“You’ve got a keen grasp of the obvious, Zack.” She waggled the Icon in my direction. I made a sudden grab for it. Nimbly, Lil danced back, boots crunching on the snow. “I don’t really want your tribe’s precious toy,” she said, “but if I hand it over, it’s going to come with some conditions.”
“Oaths again?” I asked sourly.
She tapped the Stylus against her full, red lips while she thought.
“Maybe not,” she allowed.
“What? You actually trust me with something like that?” I scoffed.
She pinned me with her steely gaze. “I think it’s a good sign that you don’t trust yourself.”
A chill came over me that had little connection with the frozen winter landscape. I hugged myself, the shape of four rough earthenware jars pressing hard against my ribs. My stupid scar throbbed again.
“Shall we go somewhere to talk about it?” she inquired.
“Do I have a choice in the matter?”
“Not really,” she said, and she laughed, lifting Lailah’s jar like she was leading a toast. “You’re stuck with us, flyboy.” She hit a button on her key fob, and the engine of the Sebring growled to life. “I’m driving,” she announced—in case there was any question about it.
My old leather jacket waited for me on the seat.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
While the writer shapes the story, it takes the effort of many people to get a book from manuscript to publication. Each job is an essential part of the finished product and without the hard work and support of a number of dedicated people, this book would never have made it to your hands. Allow me to spill a little ink here to show my thanks.
First, I offer deep gratitude to Lucienne Diver of the Knight Agency for having faith in the series and being a diligent advocate for my books. Thanks also to all the good people at Titan – Steve Saffel, Natalie Laverick, Miranda Jewess, Nick Landau, Vivian Cheung, Laura Price, Paul Gill, Selina Juneja, and Julia Lloyd. Steve, especially – your editing style was exactly what I needed. I’m thrilled that we click on the series, and I can’t wait to dive into the next installment of Zack’s adventures.
For words of encouragement as I developed the series, I have to thank Jim, Laurell, and Quinn. You each helped more than you probably realize. And I can’t forget all my Shadow Syndicate friends – Zoë, Vissy, Saibere, Rokes, Quenn, Justin, Halk, Ergenekon, Duende, Daspien, Buck, Abri and everyone else – thank you for helping the stories come to life over the years.
For research tips, I want to thank tour guide Chad and everyone else who helped out on the USS Hornet, Aaron Hammon for 3 am questions about ballistics and Ohio criminal law, Elyria Little for web development and insights into Hebrew, and Merticus Stevens for giving me access to his copy of the Celestial Hierarchy. Finally, I have to thank Cat Mason – artist, guildie, and friend – for lending her incredible talent to all my Shadowside extras on the website.
Thank you, all.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michelle Belanger is most widely recognized for her work on television’s Paranormal State, where she explored abandoned prisons and haunted houses while blindfolded and in high heels. A leading authority on psychic and supernatural topics, her non-fiction research has led to more than two dozen books such as The Dictionary of Demons, Walking the Twilight Path, and The Psychic Vampire Codex, and has been sourced in television shows, university courses, and numerous publications around the world.
She has worked as a media liaison for fringe communities, performed with gothic and metal bands, lectured on vampires at colleges across North America, and designed immersive live action role-playing games (RPGs) for companies such as Wizards of the Coast. Her research on the Watcher Angels has led to both a Tarot deck and the album Blood of Angels. She has appeared on CNN, A&E, Fox News, Reelz, and the History Channel.
Michelle resides near Cleveland, Ohio in a house with three cats, a few friendly spirits, and a library of more than four thousand books. More information can be found at
www.michellebelanger.com.
COMING SOON FROM TITAN BOOKS
THE SHADOWSIDE SAGA
Michelle Belanger
HARSH GODS
When the police seek help on a baffling case, Zack finds himself plunged into a deadly mix of spirits, violence, and possession. From a murder/suicide involving a vet who served two tours in Iraq, to the street gang that escalates from petty theft to serial assault, something is driving people insane. The key may lie in the blood-filled visions of a sickly young woman who is either a visionary, or possessed by the evil that’s orchestrating it all.
Available 2016
THE RESURRECTION GAME
The city is terrorized by a rash of ritualistic murders. When Zack teams with occult expert Madison Young, he discovers that he may be intimately connected with the murderer.
Available 2017
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Conspiracy of Angels Page 30