Benjamin stared at her. “You’re going back?”
I folded my letter and placed it in its envelope. “Of course we’re going back.”
He gawked at me. “What? Why?”
“Because it’s a summons, which has to be obeyed.” The flicker of fear flared. Feigning confidence, I lifted my head up. “Besides, what’s the worst they can do to me?”
“Remove you from service,” Ember said.
“Or brand your face,” Reid added, shuddering.
“Or make you marry Matthew!” Marco covered his mouth with his hand. “Oh my God, they’re going to make you marry Matthew, aren’t they?”
Marco’s suggestion provided the levity I needed, and the fear disappeared. “They won’t remove me from service. I’m too highly trained and that would be a waste of a resource. I’ll kill anyone who tries to brand me. And if for some weird reason they actually succeed in making me marry Matthew Dumont, that would be more of a punishment for him than for me.”
Benjamin flexed his bicep. “Plus, I’ll fight him.” My calm assurances must have relaxed his worry, because he leaned over to Marco and whispered, “Could I take him?”
“He’s just a shapeshifter,” Marco whispered back. “I think you’re safe.”
“Knock it off, you two,” I said with a laugh. “Next month, we’ll all report to Chattahoochee and tell the elders exactly what happened. They’ll throw a fit, tell me I’m a stupid little girl, and then we’ll leave. No big deal.”
As I said the words, I privately vowed to repeat them to myself every day until I fully believed them. My fear was unfounded, an instinctual reaction that I’d one day shed like an old coat.
My team exchanged doubtful glances, but our conversation drifted back into lighter topics. We enjoyed the afternoon at the library, surrounded by the information we’d been denied for so long.
A little girl came up to us and thanked us for rescuing her big brother from a car wreck. A woman tripped while walking down the stairs, but Benjamin didn’t have to heal any broken bones—he ran so fast to catch her that she never hit the ground.
When we left the library a few hours later, books in arms, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the glass doors of the library.
I saw a happy young woman.
Acknowledgments
No book is a solitary effort, and I’d be remiss to not give thanks where it is due.
First and foremost, I must thank God for blessing and guiding this entire process. Similarly, I must thank the countless people who’ve prayed for me, my book, and my career.
I must thank my husband Alex, who has been my biggest fan from day one. Thank you so much for letting me bounce a million ideas off of you, and talking me out of the dumber ones. You’re the best content editor I could ever ask for. I love you.
All of my friends have been wonderfully supportive of my writing, but special acknowledgment goes to Sarah Gonzales. I’ll never forget the day you read my first chapter and told me that I had a solid opening to a novel. There were times when I lived for your chapter notes. You’re the best friend anyone could ever ask for.
A thousand thanks, and a few apologies, go out to Alex Edge, Danielle Snider, Alysia Rowe, Amber-Jean Hensey, and Ashlynn Peery. You listened to me go on about my book long before it was a reality—truly an act of charity.
My critiquers on Scribophile have been invaluable to me, especially: Alan Billing, Renee Harvey, Katie Acosta, and Ada Hardy. I really couldn’t have done this without you guys. Similarly, thank you to the ladies of Enclave: Monika Holabird, Emily Gorman, Katie Bueche, and Ryann Muree. I’m so glad I’m doing this with you to cheer me on!
In a more abstract way, I must acknowledge the cadets and cadre of ODU’s Monarch Battalion class of 2012. That was a wild four years, guys. The challenges and struggles of ROTC went directly into Jillian’s story. I hope you’re all doing well.
And finally, I must thank my mother, Virginia Hull Welch. No matter how many books I sell, how many fans I get, or what I write…deep down, I will always be the quintessential author’s daughter, just trying to make mom proud with my scribbles.
About the Author
Emerald Dodge lives in Maryland with her husband Alex and their two sons. Emerald and Alex enjoy playing with their children, date nights, hosting dinner parties for their friends, and watching movies. They are a Navy family and look forward to traveling around the nation and meeting new people. When she’s not writing, Emerald likes to cook, bake, go to Mass, pray the rosary, and FaceTime with her relatives.
Her favorite social media platform for interacting with fans is Tumblr. Message her on her Tumblr page!
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