“Behold your queen,” King Lorcan sneered, gesturing toward the bird. The swan stretched her wings, preparing to take off, but his mother sent a tendril of darkness around the swan’s neck, holding the end of it, almost like a leash, keeping her from flying away.
“Do you see how merciful I am? Allowing her to live, when she showed no such mercy to my father.”
Ceren didn’t even realize she was still throwing herself against the wall, trying to break through somehow, until Quinlen grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“There’s nothing we can do anymore. Not right now,” he murmured to her, holding her in place despite her struggles to break free of his grip. She knew he was right. Even the Light Sentries and priestesses had stopped, standing motionless, waiting.
“And now, watch as I take what she should have given me freely, had she truly cared about peace, as she claimed.” Lorcan gestured to his mother, who sent more tendrils of darkness to hold the swan in place.
And then Lorcan took his night-sword, made of shadows and darkness, and cut the conduit stone out of the swan’s breast, staining her white feathers crimson with blood as the diamond fell to the ground. The swan screeched in agony, trying to escape her terrible fate, yet unable to do anything but continue her haunting trumpet of pain and despair. Queen Abarrane’s dark tendrils tightened even further, refusing to allow the swan to move.
Lorcan bent over and picked up the bloody diamond and held it aloft, his face lit with triumph. “I kept my vow—your queen still lives, and I will maintain the peace. As ruler of both kingdoms.”
“Kneel before my son—the High King of Dorjhalon and Éadrolan!” Queen Abarrane called out.
When only a few Dark Draíolon followed her command, she sent a blast of darkness out at the crowd, causing the younglings to scream again.
Slowly at first, but then faster and faster, the Draíolon—both Light and Dark—dropped to their knees, staring up at the High King of all Lachalonia.
But Ceren didn’t look at Lorcan as she was forced to her knees. Instead, she stared at the beautiful swan, still regal and lovely, despite her dark bindings and the bloody hole in her breast.
“This isn’t the end,” Quinlen murmured beside her. “Somehow, we’ll get her back. No matter what it takes.”
“No matter what,” Ceren echoed as she looked at what was left of her dearest friend, her kingdom’s greatest hope, and wept.
THIS BOOK HAD A RATHER INTERESTING ROAD, STARTING YEARS ago when I was playing the suite from Swan Lake, by Tchaikovsky, on the piano, and realized I really wanted to figure out how to do a retelling of some sort. I’ve always loved this ballet and this music, but when I tried to come up with an idea of how to turn it into a story that felt like my own, nothing clicked. I tried three times over the years, but ultimately kept abandoning the partially completed projects because they weren’t quite right. Until, finally, in the summer of 2015, Eric C. said the right thing at the right time, and voilà! Inspiration struck and Dark Breaks the Dawn finally had the right world, the right characters, and the right plotline to come together at last. So my first thank-you is to him, though he may not even realize what a huge impact his comment had.
Thank you always to my incredible agent, Josh Adams, and the whole team at Adams Lit—especially Tracey and Sam—for always being there for me and for not only believing in my work, but making my dreams a reality. That’s some pretty good lemonade with fresh mint!
And of course, so much gratitude to the incomparable Lisa Sandell, editor extraordinaire and dear friend. I’m so grateful we get to work together on another project! And the entire team at Scholastic—you are amazing. I love whenever I get to see you all because it truly is a family, and one I am profoundly grateful to be a part of. Thanks especially to my publicist, Brooke Shearouse, for all her hard work on my behalf. Also a huge debt of gratitude to Elizabeth Parisi for creating the most stunningly beautiful, perfect cover for this book—I may have cried happy tears when I saw it for the first time. And to everyone in marketing, publicity, sales, design, production, copyediting, and all the many departments and jobs that go into creating a book and then sending it out into the world—THANK YOU!
Thank you to Kathryn Purdie for always being there for me, no matter what, rain or shine. I don’t know how I’d get through this crazy life without you.
Thank you to Lynne Matson for reading an early sample of this story, and for all your enthusiasm for it—that meant the world to me during a time when I desperately needed it! And thank you to Anne Blankman for reading the early sample AND the finished manuscript, both on short notice. Your feedback is always spot-on! I’m so glad to have such a wonderful agency sister!
Thank you, as always, to my sister Elisse, who is always willing to read for me, and who always helps me figure out how to extract myself from the holes I dig myself into—with my writing, of course. I’d never dig myself a hole in real life (HA!). And thank you to Kerstin for your unflagging support and excitement, and for the occasional DDP or Dole Whip drink. You are so generous and giving, I’m blessed to have you in my life! And thank you to Lauren for always crushing on the boys I write about and for your support as well! I love your reactions to my books. And to Kaitlyn, for being so proud of me and never hesitating to tell me. I truly appreciate it.
A special thank you to Sarah Maas, for being so excited (just from a tweet!) about this book, and for not only wanting to read it, but for your timely and spot-on suggestions, and all your support and friendship in many ways. It means the world to me!
I have met so many incredible people throughout my career (am I allowed to call it that yet?) and would be remiss not to mention those who may not have impacted this book specifically, but have been there for me in so many ways in the last couple of years—talking me off ledges and away from cliffs, commiserating with me, celebrating with me, talking and emailing and chatting and all forms of communicating with me … the list could go on and on. Erin Bowman, Susan Dennard, Alex Bracken, Jen Nielsen, James Dashner, Jeff Savage, Jennifer Jenkins, Frank Cole, Ilima Todd, Emily R. King, Erin Summerill, Rosalyn Eves, Ann Cannon, Ally Condie, Martha Brockenbrough, Amy Finnegan, Natalie Whipple, Jennifer Niven, Amie Cousins, Jay Kristoff, and many more. I know I’m probably forgetting some important people, but please know I appreciate you ALL for your friendship, support, and kindnesses to me.
Thank you to the many bloggers, librarians, booksellers, and teachers (especially Jenn Kelly—the world needs more teachers like you!) who have done so much to help spread the word about my books. I wouldn’t be here without you all, and for that I am forever grateful! A special thank you to Whitney, Margaret, and everyone at The King’s English for all your support and enthusiasm for my books. I might be biased, but I think The King’s English is one of the best independent bookstores in the world.
As always, my books would never come to fruition without amazing music to help inspire me. Thank you to the musicians whose art makes it possible for me to create mine. For this book, that especially includes Jaymes Young, OneRepublic, Craig Armstrong, John Paesano, Bear McCreary, Rachel Portman, Jason Walker, Beth Crowley, Mychael and Jeff Danna, and many more.
Thank you to my in-laws, Robert and Marilyn, for always being willing to help out and for your support. And thank you to Brenda and Ray, as well!
To my parents … I did most of my edits on this book in a hospital room, praying that my dad was going to survive after a twenty-five-foot fall, and then watching and helping him to recover when he did survive. I also witnessed my mom shouldering burdens that would have crushed any normal person, and doing it with grace and strength. You taught me to work hard and dream big, and I have to thank you for those lessons, both in word and in deed now as I watch you endure this trial together. Just think—by the time you read this in my published book, it will all be behind us!
To my sweet children—I love you more than words can express. As wonderful as this whole “being published” thing is, nothing compares t
o the best “job” in the world: being your mommy. I adore you four with all my heart.
To Trav, the one who I am blessed to be Bound to forever. I would never have come this far without you. Thank you for EVERYTHING. If I ever succeed at writing beautiful love stories in any of my books, it’s only because I’m living one every day with you. (So cheesy, but true!)
And finally, to the readers. Thank you for continuing to go on this wonderful journey with me. Your excitement and passion for my books and stories is what make it all worth it. Thank you, all!
SARA B. LARSON is the author of the acclaimed young-adult-fantasy Defy trilogy: Defy, Ignite, and Endure. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t write books—although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband, their children, and her puppy, Loki. She writes in brief snippets throughout the day and the quiet hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in “the art of multitasking.” When she’s not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting of her sugar addiction. You can visit her at www.SaraBLarson.com.
ALSO BY SARA B. LARSON
The Defy Trilogy
Defy
Ignite
Endure
Don’t miss Bright Burns the Night, Sara B. Larson’s stunning sequel to Dark Breaks the Dawn!
Copyright © 2017 Sara B. Larson
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC, SCHOLASTIC PRESS, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Larson, Sara B., author.
Title: Dark breaks the dawn / Sara B. Larson.
Description: First edition. | New York : Scholastic Press, 2017. | Series: Dark breaks the dawn ; book 1 | Summary: It is her eighteenth birthday, and Princess Evelayn of Éadrolan, the Light Kingdom has finally come into her full magical powers, which include shapeshifting, but she still has to be trained, and with her mother, the queen, away fighting the war with the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, she must rely on two dark Draíolons, Lord Tanvir and Kelwyn, to prepare her—and with the corrupt King Bain plotting an attack she will need her powers much sooner than anyone foresaw.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016031955 | ISBN 9781338068696
Subjects: LCSH: Magic—Juvenile fiction. | Shapeshifting—Juvenile fiction. | Princesses—Juvenile fiction. | Nobility—Juvenile fiction. | Light and darkness—Juvenile fiction. | CYAC: Magic—Fiction. | Shapeshifting—Fiction. | Princesses—Fiction. | Nobility—Fiction. | Light and darkness—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.L323953 Dar 2017 | DDC 813.6 [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016031955
First edition, June 2017
Book design by Abby Dening
Map art © 2017 by Tim Paul
Cover art © 2017 by Chris Gibbs
Cover design by Elizabeth B. Parisi
Author photo by Erin Summerill Photography
e-ISBN 978-1-338-06876-4
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., Attention: Permissions Department, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.
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