Rise of Falcons: End of Crows, #3

By R.A. Lingenfelter

From the imaginative pen of R.A. Lingenfelter, arrives the third installment in the multi-award-winning series, 'Rise of Falcons'. Prepare to dive headfirst into a realm of suspense, intrigue, and chills which will redefine epic fantasy. R.A. Lingenfelter invites you on a relentless journey through intricately crafted worlds, testing the mettle of characters you've grown to love, and introducing you to ones you'll never forget.

 

If you thought the first two books had you on the edge of your seat, prepare to lose yourself completely in the mesmerizing saga. The stakes are higher, the destinies are intertwined and the challenges they face are unimaginable. The shadows grow longer, treachery lurks around every corner, and the Falcons soar higher as they rise against adversity.

 

Will our heroes manage to face their nemesis and unravel the enigma of their past, or will they falter, handing victory to the force threatening their existence? In 'Rise of Falcons', every choice could mean the difference between survival and doom. This gripping tale of resilience, darkness, friendship, and adjusting your wings in life's tempest will leave you breathless, yearning for more.

 

Enter, be enthralled, and join us on this thrilling ride in 'Rise of Falcons'.

• Language: English
• Publisher: RaeAnne Hadley
• Release date: Mar 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393327837

Book preview

This is a book of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

Cover Illustration by Stories2Life

Rise of Falcons

Copyright © 2021 Stories2Life All rights reserved.

Interior Design and Formatting:

www.emtippettsbookdesigns.com

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Other Books by R.A. Lingenfelter

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Grave Devotion: A Love Story

Grave Devotion; A Love Story

Merry Deathmas

With Love; Now & Forever

Death-Selling Author (November 2021)

Small Sacrifices Series

End of Crows: Book One

Flight of Sparrows: Book Two

Rise of Falcons: Book Three

Declaration of Crows: Book Four

Twisted Beginning Series

Sound of Revenge

Sound of Rage (coming soon)

Sound of Redemption (coming soon)

Shadows Series

Shadowgaze

Shadowsound (coming soon)

Shadowtouch (coming soon)

This book is dedicated to my readers both original and new. Your love for Willow is amazing and beautiful. To Madison and Ashlie; you’ve let me bounce ideas off of you, offered your suggestions and still believed in me that one day, I’ll be that epic author you know I’ve dreamt of. To my editor, Sheryl, you make my work tighter and beautiful. Your understanding that my mind works faster than my fingers can type and you see the small mistakes that I am sometimes blind to. To all of the people who have rooted for me and Willow, who have crowed from the rooftops about the Small Sacrifices Series; I love you. Thank you for believing in me.

A gatta, they need to stop messing around like that. What if one of them gets hurt? We can’t postpone the move.

Kennet, they are still kids. Brothers and sisters do this. It’s called playing. Let them play and if one happens to get hurt, we will just bury them in the backyard.

Willow Danner. You have violated Federal Code eight-seven-six of the travel authorization. A constable will escort you to the Travel Authority Office. If you try to escape, your PIM will detonate immediately. Please wait for your escort.

Because I’m a Crow. I may have been born in the Dominion but I was raised a Crow and I believe in freedom and I believe in family. If this could help keep all of us safe and capture the spy, then it’s worth it, right?

I don’t wanna go to Neonate. Mommy said it’s a bad place and that I would never have to go there.

I saw Brice. He’s alive but only for a few more days. He looks horrible. They detonated his PIM.

Nobody is going to take you away from me again, Willow. Nobody.

Please reconsider, Finn? Come with me.

I jerked under the covers of my bed. My mouth was dry yet my body was dripping with sweat. I had been in the Montana camp for almost four weeks but the nightmares still haunted me. Glancing around, I could see it was still dark and other forms in the dormitory were still asleep. I swung my legs free of the covers and quietly padded to my locker box at the end of my bed. Slipping on some clothes, I slipped on my shoes and silently made my way to the training center.

It was at the center of their compound. I entered my personal code to gain access. Bright fluorescent lights automatically flickered on, illuminating the massive interior. An archery range was to the left, weight benches and various strengthening machines were set up on my right. Lockers and showers were further down on the right and if I continued straight ahead, I would enter the shooting range. It was set up more like a laser tag building with false walls, people and animals that would pop out when you triggered them, and hidden ACV’s that would suddenly appear. It felt like you were inside an arcade game and it amazed me every time I practiced in there. Today though, I needed something I could lose my thoughts in. Something that I didn’t have to give my entire attention to; archery.

I pulled out my bow and quiver from my locker and made my way towards the targets. The voices from my past kept swirling through my head. They spoke to me in my sleep and kept me from finding peace. I knew we were preparing for war and it was because of me.

Pulling back and nocking an arrow, I focused on the target before me. Slowly letting out my breath, I released and watched my arrow find its target; centered and perfect.

It was because of me that they were gathering for another revolution. If I hadn’t gone back into the Dominion to save Brice, I would have never found out about what they were doing to innocent families. Maybe I would have never discovered my new powers. Maybe I would have never met Jack Jr. and Sally and saw the smaller versions of Brice and myself in them. A lot of maybes there but they didn’t matter. I had gone back; I did find out the horrors against humanity that the Dominion were wielding and I had discovered my other powers. Along with the fact that I wasn’t a Crow; I was a Falcon.

The timing couldn’t be changed. I had seen the uprising of the people and knew that if we didn’t help, the Dominion would swallow them up again.

Up early again?

I whirled to face the uninvited intruder; my arrow knocked before a breath could be taken.

Bradlee put up his hands, his face blanched slightly. Will, I didn’t mean to startle you. Can you point that thing somewhere else?

I eased on the tension, lowering my bow. You shouldn’t sneak up on people, Bradlee. It can get you killed.

Feeling a little salty today? he raised an eyebrow but I didn’t answer. First off, the entry pad beeps with every button you push and second, you are the one with superhero hearing so I figured you heard me on the path back by the bathhouse. So no, I didn’t sneak up on you at all. He cocked his head as he glanced at the target. Several arrows were split where I had hit them a second time. "Did you get any sleep?"

As much as I usually do. I think I’ve gotten used to it.

I saw him shake his head slightly and my irritation rose. Look, I don’t need a speech from you. You are not my parent, guardian or protector. Because of that, you don’t have the right to preach to me. Got it?

He raised his hands, warding off my words. Got it, Will. Don’t need to threaten me twice. He glanced over at the rack of weapons and nodded. Up for a little practice then?

I saw he was staring at the swords and I snorted. "You want to take me on with swords? Do you have a death wish?"

He shrugged. Maybe I do. Don’t tell me your ego is so large that you don’t think you need to keep up on your practicing.

I took a deep breath, trying to push down the anger that was developing into a fury. He really knew how to push my buttons. Fine, Bradlee. I’ll duel with you.

He walked over and grabbed a heavy claymore, both of his arms bulging as they bore the weight of the two-handed sword. I bit my lip to keep my comments unsaid and walked over to my locker. I pulled out the broadsword Finn had made for me and headed towards the sparring area.

What is that? Bradlee chuckled.

It’s a gift from someone special.

It looks deformed. Why does the blade have so many curves in it? he eyed the wavy metal critically. Though I will admit the purple moonstone is beautiful. It matches your eyes.

His face blushed with his admission but I chose to ignore it. It allows me to balance it with one hand instead of tying up two, I nodded towards his heavy weapon. And both sides are razor sharp. Like me, it’s unique but powerful.

He cocked his head, You are definitely unique, Willow.

We faced off and at his indication, began to spar. He had the strength of the weight of the sword and his body against my small frame but as I had learned growing up fighting a bigger brother, weight could be used against them. Every time he thrust, I was able to dodge and attack from the side. With each defeat, he became more frustrated and more aggressive with his attack. Within twenty minutes, he was sweating profusely and panting.

Ready to yield, Bradlee? I couldn’t help the mocking tone in my voice. My saltiness hadn’t ebbed with the physical exertion.

He glared at me. One more round. I’ve figured out your moves, he growled.

We both took our stance and when he lunged, I raised my sword to deflect the heavy blow.

The room went black, explosions shook the earth around me and fire was licking at my feet. Screams wailed in my ears, blocking out the noise of everything else. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision as tears ran down my face trying to flush the chemicals that burned there. I was on my knees in the middle of a cracked road. Buildings were on fire and crumbling, bodies lay like broken dolls, scattered around me. Those who were still alive were running frantically, some on fire, others looking fearfully behind them. I saw ACV’s and Dominion constabulary in pursuit, shooting citizens down. The large machines rolling over bodies as they chased down their prey.

I scrambled to my feet, whirling in a circle trying to figure out what I was seeing. The trees had leaves and I saw citizens hiding among the branches, just as I had in my previous vision. Another explosion caused me to duck and turn towards that direction. The Neonate Asylum had collapsed, fire taking the roof’s place. I saw Jack Higgins stumbling from the rubble, carrying the lifeless form of Inka in his arms. Sally was beside him, zombie like as she cradled what appeared to be Jack Jr. against her chest. I didn’t see him moving, his arm swinging lifelessly.

Willow!

I whirled and saw Finn running towards the parking lot of the asylum. His body jerked back as if hitting an invisible wall and as he fell back onto the pavement, I saw a bloom of red spread across his shirt. The blast finally made it to my ears. It dropped me down to my knees again and I couldn’t stop my scream. No!

Tears, anger and sorrow racked my body. How was this possible? I had the visions to help save the citizens. What had changed?

My body felt exhausted with defeat. I dropped my head and closed my eyes. I let them all down. I gave them hope and with my own arrogance had destroyed innocent lives. My hair tickled my cheeks as it fell to the sides of my face. I swiped it away but felt a caress against my flesh. Goosebumps plagued my flesh.

You are a Falcon. Do not turn your back on your gifts.

My mother’s voice tickled my ears and I whirled, seeking her out. I didn’t see her anywhere. "You say that but look around at what my supposed gifts have accomplished…death."

It hasn’t happened yet, Willow. Use your gifts to find out what has changed.

I squeezed my eyes tightly, fighting back the anger that poisoned my thoughts. I needed to clear my head. What had happened? I raised my head and looked around me. I tuned out the destruction and chaos, searching for something that hadn’t been there before. I glanced at the Neonate building again. I saw her standing there in her pristine suit, grinning madly at the massacre before her; Aurysia. There was someone beside her though, tucked in the shadows, frantically whispering in Aurysia’s ear. I stood up and began making my way towards them. I needed to know who was talking to her. They were too short to be Derek or Bernadette.

Bradlee. His name popped up into my head and I began to charge towards them. He was betraying us again. He was the change that had happened.

When I was within twenty feet of them, I stopped short. Kathy was the person whispering in Aurysia’s ear. Neither one of them turned to look at me and I began to