Authors: Emily Wibberley
Clio felt her vision fading, her body waking. “Wait,” she called, not wanting to let Ashira go. “If you can See, could you give these Visions to another?”
“You mean a Vessel?” Ashira tilted her head to the side.
“I mean an Oracle.” The words came easily. It wouldn’t be like it was. Clio wouldn’t fear what she was Shown. She would make her own fate and live the life she had chosen. But if there was a way to help her people, she could choose that as well.
“You would want this? After fighting it for so long?”
“To be your Oracle. Yes, I would.” Clio stepped forward and knelt at Ashira’s feet. “I would be your Vessel among the mortal world. I would be your eyes, protect your people and act on whatever Visions you saw fit to bestow on me.”
Ashira took Clio’s hand, pulling her gaze upward as fire ignited between their palms.
She woke suddenly, her hand still burning. Riece lay wrapped around her, and Clio had to move his arm so she could sit up. She brought her hand up to the moonlight shining in through the opening in their tent. A small mark was nestled in the lines of her palm. It was a symbol Clio hadn’t seen before—something delicate and lithe yet balanced.
Ashira
.
“What is it?” Riece sat up in their bed, his hair tousled around his face.
She held up her palm as pressure built once more behind her eyes.
Men—raiders from outside the Empire—climbed through the ravine toward the growing light of Sheehan in the distance.
“Clio.” Riece’s voice was low. “Tell me that wasn’t what it looked like.”
She looked at him, a smile growing on her lips. “It was a Vision.”
“But that’s impossible—”
“Not from the Deities. From Ashira,” she said quickly. “She’s worshipped, Riece.”
Clio watched the realization settle in his features.
“I asked her to make me her Oracle.”
Riece stared at her, his expression unreadable. Until, suddenly, a smile broke across his face. He was laughing as he rose and took Clio in his arms. “I do love you,” he said with wonderment.
“So you’re not upset then? This means your Empress will be an Oracle.”
He held her tighter. “You know, I’ve always had a particular weakness for Oracles. Although”—he looked to the sky above them—“it would have been nice if Ashira could have saved her first Vision for
after
our wedding night. I take it you’ve seen some impending danger.”
Clio laughed. “I did. A threat outside Sheehan. But we needn’t leave before sunrise.”
He grinned, his expression darkening. “Well, Your Highness, in that case, I think we have much to do before sunrise.”
Clio kissed him in answer, wrapping her arms around him, around the promises they’d made one another. Around the future, seen and unseen.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The biggest thanks to my family. Obviously.
To Simone DeBlasio for daily encouragement, weekly therapy, endless brainstorming sessions and, above all, invaluable friendship.
To Colette Grubman. I could fill a book with everything you’ve done to help The Last Oracle series. In short, you are awesome and so very talented, and I can’t wait to watch what is sure to be your stellar career.
To Talina Roma for her lovely designs and her help with the Oracles Street Team. You never cease to impress me with all that you do, and I am so grateful that Clio and Riece could bring us together.
To Jessica Avelsgaard. For sending me that first note and being a phenomenal beta reader and all-around friend.
To my entire Oracles Street Team. You guys are amazing. Special thanks to Kimberly Vanderbloom and Elin Helmersson for all your support and enthusiasm.
And finally, to everyone who came along with me through all of Clio’s journeys. I wouldn’t be able to do this without you. Thank you for inspiring me every day.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emily Wibberley grew up in the South Bay where she spent her formative years battling zombies on her Xbox, watching
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
, and voraciously reading Jane Austen and books like
The Hunger Games
, where her love for feisty young heroines was born.
After graduating from Princeton University Magna Cum Laude in 2014, she began writing. Her debut novel,
Sacrificed
, was named a finalist in the Young Adult category of the 2015 International Book Awards, the Young Adult category of the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Awards, and in the Young Author category of the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Since its release,
Sacrificed
has spent over a year as a Kindle Top Ten Teen and Young Adult Bestseller.
When she isn’t reading the latest YA book, Emily enjoys watching kick-butt action movies with her two rescue German Shepherds, Hudson and Bishop, named after characters from James Cameron’s
Aliens
.
Visit Emily’s website at
www.emilywibberley.com
.
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