by Brenda Drake
Arik gave me a sour face. “And the Sentinels are going to be the troubled teens.”
“You got it.”
“As long as I’m with you, I won’t mind the stigma.” He raised my hand to his lips and kissed my fingertips softly. “I’d go anywhere with you.”
My heart belonged to Arik.
“I was so worried about you.” I leaned over and pressed my lips to his. “If you’re lucky, when I come back later, I’ll give you a sponge bath,” I said against his lips, then laid my head against his chest, the rhythm of his heartbeat soothing me.
His arm wrapped around my back. “You’re such a tease.” He lifted a weak smile, then paused before adding, “I apologize for not being able to help you in that fight.”
I sat up. “Like I said before, I can take care of myself.”
“Yes, you can.” He gave me a naughty grin. “Come back here.”
I bent over and kissed his forehead. “You should rest. I’ll be back later.” I stood and walked to the door.
He turned his head to watch me. “You do realize this is only the beginning, right?”
I stopped in the doorway. “Yeah, I know,” I said.
It was the beginning, all right: the beginning of my new life as a Sentinel and the beginning of the end of my life before I got sucked into that damn book. The door slowly shut and I caught a final glimpse of Arik’s gorgeous face.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Acknowledgments
There is one name on the cover of this book, but there are many names of people who supported and guided it (and me) to publication. The journey was long, painful at times, but worth every trial to realize this dream. And thank you doesn’t seem strong enough to express my gratitude, but I offer it to the following amazing friends, peers, and family members with my entire heart.
To my agent, Peter Knapp, for all the support while getting this book out in the world. At times it was tough, but knowing you were on my team, helped me through the darkest moments. I’m so happy to celebrate this success with you. Thank you for taking this jump with me.
My publisher and editor, Liz Pelletier, thank you for believing in me and loving this story as much as I do. This book wouldn’t be the story it is today without your guidance. Thanks for being tough on me and pushing me to do better. I won the editor lottery when you took me on.
A grateful thanks to Stacy Abrams, Editorial Director of Entangled Teen, for all your support and helping with copyedits. You have to be the sweetest person I know.
Thank you to Meredith Johnson, Robin Haseltine, Julia Knapman, Lydia Sharp, Fowler Martens, and Beth Hicks for edits and ensuring each page sparkled. A big thank you to Heather Ricco for keeping everything organized. To the publicity team, Melissa, Debbie, Katie, Jessica, Rhianna, & Anita, along with the entire Entangled family, I’m amazed by the support the authors and employees of this house extend to each other every day. I’m proud to be included in this talented group. Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.
A warm thank you to my publicist Jen Halligan for your support and marketing prowess.
Thank you to Louise Fury for your wonderful guidance and being a great friend. You have such a big heart and I love you bunches!
A huge thank you to my critique partners without whom this story would never have been good enough to get a publisher in the first place. Erica Chapman for the endless phone calls hashing out plots, unloading concerns, and laughing until it hurt. And most of all, for telling me, “Get rid of the cats.” Your advice is always spot on. Shannon Duffy for helping me get my characters in shape and warming my heart with your generosity. To Jami Nord for your quick and accurate notes and for just being tough on me. Shelley Watters for helping me get that icky love thing right and for talking me off the ledge more times, than I’d like to admit. Trisha Wolfe and Cassandra Marshall who contributed to this book in its infant stages. And to Veronica Bartles, Paula Ashmore, and Julie Diercks who helped me tidy a few things up during drafts. My first readers, Kayla Ashmore, Heather Anderson, Emily Bartles, and Lucia Gregorakis who made me smile often.
A special thank you to Mandy Schoen, Hallie Tibbetts, and Sue Zaynard for your wonderful edits in the earlier stages of this book’s publishing journey. I appreciate the hard work and kindness you each gave me.
A shout out to my blog and contest assistant, Nikki Roberti. Without you, I would have gone insane ages ago.
A huge thank you to my best friend since middle school, Joannine Kramarsic, for reading every single version I sent her and being enthusiastic each time, and always cheering me on. Gratitude to Connie Kallman for all our long, brainstorming walks. I miss them and you greatly.
I would never have ventured out of my writing cave or learned my weaknesses without the help of the talented ladies who run the Adventures in YA and Children’s Publishing blog, Martina Boone and Lisa Gail Green. Thank you for your wonderful contests and workshops. And to Jessica Soulders who helped me get my query and logline in shape during one of them.
Thanks to all the writers, critique partners, and friends who support me always: K.T. Hanna, Donna Munoz, Rebecca Coffindaffer, Marieke Nijkamp, Maggie E. Hall, Dee Romito, Mónica Bustamante Wagner, Krista Van Dolzer, Sharon Johnston, Summer Heacock, Jami Montgomery, and all the other writers who contribute to my contests or participate in them. Your advice and friendship made this journey even sweeter. Also, a thank you to my friends on Twitter and in the blogosphere, you entertain me each day during breaks, cheer my successes, and pick me up when I’m down.
Thank you to the young girls who inspired the character Gia, Tarah Ashmore her athleticism and ponytail, Kayla Ashmore her love for books and libraries, and Eugenia Woods her spunk.
A shout out to my family living in Massachusetts, the LaPointes and Yacovones, and all the branches thereof. You all are the reason my heart remains in Massachusetts and my stories often find their homes there.
I’d like to thank my mom, Jean LaPointe, for always reading and giving me the love for books, and my father, Walter “Skip” LaPointe, for passing on his stubbornness, which my parents probably thought wasn’t good when I was a teen, but turned out to be a blessing on my quest to get published.
To my sister, my soul mate, Paula Ashmore. Thank you for always being there from day one. I’m so happy to have shared a room, and now, a deep friendship with you. My brother, Mark LaPointe, thank you for making me tough and for protecting me. I needed a tough skin during this journey.
My boys, Eric and Jacob, thank you for letting me steal your personalities for Arik and Nick, and for dragging me to fantasy movies when you were younger. You are my world. Thank you for your love and support. My girls, Cara, Annika, Fallon, and baby Stevie thank you for all the love and happiness you give me each day. I am truly blessed.
For my husband, Rich, who is the most understanding man on the planet, my best friend, desk mate, and love of my life. Thank you for asking me on that fateful day just after our wedding, and because you were feeling a little smothered, if I had a hobby. Because of you, I found my voice, and my life is so much more enriched with you in it.
Thanks to my family and friends for understanding when I couldn’t go out or answer the phone for weeks during intense edits. And a heartfelt thank you to my readers, fantastic book bloggers, and librarians for taking a chance and reading this book.
About the Author
Brenda Drake grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up is of her eccentric, Irish grandmother’s animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical. When she’s not writing or hanging out with her family, she haunts libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or reads someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).
www.brenda-drake.com
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