Marcykate Connolly - Heartless Heirs

Open this book and be transported into a world of magic, machines, and espionage. Twin Daggers is a riveting story about the length two sisters will go for each other. And be preparedthey will steal your heart.

REBECCA ROSS, author of Sisters of Sword and Song

Twisting and face-paced, Twin Daggers is an exciting new fantasy series filled with charming magic, harrowing politics, and the bittersweet struggle of star-crossed lovers. Be careful, dear reader, for Aissa and Aro are sure to steal your heart.

MINDEE ARNETT, author of Onyx & Ivory

A taut, emotionally arresting fantasy.

KIRKUS REVIEWS

Exceptionally well crafted with a wealth of inherently fascinating plot twists and turns, Twin Daggers is a simply outstanding YA novel that will have a very special appeal to young readers ages 13-18.

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

Heartless Heirs

2021 by MarcyKate Connolly

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Blink, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Hardcover ISBN 978-0-310-76827-2

Audio ISBN 978-0-310-77109-8

Ebook ISBN 978-0-310-76833-3

Epub Edition May 2021 9780310768333

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the authors imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Art direction: Cindy Davis

Interior Design: Denise Froehlich

Printed in the United States of America

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WHERE TRUTH CUTS, IT LEAVES CHAOS IN its wake. For my twin sister and me, that becomes clearer every minute. Each shard, each fact, chips away at the bond between us and the life we thought we knew.

The truth about what we really arean experiment two hundred years in the making.

Our parents bond, and their death because of it.

A betrayal by the man Zandria loved.

My betrayal of the entire Magi people by falling in love with a Technocrat prince, the Heartless heir we were sent to assassinate.

The house of lies we once held dear has crumbled to pieces.

But those truths prickling around the edges of our hearts will have to wait. First, we must get out of this cursed Technocrat city alive. Then we can warn the rest of the Magi theyre in imminent danger.

An hour ago, we threw Palinor into chaos by destroying a sizable section of the Palaces subterranean levels as we escaped the dungeons with our childhood friend, Remy Gaville. Dawn hasnt yet dared to creep over the steel roofs of the city, but the streets and ramparts are overflowing with men. They form a net of flesh and blood and metal, ready and waiting to catch us.

Nothing is more terrifying to the Technocrats than a Magi on the loose. Three of us calls for every able-bodied soldier to remain on high alert.

We managed to steal some suppliesfood, a change of clothes, and a couple water skeinsby shadowing guards while we hid under a shield spell. Now we huddle under a window in a shop not far from the northern gate, waiting for an opportunity to get through. We know one way out, but the path is blocked. Guards line the alley where we once exited through a secret tunnel led by Darian Azul.

Just the thought of the traitors name makes me quiver with rage.

My sister and I may disagree on many things at the moment, but were united in our shared hatred of that man.

If we get close enough, we could kill half the guards in that alley very quickly, Zandria whispers a little too eagerly for my liking.

Right, but then the other half would be on top of us in seconds, I say. We cant simply power through. There are too many of them, and too few of us. Zandria may be different since we rescued her from the dungeons and the Technocrats torturous metal suits, but in one way she remains the same: shes as impulsive as ever. Now with a newer, more brutal bent.

Remy grabs my wrist. Stop talking. Both of you.

We hold our breaths. Even before I hear it, I know what were listening for.

The unmistakable metallic clank of the machines.

Zandrias face turns white as a sheet in the predawn light.

We have to get out of here before they reach us, she hisses. Lets just bring the wall down on their heads. Then we can get to the tunnel before they know what hit them. She rises, but I yank her back down.

No. The machines will know exactly where to hunt if we do that. If we stay here until they pass, we have a shot.

Aissas right. We need to lay low, Remy says.

Zandria looks as if she wants to scream. Her eyes wildly glance between us as the skittering of metal legs grows louder. Remy and I each take one of her hands and squeeze tightly. She yanks her hand out of mine like shes been burned.

It feels like a slap, but I do my best to ignore it. Breathe, Zandy, I whisper. Well get through this.

I peek out the window onto the street. Only guards are out there now. Any curious onlookers have been ordered back to their homes.

But they have our descriptions, and they know were trying to escape the city.

We need to change our appearances, I say to Zandria. She nods curtly and begins casting the spell. In moments, our red hair and green eyes are gone. In their place, I have dark hair and blue eyes, and shes taller, with brown hair and brown eyes. Remy attempts the spell too, and only manages to alter his features somewhat, likely because he hasnt had time to practice like we did.

It will have to be enough. The first mechs are the seekers, trundling like spiders over the cobblestone streets. Some turn down other streets and alleys, hunting for us. A few buildings down the road, they begin prying open shop doors. Soon theyll reach us.

I know what to do, I say suddenly. We cant go out on the streets, and we cant stay here much longer either. Were going to tunnel to the secret passage.

Zandrias eyes widen, but her shaking begins to subside.

We locate the latch to the cellar and drop down one by one. Remy closes it behind us and fastens the lock. Outside the front door, metallic legs prod and pry. I shudder.

My twins hands quiver as she weaves them. The metal walls reinforcing the cellar peel away, leaving a door-sized patch of dirt behind. Remy casts his own spell to help, and soon the three of us tunnel forward, shifting the earth at full speed.

Zandria packs the dirt behind us while Remy and I continue to use our spells to dig ahead. Once we hit brick and metal again, my sister joins me in the lead. The secret tunnel is hidden in the alley just across the street from the shop where we took cover, so weve been digging in a straight line. Zandria eyes the bricks suspiciously; we dont know exactly whats beyond them. There could be guards lying in wait or no one at all.

We have no choice but to find out. Well run out of air if we remain down here for long.

I hum softly, coaxing a brick from the wall. Beside me, Zandria casts a silencing spell so it wont make a sound as it slides free. I peek throughand relief floods my limbs. The hall is empty. The king and queen no doubt have heard how we escaped their dungeons and mustve called all the guards above ground to hunt for us. If we do encounter a guard or two, we should be able to disarm or evade them.