, Jim, and Ashley, thank you for spending time with the littles so I could regain my sanity. Kathy, I love all the writerly gifts you sprinkle me with. They make me feel almost official. Katie and Kristen, thank you for fan-girling with me over all our favorite books.

  Davy, thanks for helping me organize all my scattered thoughts on the cover into one solid idea. You’re welcome to build a tiny house on our land any time.

  Emily, thanks for being generous with your time and meeting with me to get author pictures done so I didn’t have to resort to selfies.

  And now for the three Sarahs who have majorly impacted this story...

  To Sarah Grimm, my wonderful editor and friend and one of the first people who made me really believe this book was worth publishing: Thanks for reading multiple versions of Black Tiger and making it ten times better. Every. Time.

  To Sarah Monzon, my inspiration and publishing mentor: Thank you for your continued interest in Black Tiger…even two years after you read the crappy first draft. But most of all, thanks for challenging me to think about going indie. And for answering my dozens and dozens of questions about the publishing world.

  To Sarah S., thanks for being a reader, a fellow writer, and a friend. You were there on my bad days and my good days, listening to my woes and rejoicing through my small victories. I still can’t believe how God brought us together under such random circumstance, but I’m so glad He did.

  Lara Willard, you offered to do a simple beta read for the very first draft of Black Tiger, and instead did a full content edit, helping me transform this story into something so much better. Thank you for being generous with your time and skill. You’re going to go far, my friend.

  Andy, Tracy, Elijah, Jonah, Ember, and Judah: thank you for letting me use your awesome names. And also for staying up late at night reading this book and begging for more. You’re an amazing family!

  Levi, Isaac, Katie, and Ashley, thank you also for letting me use your names for the Fearless Five. Katie and Ashley—thanks for reading my books and getting your friends to read them.

  To all my wonderful beta readers and friends who eased the writing journey with encouragement, gifts, chocolate, coffee, and wine: Thank you. My stories would have never made it this far without you. You’re seriously amazing.

  And if you made it this far, thanks again to YOU! A writer can’t be an author without readers.

  Black Tiger Playlist

  1. The Sower’s Song by Andrew Peterson. This song matches the mood at the beginning in the Garden.

  2. Radioactive by Imagine Dragons. Basically the Black Tiger theme song.

  3. Jaded by Bleach. When everything basically goes to hell after Career Day.

  4. Sail by AWOLNATION. This song was on repeat while writing the prison escape scene.

  5. Aftermath by Fever Fever. Beginning of Part II

  6. Riptide by Vance Joy. When Ember learns the truth about the Patricians.

  7. Demons by Imagine Dragons. Pretty much every scene with Rain.

  8. 3 Rounds and a Sound by Blind Pilot. Rooftop scene with Forest.

  9. Land of the Living by Gungor. The church scene.

  10. Swing Low Sweet Chariot by Brady Toops. I listened to this song on repeat while writing the Rebels Circle scene.

  11. Casualties by American Aquarium. Last two chapters.

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed reading Black Tiger as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you want to read more about Ember and Rain and Forest and what happens to Ky, stay tuned for Book Two, Ashen City, coming soon. You can visit my website at https://sarabaysinger.com or follow me on social media (@sarambaysinger) for future updates on The Black Tiger Series.

  Also, I LOVE hearing from my readers, so if you want to connect, you can find me at any of the links listed below.

  Website: https://sarabaysinger.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarabaysingerauthor

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarambaysinger

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarambaysinger/

  https://www.instagram.com/readingontheburrow/

  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sarambaysinger/