The Blackwater Legacy (The Bloodlines Legacy Series Book 2)

by Apryl Baker

  “I don’t know.” She shrugs helplessly. “I barely know him, Alex, but it feels like I’ve known him forever. He irritates me, he aggravates me, I want to hit him most of the time, but yet…”

  “But yet, you find yourself melting around him? Your heart speeds up and it’s all you can do to concentrate on not wanting to jump him?”

  “Yeah, that and more.” Her laugh echoes through the room. “I don’t know what it is, but he’s mine.”

  “You do understand what he did, yeah?” It’s something Sabien had explained to us all when he gave us our first vampire lesson. Sadie should remember, but if not, I don’t know how she’s going to feel about living for as long Aleric does.

  She gives me a tired smile. “I was dying, Alex. It was the only way he could save my life. I didn’t want this, but I’m stuck with it, so I’m going to make the best of it. At least now you won’t live a long life without me.”

  “Look at us. We just lived through some hellacious magical battles, and here we are talking about something as mundane as boys and growing old together. What is wrong with us?”

  “Nothing. We’re just getting used to the insane being our new normal.”

  “You know, when I first came to Jacob’s Fork, it was supposed to be the start of my new life. All I wanted was to be normal, to have what everyone else has. To be anyone but me, the girl locked away because she went crazy.”

  “You weren’t crazy, though Alex.”

  “I know. Now, even after all this, I wouldn’t trade any of it for normal anymore. Normal is underrated. I can deal with the insane being the new norm.”

  Saidie chuckles and snuggles herself deeper into Aleric’s arms. She looks so peaceful, so happy. I don’t know what happened to her while she was in New Orleans. It may never be something she wants to discuss, but I’ll be here if she’s ever ready. I do have one question, though.

  “Saidie, Aleric said Luka owed you his life. What did he mean?”

  “Madame knew who you and Luka were. She found the group photo you packed in my suitcase and demanded to know where you two were. She wanted Luka to complete her Rinaldi collection, and she wanted you to either barter with the other families or maybe to get your magic herself. I don’t know. Either way, I refused to tell her. She did some things to me, things I’m not ready to talk about, but it made Aleric understand I wasn’t evil. I protected him, you, and his brother in the face of the worst moment of my life. No matter what she did to me, I wouldn’t tell her.”

  “You suffered to keep us safe?” A tear rolls down my cheek. The horror filling her eyes speaks volumes about what she went through. “I am so sorry.”

  “Hey, you’re my best friend. No one’s gonna mess with you without messing with me.”

  “I’d hug you, but…”

  “But I might accidentally kill you.” She shakes her head. “Bree said her friend is going to come down next week and start training me how to harness my magic, and maybe then I can hug you the way I want to. You’re my sister, Alex. Maybe not by blood, but you are my sister in my heart.”

  “Me too.” I shift, trying to get comfortable. Luka grumbles and pulls me tighter. Rolling my eyes, I give up. “I love you, Saidie, as much as I do Jason. You’re my sister too.”

  “Well, you’re stuck with me for the next couple hundred years or so.” She gives me a crooked grin. “Can you imagine the hell we’re going to give these two?”

  I laugh, thinking about it. These boys are never going to know what hit them.

  Life is good. As messed up as it is, as terrified as I am it’s not real, it’s still good. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

  Luka grumbles in his sleep, shifting, pulling me tight. But then he does something that makes me and Saidie both go quiet. He starts to call out a name.

  Magdeline.

  Who the hell is Magdeline?

  The End of Book 2

  The Blackstone Legacy

  Book 3 of the Bloodlines Legacy Series

  2018

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  A Note From the Author

  This series is near and dear to my heart. The first book, The Blackburne Legacy was a complete rewrite of the first book I ever wrote for publication, The Awakening. If you’ve read the first edition, you’ll know how much I changed it. Completely different plot, new characters, the whole nine yards. For years, people kept asking me to write book two, but I wouldn’t. Deep down, I knew the first book needed some TLC. When I finally got around to rereading The Awakening, I cringed the entire time I read it. As an author, we all want to believe everything we write is perfect, especially our earlier work. As we learn our craft, we can go back and see those books in an entirely different light. The Awakening had to go away and The Blackburne Legacy was born. I knew it was the book it was supposed to be, and I was eager to continue the story.

  It was through time and patience I was able to create my true vision, and it was that same time and patience that brought me Saidie and Aleric’s story. I know everyone is going to ask why the entire book isn’t about Saidie. It’s simple. This series is about Alex, but it’s also about the people she has collected, the people she needs. Saidie’s gift was unique and I wanted people to understand where her head was at, what she did to protect her friends, her family. The Bloodlines Legacy series is about family at its heart, and Saidie is as much a part of Alex’s family as Jason is. She deserved for the readers to understand how much she loved Alex and what she’d go through to protect her. It also gave me the opportunity to introduce Aleric and reunite him with Luka. Aleric needed a way to show Luka and the readers not all necromancers are evil, and I think his time with Saidie did that.

  It also gave me the opportunity to open up a new series I will be starting next year that focuses on Saidie and her newfound gifts. I want you to enjoy her and Aleric’s story as they grow and learn. To watch her become the necromancer that existed in the beginning, to see Aleric’s strength become so great, vampires will shudder away from him. Vampires are evil. Deadly. Dangerous. He is all those things, he is the person Devon was and more in The Awakening, except when it comes to Saidie. Their story is far from finished.

  I hope you enjoy this second book as much I did writing it.

  XOXO ~ Apryl Baker

  Read More From Apryl Baker

  The Ghost Files

  The Ghost Files (Volume 1)

  The Ghost Files (Volume 2)

  The Ghost Files (Volume 3)

  The Ghost Files (Volume 3.5)

  The Ghost Files (Volume 4 Part 1)

  The Ghost Files (Volume 4 Part 2)

  The Coven Series

  The Promise (Book 1)

  The Oath (Book 2)

  The Vow (Book 3) coming Summer 2017

  The Bloodlines Legacy Series

  The Blackburne Legacy (Book 1)

  The Blackwater Legacy (Book 2)

  The Manwhore Series

  Touch Me Not (Book 1)

  The Sinner’s Touch (Book 2)

  DeCadia Series

  The DeCadia Code (Book 1)

  The Crucible (Book 2)

  Hybrid (Sector 3, The Othala Witch Collection)

  Acknowledgements

  Time for this again? Let me think…

  All the usual suspects first—my publisher, Limitless Publishing, for taking such great care of me. They gave me a shot and I’m still telling y’all my silly nonsense. So thank you to everyone on the team. Lori Whitwam—editor extraordinaire. You have taught me to be such a better writer. I don’t know what I’d do without you. If you ever tell me you can’t edit one of my books, I’d seriously cry. Thank you so much!

  Angela Fristoe. You are the absolute best cover designer I have ever worked with. No matter how many times I say, “No, it’s not right, can we start over,” you never lose your temper or your patience with me. You know how obsessed I am with my covers and you take your time, letting me sort through the vision in my h
ead and finding the words and images I need so you can make it come alive. Whether it’s a week or six months, you patiently work with me. Not many would do that without losing their temper. I love ya, doll, and thank you! Anyone interested in cover design by Angela, she is the owner and operator of Covered Creatively.

  Conner Kressley—thank you and your family so much for all your help with all things Romani. You shared your heritage with me, and I was able to make my work authentic because of it. You are awesome in so many ways! Thanks so much.

  My review team—thank God for all y’all. I don’t know what I’d do without you and your feedback. You are amazing.

  Kay C. Steele—I am so glad to have met you. Your enthusiasm for the books you adore bleeds out when you talk about them. You are going to be a brilliant author, and I can’t wait to support your work just as you’ve supported mine. You are a wonderful friend.

  My PA—Nathalie Raven. Doll, you are a lifesaver. I don’t know what I would do without you. You took so much off my plate and gave me back my time to write. Thank you!

  My friends and family—what can I say? I go days, sometimes weeks without speaking to anyone when I’m working. You give me space and time, well, except for Chazz Willow. You barge in. LOL. I love you for it, though. Keeps me from being all hermit like. Or so you tell me.  I don’t think I could do this without the support of my family and friends. I love you guys so much. Thank you.

  Last, but not least—my readers. I could write a thousand books and if no one read them, they’d just be words hanging around. You read my stuff and if I’ve entertained just one person or made them feel something, then everything I’ve sacrificed and worked so hard for has been worth it. I love and appreciate each and every one of you.

  About The Author

  USA Today bestselling author Apryl Baker lives in a small town in West Virginia where she spends her days plotting away at silly insane stories to entertain you all. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her family and friends.

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