by Ruby Knight
My face dropped while adrenaline pumped through my veins. “How can it be worse? We’ve got to help them.”
I noted the excitement covering Mikey’s features.
A smile pulled at Hank’s lips. “I thought you might feel that way.”
I sat between Cole and Mikey, who both rode with my family back to the compound in the Catskills. The introductions were slightly awkward with my dad, Who may or may not have threatened to hang them both from a tree if they ever mistreated me.
“Jue, the people here have been explaining about Transcendents to your mother and me,” my dad said, looking carefully at James, Cole, and me. “Well, I’m really good with numbers. Like, genius good with numbers.” He shrugged.
“Do you think…?” I started to ask.
“So I had them run some tests,” he continued. “Looks like you got that funky gene from dear old Dad.”
Pride beamed from his eyes. I heard footfalls behind me and turned to see Hank and Harrison approaching my family reunion. He stuck his hand out toward my dad.
“Hank Thomas. I just wanted to thank you for raising such an incredible girl. She and Cole will make a perfect match.”
My eyes went wide.
I hadn’t even really introduced Cole yet. Dinner was too brief to get into what we are, I yelled toward Hank.
A smirk crossed his lips.
Cole stepped forward and held his hand out.
“Sir, ma’am.” He nodded toward my parents. “It’s good to meet you. Julia has told me so much about you.”
My father held Cole’s grip longer than was actually necessary and breaking to the point of uncomfortable. James gripped Cole’s shoulder.
“Thanks for bringing my big sister back safe, man.” They did some form of a bro hug and then James turned to Harrison. “Kiya will be glad to know you’re here in one piece, too, after all that work she did to heal you.”
Mikey stood awkwardly to the side, like a makeshift bodyguard. I snapped my attention to Harrison.
“You got all the way back here?” I asked in awe. “Harrison, that’s kick ass.”
He shrugged and smiled. I pulled him in for a hug. “Thanks for saving my life, like, five times. I owe you big time.”
A slight blush crept across his cheeks.
“I’ll find some way for you to repay me,” he said with a wink to Cole.
I swear Cole growled at Harrison, which I found kind of hot. So there was definitely something messed up in my brain. Cole’s big hands wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me back to him. Mikey glared at Cole. This was so bizarre. I could’ve possibly just stepped into an episode of The Twilight Zone.
“About this match thing. Hank, Cole, you’re going to have to explain that to me,” my dad said with a furrowed brow.
I wondered how well that would go over. Oh, yeah, by the way, Dad, people with abilities are matched for life. I found my soul mate at nineteen, so yay for me.
Yeah, he was totally going to flip out. Hank snorted. I slammed up my walls. I needed to get back in the habit of keeping those babies up.
“We have to debrief at the compound in fifteen minutes and then we will do Mike’s initiation,” Hank said.
I reached for Cole’s hands. “Here we go. Back to work. I thought they’d at least have cake for us.”
Cole barked out a laugh, and Mikey chuckled behind me.
“You want a cake, Ju-Ju, I’ll make you fifty of ’em. What kind do you like? No, wait, chocolate with vanilla frosting. Right?” Mikey asked.
I stopped in my tracks.
“You remembered,” I said through a grin.
Cole pulled open the doors to the main hall, and applause erupted across the room. Yells of a job well done and praises were sung out. The real life, freaking-transcendent, President of the free world stood on the stage. The crowd parted. I shook hands and smiled at dozens of happy faces as Cole guided me toward the stage.
“Julia, Cole, Harrison, Quade, Kiya. Please come up front. Myself, and the joint chiefs of my staff, would like to present you with the Distinguished Medal Cross. While it won’t be recognized outside of this organization and your names will never be written down for history’s records, know that on this day, we acknowledge your strength, courage, bravery, and sacrifice on behalf of the republic and all of mankind. We are grateful for your service.”
Various directors popped open very official-looking boxes, presenting us with the medal hanging on the sky-blue ribbon.
I allowed a few tears to escape as the moment was appropriate for emotion. I still had a long way to go in the vault I kept myself locked down in, but I knew I’d make it out. We turned to the audience, medals in hand, and the cheers of congratulations rang out.
I haven’t forgotten the kids, Hank. We need to start on that quick, I thought out.
A buzz filled my head.
Take tonight, Julia. Be a nineteen-year-old. Tomorrow will come soon enough. Take a moment to enjoy your youth. You have the rest of your life to act responsibly.
I smiled at Hank, and he winked at me in return.
Tonight, I would be young.
If only I could stay forever that way…
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End Book One
About the Author
Ruby wrote her first book during her senior year of college and hasn’t stopped writing since. She graduated with a degree in History and a minor in Psychology. When she isn’t manically writing stories on her laptop, coaching a high school dance team and teaching high school history– You can find her playing with her adorable little boy. She is from San Diego but was raised in Northern Utah. Her dad nicknamed her Rube at a young age and it always stuck. She currently lives in Utah under the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains. Ruby loves to read all things New Adult and Young Adult. She is a wannabe yogi and shamelessly indulges in TV shows like Quantico, Scandal, and The Blacklist. You might find her with a Diet Dr Pepper with coconut flavor in it on most days, as this is what she considers to be water.
Connect with Awesome Ruby Knight
@rubewrites
rubewrites
www.ruby-knight.com
Acknowledgments
It's always said that writing a book takes a village. This one is no exception. It wouldn't be here today without Jody Holford pushing me to submit it and without Tara Creel asking me to write more, so she could read more. Without my sister, Nikki, demanding that I give her a new chapter every night. Or my fans from my previous books, asking for more. (Sorry that the sequels have been slow in coming. I'm sorry I suck. They will come. Promise). I'm lucky that I get to do what I love, and I'm lucky to be surrounded by an amazing cheering section who push me to do better than I did before. Huge thanks to my editor, Zee. Woman, I love you. Thanks for making me expand my writing and push it further then I have. And last, but certainly not least, Penner. Thank you for believing in The Sway, Julia, Cole, and Mikey. I love their story, and I am so glad you found something amazing about it too. Xoxo.
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