Having gone from kidnapped faux princess to the legitimate heir to an intergalactic throne, an impulsive, sarcastic teen must take charge of her own destiny in this epic YA novel.
On Earth, Delaney is a normal teenager who recently graduated high school with a fantastic best friend and a loving boyfriend.
But Delaney isn’t on Earth. She’s on Xenith, a war-torn planet half a galaxy away. Originally mistaken for an alien princess, Delaney has gone from kidnapped imposter to the recognized heir to an alien throne. Oh, and she’s engaged to the prince of an enemy nation whose ruthless father is on the warpath.
Torn between two planets, two fates, and two loves, Delaney is finally ready to choose her own destiny in Within Ash and Stardust, the stunning conclusion to Chani Lynn Feener’s Xenith Trilogy.
Praise for the Xenith Trilogy: "A thoughtful, sexy adventure with winning characters just begging for a bedtime read." —VOYA on Amid Stars and Darkness
"[A] pulse-pounding adventure." —Booklist on Between Frost and Fury
Release date:
July 16, 2019
Publisher:
Feiwel & Friends
Print pages:
336
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Warm fingers brushed lightly against her elbow, and she pulled her gaze away from the unconscious Zane. When she did, she instantly felt guilty for not having paid better attention to the man at her side.
Ruckus was a mess, his brown hair, typically styled back, was mussed so that strands fell in front of his tired eyes. The yellow of his irises—rimmed in a dark forest green—was usually a bright, sunshiny color, but now was dull, like unpolished gold. His shoulders were hunched, and he was still in the tattered and dust-covered uniform he’d been forced to wear for the past few weeks.
The dirty uniform Trystan had forced him to wear.
Delaney took a deliberate step away from the bed, moving into Ruckus’s arms when he lifted them to receive her. She’d been so distracted, she hadn’t considered what he must be going through.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled against his chest, tightening her hold on him as she did. “About Pettus.”
“We found the bodies half-buried in snow before we found you,” Ruckus said, dropping his chin down on the top of her head. “Every time we uncovered another, I feared…”
“I’m fine.”
They hadn’t really had the chance to talk, not privately. Last night she’d been too worried over the Zane, and seeming to sense that, Ruckus had respectfully remained silent at her side. But it was morning now, proof in the beams of sunlight spilling in through the room’s single window. It was deceptive, that sun, making the landscape outside seem more like a winter wonderland than the frozen death trap it could so quickly become.
Less than forty-eight hours ago, Delaney had almost died out there.
Trystan had as well. And he’d yet to wake up.
Her eyes shifted back toward him, watching the barely perceptible rise and fall of his chest.
“Did he—” Ruckus tentatively began, but she knew where he was going with his question, and stopped him with a swift shake of her head.
“No. Pettus died saving me from Olena. Trystan didn’t touch him.” She lifted a hand to cup the side of his face. “How are you doing?”
He hesitated, then glanced at the door. “Can we walk for a bit? I need to get moving. Standing still so long…”
Right, she hadn’t thought of that. Being an Ander—a Vakar commander—meant he was used to constantly being in charge, always in motion, assuring things ran smoothly. Even when they’d been on Earth, he’d had a need to fill his days with activities.
She took his hand, linking their fingers, but couldn’t get herself to move farther away from Trystan.
Seeing her hesitation, Ruckus sighed.
“I owe him my life,” she tried explaining. “I would never have made it out there without him.”
“You don’t owe him anything.” Ruckus glanced the Zane’s way, his expression unreadable. “Even if you did, there’s nothing you can do here but wait.”
“I know.” It still didn’t mean she could ignore the tiny voice in her head telling her not to go. Right now they were safe, but experience on Xenith had taught her that could change quickly, and she wasn’t willing to leave Trystan alone, just in case.
Ruckus, realizing that she wasn’t going to be moved, shook his head in clear frustration. “Tell me about what happened.”
“Pettus took a zee for me, and then he snapped Olena’s neck. In that order. He was pretty badass, actually.” Her voice caught at the end and she swallowed, refusing to break down right now. She and Pettus had been friends, but not like he and Ruckus had been.
Ruckus didn’t seem to notice her slip anyway. His eyes were glazed over and he was staring straight ahead, clearly seeing something that wasn’t really there. “I’m going to miss him.”
“Me too.” She pulled Ruckus closer, resting her head on his shoulder. Outside the door, she could see one of the two king’s guardsmen who’d been stationed there.
Not to keep her and Ruckus in, they’d been quick to reassure, but just as a precaution should they need assistance. Under any other circumstances, Delaney probably would have found that funny. Now, though, with the words Sworn Sanzie had told her last night still ringing in her ears, laughter was the last thing she was capable of.
According to the Sworn, Trystan had ordered that if anything should happen to him, Delaney be put in charge. She’d been a bit skeptical at first, eyeing any of the Kints who came within ten feet of her or Ruckus. But not a single one of them had stepped out of line. In fact, they’d done exactly what Sanzie had said they would, following her orders whenever she’d given them.
Though, considering she’d only asked for a hot cup of squa, and to stay at Trystan’s bedside, that wasn’t really saying much.
“I’ll have to mourn for him later,” Ruckus said quietly, pulling her from her thoughts. “I didn’t get a chance to last night.”
Delaney pulled back enough to see his face. “Is there a traditional way to do that?”
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