He was already down by the water, near the edge of the marshlands and where the staff cottages sat. It was the best, most private place to do such a thing, and I felt glad for that. Seeing Caleb in his nice clothes felt like a punch to my chest.
He must’ve dug a pair of black trousers out of the bottom of his closet, as they were a couple of inches too short for him. Even though Mom had tried to kil Caleb, he’d dressed up out of respect for her memory and for me. Something stuck in my throat. I swal owed, but the sensation didn’t go away.
Sympathy radiated from Caleb as he stepped forward and took the flowers out of my hand. Quietly, he set about setting up the little boats, and I plucked off the soft petals and sprinkled them in the boats. I thought she… would’ve liked the extra touch.
Staring down at the three boats, I swal owed again. One for Mom, one for Kain, and one for al the others who had died. “I real y appreciate this,” I said. “Thank you.”
“I’m just glad you’re doing this.”
The burning in my eyes increased and my throat tightened.
“And you wanted to include me,” he added.
Oh, gods. He was going to make it happen. I was going to cry.
Caleb edged closer to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “It’s okay.”
A single tear snuck out. I caught it with the tip of my finger before it made its way down my cheek, but then came another fat tear… and another. I wiped at my face with the back of my hand. “I’m sorry,” I sniffled.
“No,” Caleb shook his head, “don’t be sorry.”
I nodded and took a deep breath. After a few moments, I reined the tears back in and forced a wan smile.
We were kind of lost in each other’s arms for a while.
Both of us had something to mourn—something we’d lost.
Perhaps Caleb needed this, too. Time seemed to slow down until we were ready.
I looked at the candles. “Shoot.” I’d forgotten a lighter.
“Need a light?”
We turned toward the deep, rich voice. I recognized the sound al the way down to my soul.
Aiden stood a short distance from us, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans. The setting sun created a halo affect around him, and for a tiny moment, I almost believed he was actual y a god and not a pure.
I blinked, but he didn’t disappear. He was real y here.
“Yes.”
He stepped forward and touched each vanil a candle with the tip of his finger. Abnormal y bright flames sparked and grew, unfazed by the breeze coming off the ocean. When he was done, he stood and looked at me. Pride and reassurance fil ed his gaze, and I knew he approved of what I was doing.
I swal owed back more tears as Aiden retreated back to where he’d been standing. With effort, I tore my gaze from him and picked up my little boat. Caleb fol owed suit, and we walked to where the water turned to white, wispy foam, licking at our knees—far enough out that the surf wouldn’t carry the boats back in.
Caleb sat the two boats down first. His lips moved, but I couldn’t hear what he said. Possibly a prayer? I couldn’t be sure, but after a few moments, he let go of his boats and the waves carried them off.
So much stuff ran through my head as I stared down at my boat. I closed my eyes, seeing her beautiful smile. I pictured her nodding and tel ing me it was okay, okay to let it al go now. And I guess, in a way, it was okay. She was in a better place. I real y believed that. There’d always be some sort of guilt. Everything she’d done from the moment the oracle had spoken to her had led to this, but it was over
—final y over. Bending down, I set the spirit boat on the water.
“Thank you for everything, for al you gave up for me.” I paused, feeling the slick wetness running down my face. “I miss you so much. I’l always love you.”
My fingers lingered around the boat for a second more, and then the foamy waves carried the boat from me.
Further and further out, the three boats went, their candles stil glowing. The sky had darkened by the time I lost sight of the boats and their soft light. Caleb waited for me on the sand, and beyond him stood Aiden. If Caleb thought anything about Aiden’s presence, it didn’t show on his face.
Careful y, I made my way back to the beach. The distance between Aiden and me seemed to evaporate, and it was only the two of us. A smal smile crept over his lips as I approached him.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Aiden seemed to understand I was thanking him for more than just a light. He spoke in a low voice so only I could hear him. “When my parents died, I never thought I’d find peace again. I know you have, and for that, I’m happy. You deserve it, Alex.”
“Did… you ever find peace?”
He reached out and brushed his fingers over the curve of my cheek. It was such a quick gesture I knew Caleb never saw it. “Yes. I have now.”
I inhaled sharply, wanting to say so much to him, but I couldn’t. I like to think he knew, and he probably did. Aiden stepped back, and with one last look, he turned and headed home.
I watched until Aiden became nothing more than a faint shadow. Returning to where Caleb sat, I dropped down beside him and placed my head on his shoulder. Every so often, the salt water would tickle our toes, and I’d catch the scent of vanil a from the breeze rol ing off the ocean. The air felt warm and pleasant, but the edge of the gentle wind held a soft chil , signifying autumn was on its way. But for right now, the sand felt warm on the island off the Carolina coast and the air stil smel ed of summer.
THE END
Also from Spencer Hil Press:
PURE:
The Second Covenant Novel
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
(April 2012)
Alex lives—and loves—recklessly, until a single decision leads to a heartbreaking revelation. As a mysterious threat closes in and she confronts a Council that wants to see her in servitude, Alex face a choice between love that is fated… and love that is forbidden.
978-0-9831572-2-9 : Paperback
978-0-9831572-3-6 : e-book
MASTERS OF THE VEIL
by Daniel A. Cohen
(March 2012)
Life can’t get much better for Sam Lock. Popular, good-looking, and with a future as a professional footbal player… every guy at Stanton High School wishes he were Sam. That is, until his championship footbal game, when Sam accidental y links with an ancient source of energy known as the Veil and reveals his potential to become a powerful sorcerer.
Sam’s dreams are crushed as he is whisked off to Atlas Crown, a community of sorcerers who utilize the Veil as a part of everyday life. Once there, he trains beside a mute boy who speaks through music, an eternal sage who is the eyes and ears of the Veil, and a beautiful girl who's pretty sure Sam's an idiot.
As it becomes clear that Sam is meant for power magic
—the most feared and misunderstood form of sorcery—
people beyond Atlas Crown learn of his dangerous potential. An exiled group of power sorcerers are eager to recruit Sam, believing that he is destined to help them achieve their long-held goal. If they succeed, they could bring about the downfal of not only Atlas Crown… but al of humankind.
978-1-937053-02-4 : Paperback
978-1-937053-03-1 : e-book
THE GANZFIELD BOOKS:
Minder, Adversary, Legacy, Accused, Operative,
Soulmate
by Kate Kaynak
Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility ful of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place. Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control. A stray thought can burn a building to the ground. And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads. But it's stil better than New Jersey. Especial y once she meets the man of her dreams...
978-0-9845311-0-3 : Minder Paperback 978-0-9845311-1-0 : Minder e-book
&nb
sp; ANGELINA'S SECRET
by Lisa Rogers
(February 2012)
As a child, Angelina spent years in counseling learning that Josie, her imaginary friend, wasn't real, but it turns out her childhood friend wasn't imaginary after al .
Now Angelina has to accept she's either (A) crazy or (B) able to see ghosts. Wanting to believe in her sanity, she chooses (B) and welcomes Josie back into her life. But even Josie can't help her deal with Shel y, the spirit of a confused teenager, and things go very, very wrong.
When Angelina finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, she faces a choice: she can spend the rest of her life pretending to be someone she isn't, or she can embrace who she is and take a chance that she may never get to go home.
978-0-9831572-8-1 : Paperback
978-0-9831572-9-8 : e-book
ELEMENTAL
by Emily White
(May 2012)
For ten years—ever since she was a smal child—El a has been held prisoner. Now that she has escaped, she needs answers. Who is she? Why was she taken? And who is the boy with the beautiful green eyes who haunts her memories?
Is El a the prophesied Destructor… or wil she be the one who's destroyed?
978-1-937053-04-8 : Paperback
978-1-937053-05-5 : e-book
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank my Mom and Dad for al owing me to write random stuff with permanent markers al over the wal s of my bedroom when I was a teenager and not kil ing me.
To Jesse, thank you for playing Barbies and Nintendo with me. Thank you to Jerry and al my family, extended and close, for being the awesome sauce. A special shout out to whoever created zombies. Whenever I feel like I’m having a bad day, I take a peek at the living dead and total y feel better about myself. Thank you to my sister Dawn, who is probably the only person in this world who wants to see my face on a shirt and not on the back of a milk carton. Ricky Bobby—I don’t know what I would’ve done without the endless distraction you and your sidekick have provided me whenever I’ve reached an impasse in my writing (Thank you, baby Jesus).
So very thankful for my friends—Dawn, Lesa, Amber, Amber number 2, Shel y, Kel ey, Lisa, Tracy, Ashlee, Jen and everyone else—for not disowning me because I choose to spend time with imaginary friends. My betas and awesome writing friends—Brenda St. John Brown, Kimberlee Turley, Claire Merle, Lisa Rogers, Stephanie Sauvinet, Catherine Peace—al helped me not make a complete idiot out of myself when it came to revisions and al that good stuff. Remember those names, because they wil be your favorite authors real soon. Thanks to Carissa Thomas for helping me brainstorm while I played the waiting game. And love and hugs to al the wonderful members of Query Tracker Forum for always being supportive, kind, and ingenious.
O h, Chewie— m y Chewsters, Chewtoy, also known as Chu-won Martin, you were my first friend to actual y read anything I wrote and not laugh. You wil always hold a special place in my heart.
None of this would have happened without my editor and the wonderful y supportive and enthusiastic team at Spencer Hil Press: Kate, Debbie, Osman, and Kendra.
Kate—wow, I don’t even know what to say. Without you, Half-Blood would stil be an annoying and useless file on my computer. You are remarkable and I’m indebted to you.
Michael—thank you for putting up with me when I spend more time with inanimate objects than you. Love you.
Did you think I was going to forget Loki? Ha. Loki, I love you. You’re the best damn dog in the world. I also would like to thank those who looked at me like I was insane when I said I wanted to be a published author. Because of you, I’m achieving that dream.
And final y, huge thanks to Julie Fedderson—you rock my world with your insanely right-on critiques and hilarious comments. Julie, we need to share that bottle of wine sometime soon. I have such a writer crush on you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in West Virginia. Al the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. Wel , mostly. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write. She shares her home with her husband, his K-9 partner named Diesel, and her hyper Jack Russel Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent her time writing short stories... therefore explaining her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes Adult and Young Adult Urban Fantasy and Romance.
Come find out more about the books of the Covenant series at:
www.ACovenantNovel.com.
Advance Praise for Half-Blood
“I want to get my love for this book across with just sounding like a squeeing fangirl that is babbling nonsense, but I’m not sure I will be able to do it. Half-Blood is just that amazing. This series is going right to the top of my favorites list!... Half-Blood is an action-packed thrill ride that pulled no punches. Full of fantastic mythology, great storytelling, forbidden love, and danger at every corner, Half-Blood has something for everyone. ”
— Reading Angel
“Half-Blood is pure awesomeness. I loved this book from beginning to end... Half-Blood is one of those books you finish reading and can’t read anything else for months because you are stuck in that amazing world of unforgettable characters.”
— Bookittyblog
“Jennifer has this amazing way of sucking me into the story and making it so I never want to leave. I absolutely could not get enough of this amazing book.”
— My Bookish Fairy Tale
“Half-Blood takes the WOW factor to a whole new level...the HOLY CRAP
level for real! What author Jennifer Armentrout has done with classic Greek mythology, Greek Gods and story telling at its best is amazing. I instantly fell in love with the characters. I was laughing, sitting on the edge of my seat, crying and holding my breath.”
— Mindy Fangedmom, Books Complete Me
“After reading the prequel, I knew I HAD to have the book to read more.
Half-Blood is fast-paced and full of action. It’s definitely a great read that brings in elements of mythology, but stays fresh.”
— Letters Inside Out
“This book has everything: the scary monsters, the dangerous quests, the annoying family members, the steamy scenes... I just couldn’t get enough of it.”
— iLive, iLaugh, iLove Books
“Jennifer Armentrout delivers a wonderful new YA series that no one should miss reading... and it has all the potential to become the next favorite series for many readers. I know for sure that it became mine!”
— Books to Brighten Your Mood
“Oh. My. Goodness... I really wanted to just enjoy this one and let it soak in slowly. Please read this!”
— I’m a Book Shark
“This book has been blowing up across the blogosphere, and I can assure every person reading this review: it’s that freaking good. It’s one of those books that you open to read and then set it down four hours later, head spinning like you’ve spent an afternoon on the tilt-a-whirl with the biggest grin on your face. It has everything you could want: action, romance, angst, and so much more.”
— The Irish Banana Review
“If you want to lose yourself for a couple of days, just plain out fall-off-the-face-of-the-planet-and-not-remember-what-else-is-going-on-in-the-world, lose yourself... THIS BOOK WILL DO THAT! I was completely blown away.”
— YA Bound
“I really think Half-Blood is going to stand out among the throngs of paranormal books. It’s a captivating, action packed and unpredictable adventure with compelling characters that kept me turning the pages, gasping and sighing with emotion until the end. I’ve found my new favourite series.”
— Safari Poet
“This is a 2011 must read!... I was constantly guessing and couldn’t wait to turn the page to find out what happens next! I def recommend to put this on your tbr, and to pick it up the second it releases!!! Jennifer has written a masterpiece!”
— Blkosiner’
s Book Blog
“Jennifer L Armentrout has written a page turner worthy of a one sitting read. Clear your day. It’s literally impossible to put Half Blood down until totally devoured....and then you are licking your lips for more... If you don’t put this on your must reads list, then you will be missing out. Jennifer writes with such clarity and the tension...oh my goodness, the story is sooo well written, the excitement does not let up for a minute... I am making a prediction that Aiden St. Delphi is going to be giving Dimitri, from Vampire Academy, a run for his money, especially once the series really gets underway, and that’s saying something. Aiden is the new hottie in town.”
— Novels on the Run
“This is definitely my favourite mythology-based book to date... I definitely give this 5/5 and I cannot wait for the next installment, Pure.”
— The Cait Files
“Ms. Armentrout has created a world filled with magic and danger... The author has added enough twists that it will keep your interest and make you want to read more! I really, really enjoyed it and was bummed when I arrived at the end.”
— Nightly Reading
“Half-Blood was everything that I love in a book. There was romance, action and drama! I would not change one single thing about it! This book quite literally took my breath away! It pulled me and didn’t let me go until the final page. Actually, it never really let me go because I am completely aching for the next in the series.”
— Two Readers Reviews
“This isn’t your average mythology novel; no, it is much more than that.
Armentrout officially has me hooked on this series, and I may go crazy waiting for the next installment.”
— IB Book Blogging
“So many elements make this a great story: action, romance, dealing with death, finding out who you truly are, and discovering new things about the world you’ve always known. Half-Blood is one of my favorite books this year. I’d advise everyone to pick it up.”
— The Reading Housewives
“This is one book to remember, THE one you definitely wanna read and reread... This book is perfect! A total MUST READ!!”
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