by Meg Kassel
I smile with genuine delight. That doesn’t hurt, at least. “Won…derful!”
“It is, right?” She grins back with a little shrug. It’s clear she’s scared about it, too. “I turn eighteen next month. After what my father did when he visited last, Aunt Bel’s new lawyer got me fully emancipated from him. So it’s just me and Aunt Bel now.”
My smile widens. That is the best thing that could have happened to her.
“Maybe, one day, if you want to, you can live near us.” She swallows with effort and blows out a big breath. “My aunt thinks we should take this super slow. And she’s right, you know? We should figure out who we are and what we want from life as people, before we do something stupid like get married or whatever.” She rolls her eyes. “Like we’d do that. I mean, you may be an expert on marriage, but I want to go to art school and—”
I place my fingers over her lips, and a light blush pinkens her cheeks. It will be hard to keep my distance, but Aunt Bel is right. I have to relearn how to be a human, and find a path of my own, before I can be anything more than her friend and, hopefully, her boyfriend. “Anything…you want.”
My new, curse-free body is weak with relief that she’s not telling me there’s no place in her life for me at all, ever. I would accept that, if it was her wish. Thankfully, it’s not.
I kiss her again and smile up into her dreamy blue eyes. I could get used to this. “You…all I…wanted. I’m…in love…with you, Essie Roane.”
“From my darkest depths to the lightest heights.” She closes her eyes. “Whatever face you wear—I’m in love with you, Dresden. We’ll figure out tomorrow together.”
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Acknowledgments
This was one of those books that gets written, but you don’t exactly know how. One day, you have an idea, and the next (it seems) there is a book. Obviously, it doesn’t really work like that. It takes time to write a book, and it’s a lot of work—don’t think for a minute that it’s not a lot of both those things—but sometimes a story takes over like a fever. You’re a little unhinged. You’re a little obsessed. You write until it’s finished and then worry that you’re showing everyone a naked picture of yourself. This was one of those books for me. This book is for everyone who falls in love with the villain. This book is for everyone who doesn’t fit a mold—on the outside, or the inside, or both. Thank you to all my fellow wanderers.
Some wonderful people helped make this book possible. First, my agent, Beth Miller, who said yes to this book, and to me. Thank you for being in my corner on this wild ride.
A big thanks to Entangled Teen, especially my editor, Liz Pelletier, who I knew I could make fall in love with a beekeeper, and to the entire team for bringing this book to life. A special thank-you to Hannah, Shayla, and Melissa for being an amazing support and publicity team.
The loveliness of this cover had nothing to do with me, but rather, the talented designers at Deranged Doctor Designs. I have a preference for green covers, and I love this particular one.
Thank you to sensitivity readers Amanda Clavette and Maria Emil Deal for adding their voices to this book. I am so grateful for your perspectives, and for how they improved Essie’s character.
I’m ever grateful to the supportive women of the Maine Romance Writers. You ladies are my rock.
Thank you to my girls, Mariah and Jess, whose friendship and encouragement and feedback mean the world to me, and special thanks to Katy, whose insights and support I appreciate so very much.
Thank you to the extraordinary Pintip Dunn, who I am grateful to call my friend. An hour is ten minutes, when it’s spent on the phone with you.
I couldn’t have done this without the loving support of my mom and dad, and my brother, Evan. Finally, a big thank you to Pete and Poppy. You inspire and challenge me. You’re the reason for it all.
About the Author
Meg Kassel is an author of fantasy and speculative books for young adults. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, she’s been creating stories, whether with visuals or words, since childhood. Meg is a New Jersey native who lives in a log house in the Maine woods with her husband and daughter. As a fan of eighties cartoons, Netflix series, and ancient mythology, she has always been fascinated and inspired by the fantastic, the creepy, and the futuristic. She is the 2016 RWA Golden Heart® winner in YA and a double 2018 RITA® finalist for her debut novel, Black Bird of the Gallows.
Visit her online at www.megkassel.com.
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