Devour
Page 18
Chills slide down my spine that have nothing to do with the temperature. His words sound like a delicious promise.
Finally, he leaves and I stand there in the foyer. I’m torn between getting ready or showing Mom my ring. Eventually, I decide to get ready and then show Mom the ring while the movers are working.
Do I keep the ring on or take it off while I shower? I’m really not sure. Finally, I go with my gut and leave it on. I don’t think I can bear to take it off my finger. It’s almost as if taking it off will make this whole whirlwind fairytale disappear.
I’m so happy, too happy. Something is bound to go wrong. No one should ever be this happy. I stare down at the ring as I stand in the shower. I can’t believe everything worked out the way it did.
I feel too weird just wearing my casual clothes into the castle, so I opt for a cotton sundress as a compromise. Who knows what could happen once I step into my new home. I skip the jewelry; the ring is more than enough bling.
After stepping into the hallway, I see the movers making their way to my room. I think they have been waiting for me to finish. They all nod in respect as they pass me on the stairs. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.
I find my Mom in the sitting room reading a book. She sets it down when she sees me and smiles.
“You look very pretty, dear. Are you excited?”
“I’m anxious more than anything. Without knowing what to expect, it lead my mind to all kinds of conclusions.”
“You’ll be fine. I happen to think you and Cody will be great rulers and I’m so proud of you and the way you’ve handled all this change.”
“Thanks, Mom. Anyways, I actually came down here to show you something.”
I lift up my left hand and shove it in front of her so she can see the ring. Her mouth drops open and she pulls my hand closer to examine the large diamond.
“Oh, Callie, this is gorgeous. Cody is a very thoughtful young man. You got lucky with him, honey.”
“It’s his grandma’s ring. She wanted us to have it. I love it and I love Cody.”
“Being true mates is a powerful thing. It’s amazing and I only wish I could have found that kind of love. Your Dad and I are very happy, but we were never true mates like you and Cody are. You two are blessed.”
All this serious talk is making me think about how much I’m going to miss her when I’m gone. It’s not like I’ll never see her, but I have no idea what I’m in for when I leave here. I throw my arms around her in a giant hug and squeeze her tight.
“I’m going to miss you, Mom.”
“I’ll miss you too. Now before we get out of hand here, you should probably get going. The movers are just about finished. They were really fast.”
“It seems like it was too fast. I guess I’m off to my new home as princess in the castle. Good golly that sounds weird.”
“Goodbye, princess,” my Mom says with a wink.
I grab my purse and keys before taking one last look around me. My nerves are in knots as I step out into the night to get into my car. It feels weird driving my car to the castle. Last time I was there, I was in a dungeon jail cell. I can only hope those memories will be replaced by more pleasant ones.
Once I’m safely parked, a person comes out to drive my car to its very own parking garage. Wow. This is surreal. I watch as a butler opens the door for me and ushers me into the foyer.
A woman greets me there and then whisks me away. We move down a hallway on the east side of the castle and finally stop in front of a set of large arched doors. I take a deep breath as she opens the doors and I step inside.
Cody is standing by the window, looking out and I forget about everything and everyone around me. I run to him and throw my arms around his neck. A huge grin breaks out on his face and he gives me an earthshattering kiss that goes all the way to my toes.
“Welcome home, princess.”
First, I would like to thank those of you who took a chance on my book. I hope you enjoyed it. It’s always appreciated if you could spread the word by leaving a review on the website you purchased this from.
I would also like to thank my editor at Final Edits for doing a fabulous job. She helped me polish the final project into something I’m proud of. Parajunkee Designs did an amazing job on the cover and Once Upon a Time Covers made some pretty awesome chapter headings.
Thank you to my family for not pushing me back into the traditional job world. I’m much happier chasing dreams! My husband has been nothing but supportive on this journey and I love him more every day.
Lastly, thanks to all the bloggers and other authors that I’ve met along the way in this indie industry. It is a great community and I’m proud to be a part of it.
I’m a biologist turned writer. I write YA/NA paranormal romance books mainly. I’m the author of Devour and have several more books scheduled to come out later in 2013. I book blog for fun. I also have a strong addiction to caffeine and fruit snacks. You can find me in Tennessee with my husband and two Italian greyhounds.
If you ask anyone, I’m a total fangirl! I love the entertainment industry. I love Revenge and the Vampire Diaries on television. My favorite movies are Elektra and P.S. I Love You. I have a definite weakness for Tim Burton movies too. I’m beyond a huge fangirl for Shakira, both her English and Spanish music; Jack’s Mannequin comes in a close second. I have too many favorite authors to list, but Kelley Armstrong and Rachel Vincent are two of them. I’ve read all their books.
1. When Your Heart Stops Beating- Plus 44
2. The State of Dreaming- Marina and the Diamonds
3. Waking Up- One Republic
4. All Good Things- Mandy Moore
5. A Part of Me- Katy Perry
6. Fleurs Du Mal- Sarah Brightman
7. When It All Falls Apart- The Veronicas
8. These Times- Safety Suit
9. They Can’t If You Don’t Let Them- A Fine Frenzy
10. Ooh Love- Charlotte Sometimes
11. Original Love- Cassidee Pope
12. Timeless- The Airborne Toxic Event
13. Give Me Love- Ed Sheeran
14. Never Let Me Go- Florence and the Machine
15. Rumor Has It- Adele
16. Love Story- Taylor Swift
17. Amber Waves- Erin McCarley
18. Leave the Pieces- The Wreckers
19. Better Dig Two- The Band Perry
20. I Love You- Avril Lavigne
21. Zero Gravity- Kerli
Dancing with Death
Murders have plagued the woods in the past, making them a place of fear. Eighteen year old Wendy and her friends become worried when a new string of murders come to their high school.
After a horrible car accident, Wendy returns to school, going from wallflower to popular overnight. Suddenly she is the center of attention, paying more attention to guys and clothes. Things are heating up for Wendy with more than one guy vying for her affections.
As the murderer edges closer to Wendy she realizes things are changing. She is afflicted with nightmares that are all too real and she herself is undergoing unnatural changes. Learning the truth about her past, could be the key to saving her future.
Recommended for older teens and new adults due to sexual situations.