Authors: Donna Galanti

Joshua and the Arrow Realm (28 page)

BOOK: Joshua and the Arrow Realm

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“Run, Leandro!”

A golden glow wrapped around me. Sparks bit my fingers and toes, my whole body electrified. Charlie clutched my shirt in his hands.

Leandro's face twisted in a grimace. “Arrow speed to you.”

He punched a fist to his chest and held it up.

He didn't want me to go either.

But he did as I said. He ran.

Faster and faster we rushed down the Lightning Road, bolted to its white fire. Stars streamed like comets in the dark around us as the wind snatched at my clothes and hair. Charlie's hand bit hard into me from fear of falling off, but the pain meant I wasn't alone. We burst from the black and blazed into my kitchen, the pain in my body gone in an instant but the pain in my heart intense.

The tick-tick of the stove clock screamed in the sudden silence. How many Earth days had we been gone? The snow still blew outside in a white welcome. The life I had before was sucked from me in a flash. My knees buckled as I swayed. Charlie grabbed my arm to keep me standing, but my legs gave way, and I fell on the cold kitchen tile.

Bo Chez was dead.

His words came to me.
You must do whatever necessary to complete your mission.

The lightning orb throbbed against my thigh. I pulled it out with a jittery hand. All Bo Chez had been and stood for stormed inside this electrified weapon he'd earned. He'd left that life behind to be thrust into it again by me. The orb glowed blue then faded.

Charlie knelt beside me and shook me with a mournful face. “
Mon ami
, we're home.”

I let loose a pained laugh, staring at the black arrow that blazed across his arm and mine.
No escape.
But we had â¦ yet home no longer claimed me in this old world I'd so easily forgotten. I understood now the word home had many meanings, and you don't abandon one family by seeking another. Even when families are separated, they still have each other, no matter how far apart. I pressed the pendant to my heart. Its metal warmed in my hand.

Charlie tried to replace his brother with me.

Hekate tried to replace her brother with Leandro.

I could not replace Bo ChezâI could only bring him back. And find my lost brother and father while trying to save two worlds as the Oracle.

One day I might die trying.

The day would come very soon.

The battle on Nostos had begun. With me.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

As always, my first reader and dear friend, Lisa Green, continues to shine her enthusiasm and light on Joshua's adventures. Her insight drove me to breathe fiery life into this story and these characters. I am also grateful to have had an amazing editor throughout this series, Tara Creel. She has guided me in enriching these stories (along with the pesky grammar stuff!). And to my favorite person in the world who started it all, the real Joshua Cooper Galanti, whose adventurous imagination fuels my own and whose faith in my storytelling never wavers.

DONNA GALANTI

Donna Galanti
is the author of the
Joshua and The Lightning Road
series (Month9Books). She attended an English school housed in a magical castle, where her wild imagination was held back only by her itchy uniform (bowler hat and tie included!). There she fell in love with the worlds of C.S. Lewis and Roald Dahl, and wrote her first fantasy about Dodo birds, wizards, and a flying ship. She's lived in other exotic locations, including Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer. She lives with her family and two crazy cats in an old farmhouse, and dreams of returning one day to a castle. She is a contributing editor to International Thriller Writers the
Big Thrill
magazine and blogs at Project Middle Grade Mayhem. Visit her at
www.donnagalanti.com

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