“I have to admit I’m curious to see the Hidden City,” Airlie said. “It would be hard not to be. But I don’t want to put Cadence—or anyone—in danger.” She looked at Evermund with a question in her eyes.
“I agree with Gia, which is why I consented to go,” he said. “We can’t pass up the opportunity. I just want everyone on their guard.” He hesitated. “As long as you don’t mind leaving so soon, Airlie. We have to depart in the morning if we’re going to make it in time, and you’ve just been through an extended ordeal.”
I looked at Airlie, concern filling me. She’d been telling me about how she wanted to stay put for a while. I should have thought of her straight away.
But the smile on her face was genuine enough to put my fears to rest.
“I always wanted to travel, so I’m not going to say no to this, regardless of the timing. With Gia and Nik along, they can hardly decide to keep us prisoner—which I’m sure is why Zeke thought to relieve our minds by including them. I’m inclined to view this as an exciting opportunity. Especially since it means Cadence can follow Zeke, and the two of us can also stay together.” Her eyes dipped down, away from Evermund. “We can all stay together. That’s what I care about the most.”
I hurried over to put an arm around her shoulders. “Maybe we can even work out my ability while we’re with the nomads.” I looked around the others. “Surely if we all work together, we can figure it out.”
“And once we do,” Airlie said, “we convince the nomads to join forces with the Tartorans, and we take down the General.”
I looked at her with raised eyebrows. “I thought you wanted us all to stay safe?”
A determined look came over her face. “I do. You asked me what I want, and this is it. I want all my friends and family to be safe. So first we grow strong, then we gain allies, and then we take him down. We might not be able to retake Calista, but we can save the remaining Calistans.” She met my eyes. “Will you help me?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
She looked around at the others, her gaze finishing on Evermund. She tilted her chin defiantly. “Does anyone else have anything to say?”
“Just that it sounds like an excellent plan,” he said mildly. “Count me in.”
“And us, of course,” Gia said. “Because what else are friends for? Besides, it sounds like fun.”
Note from the Author
Find out what happens in the nomad lands in book three, Thorns of Hope and Betrayal.
Or for more fantasy, romance, adventure, and intrigue, try my completed Spoken Mage series—where a world of written magic is upended by the first spoken mage—starting with Voice of Power.
To be informed of future releases, as well as A Mage’s Influence bonus shorts, please sign up to my mailing list at www.melaniecellier.com.
And if you enjoyed Vines of Promise and Deceit, please spread the word and help other readers find it! You could start by leaving a review on Amazon (or Goodreads or Facebook or any other social media site). Your review would be very much appreciated and would make a big difference!
Acknowledgments
Writing this book proved more challenging than I anticipated, so I am full of thanks for my team who enabled it to be published as scheduled despite my being my own biggest impediment.
I am constantly full of wonder that I’m so fortunate as to have such a fantastic group of loyal friends as my beta readers. Rachel, Greg, Katie, Priya, and Ber, I hope you know how appreciated you are!
And I would be completely lost without my awesome editors who support me through both the ups and downs of the publishing journey—Mary, Deborah, and Dad, you guys are the best.
Thank you to Karri for the beautiful cover and Rebecca for the map which now has pride of place on my office wall.
To my amazing husband, thank you. To my patient, sweet children—I’ve now finished and we can have all the snuggles you want!
And thank You, God, for everything, always.
About the Author
Melanie Cellier grew up on a staple diet of books, books and more books. And although she got older, she never stopped loving children’s and young adult novels.
She always wanted to write one herself, but it took three careers and three different continents before she actually managed it.
She now feels incredibly fortunate to spend her time writing from her home in Adelaide, Australia where she keeps an eye out for koalas in her backyard. Her staple diet hasn’t changed much, although she’s added choc mint Rooibos tea and Chicken Crimpies to the list.
She writes young adult fantasy including books in her Spoken Mage world and her various Four Kingdoms series that are made up of linked stand-alone stories that retell classic fairy tales.
Also by Melanie Cellier
THE FOUR KINGDOMS
The Princess Companion: A Retelling of The Princess and the Pea (Book One)
The Princess Fugitive: A Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood (Book Two)
The Coronation Ball: A Four Kingdoms Cinderella Novelette
Happily Every Afters: A Reimagining of Snow White and Rose Red (Novella)
The Princess Pact: A Twist on Rumpelstiltskin (Book Three)
A Midwinter's Wedding: A Retelling of The Frog Prince (Novella)
The Princess Game: A Reimagining of Sleeping Beauty (Book Four)
The Princess Search: A Retelling of The Ugly Duckling (Book Five)
BEYOND THE FOUR KINGDOMS
A Dance of Silver and Shadow: A Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Book One)
A Tale of Beauty and Beast: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast (Book Two)
A Crown of Snow and Ice: A Retelling of The Snow Queen (Book Three)
A Dream of Ebony and White: A Retelling of Snow White (Book Four)
A Captive of Wing and Feather: A Retelling of Swan Lake (Book Five)
A Princess of Wind and Wave: A Retelling of The Little Mermaid (Book Six)
RETURN TO THE FOUR KINGDOMS
The Secret Princess: A Retelling of The Goose Girl (Book One)
The Mystery Princess: A Retelling of Cinderella (Book Two)
The Desert Princess: A Retelling of Aladdin (Book Three)
THE SPOKEN MAGE
Voice of Power (Book One)
Voice of Command (Book Two)
Voice of Dominion (Book Three)
Voice of Life (Book Four)
Power of Pen and Voice: A Spoken Mage Companion Novel
THE HIDDEN MAGE
Crown of Secrets (Book One)
Crown of Danger (Book Two)
Crown of Strength (Book Three)
Crown of Power (Book Four)
A MAGE’S INFLUENCE
Seeds of Glory and Ruin (Book One)
Vines of Promise and Deceit (Book Two)
Thorns of Hope and Betrayal (Book Three)
Forests of Grandeur and Malice (Book Four) coming in 2022