I pull my hand out of his and smile up at him. “I feel pretty good. You look great. How’s everything here?”
“We’re leaving in an hour,” Gavin says. He doesn’t sound happy, but he looks better. There isn’t a single scratch on him.
“Mack says we have to go now if we’re going to make it without being targeted. Bael’s threats have died down almost completely. If you can believe it,” Jaxen says, sitting me in his spot.
I can’t. “That’s good,” I say instead. “So, you’re all coming with me.”
“Mack wouldn’t have it any other way. It seems we’ve been through it enough that they feel we’re the best to protect you. For the time being,” Jaxen says. I don’t like the lingering fear in his voice.
“You know the real reason,” Weldon says over a cup of something that resembles blood. I look away and swallow down bile.
“What’s the real reason?” I ask, my voice slightly shaking.
“Because, we’re the only ones dumb enough to go along with you the rest of the way. You know what they will ask of us,” he says, looking up from his cup at me. He’s wearing a tired grin, and I’m grateful for it. I’m grateful for him and all that he’s done, and I know he sees that in my returned smile. “Going to Ethryeal City isn’t for your protection. It’s so they can experiment on you before they send you out to finish what we’ve started, before they send you out to finish breaking the Seals so they can get into the Underground.”
“Wow. You’re killing me with optimism and good news,” Jezi says, pulling her pack of cigarettes out of her pocket. She lights one and inhales, then looks at me. “Look, I know we don’t see eye-to-eye on certain things, but you’ve been through hell.” She snorts. “Hell, we’ve all been through it. Don’t worry about the fundamentals as to why we’re going. It won’t do you any good. Just know we’ve got your back and you’re not alone in this.” She takes another drag, and then her eyes find Jaxen’s. Something personal passes between, an understanding long needed.
He squeezes my shoulder and smiles down at me. “She’s right. We have your back.”
“All of us,” Cassie says with a warm smile.
The door opens, and Mack walks in wearing his traditional red robe. “It’s time.”
We stand, and together, we form an impenetrable line, a force that can’t be reckoned with, a force that won’t back down. I smile because I know I’m safe.
I smile because I know, despite the circumstances, I’m right where I need to be.
THE GRAMM CURSE
(A Night Watchmen Novella, #0.5) -Coming Soon
EVERLASTING
(A Night Watchmen Novel, #1)
CANDACE KNOEBEL IS THE AWARD-WINNING author of Born in Flames-book one in a young adult fantasy trilogy. She discovered in 2009 through lunch breaks and late nights after putting her kids to bed, a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight-to-five Purgatory. She had found a home in writing. Published by 48fourteen in 2012, Born in Flames went on to win Turning the Pages Book of the Year award in February of 2013. In January of 2014, the last book in the trilogy, From the Embers, was released, thusly completing the trilogy she has worked so hard on.
You can visit her online at www.candaceknoebel.wordpress.com or https://www.facebook.com/candaceknoebel
I’D LIKE TO THANK SONYA Loveday for all the hour-long phone calls discussing why this book couldn’t be possible, only to have her tell me to shut up and write the damn thing. Without you, who knows what would be in the garbage. I’d like to thank my street team for always being supportive and encouraging. You ladies keep me going. I’d like to thank Staci Pylant Brillhart for opening my eyes. I’d like to thank every blogger I’ve come into contact with. Without your encouragement and selfless promotion, we Indies wouldn’t have the awesome platforms we have. I’d like to thank my children for letting mommy work, and for always being understanding. I’d like to thank Ravven for being a patient and fantastic cover artist. I’d like to thank my husband for always putting a smile on my face when the stress arises. I’d like to thank my mom for always being there for me. And lastly, I’d like to thank all of my friends just for being there and for being awesome.
You ROCK!
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Everlasting Page 37