Eternal Echoes, Emblem of Eternity Trilogy Book 2

by Angela Corbett

  “Not my problem.”

  Caleb turned to the rest of the Daevos, addressing the paralyzed crowd. “I’ve been calling you here for this very moment.” Well, now I knew why Daevos members were being drawn to Gunnison. Caleb had brought them here. “Our time has finally come. We have the same powers—better even—than the Amaranthine. Join me, and you can have everything you’ve ever dreamed. Join me, and you can be Gods.”

  Alex, standing now, was shaking with rage. “No one should have that kind of power.”

  “The Amaranthine already do.”

  Alex shook his head. It was clear he thought Caleb had a poorly skewed view of the world.

  Caleb saw it too. “You have such a pretty picture of what you think is right and wrong, Alexander. You’ve convinced yourself that even the vile things you’ve done have a purpose. You think the Amaranthine Society and its members can do no wrong. Well,” he said, thinning his eyes, “Let me show you something.” Caleb said another word I didn’t recognize. I watched as Alex’s eyes fell back into his head. He seemed to be convulsing while standing up. Caleb held him there for several seconds until Alex was completely spent, and then Caleb said something else that relieved Alex of the manipulation.

  As soon as Caleb let him go, Alex dropped his chin to his chest, crumpling into a ball on the cold ground. I ran to him at the same time as Emil and Tate. I fell to the ground next to Alex. Emil was standing to my right, his lips pressed into a line as his eyes traced Alex’s exhausted form before looking up at Caleb. I saw Emil shift his weight and lean into Tate. With me kneeling right beside them, the whispered words were clear. “Find Sam.”

  Tate froze. “Are you sure?”

  Emil held his lips tight and nodded once. “As soon as we get out of this.”

  “What did you do?” I yelled at Caleb, cradling Alex’s head and brushing my hand over his face to see if he was conscious. He didn’t seem to be. I fought back angry tears.

  Caleb’s laugh was low and sinister.

  Then Alex started to move…slowly. I breathed a ragged sigh of relief he was still alive.

  “I gave him back a memory that never should have been taken.”

  I looked at Caleb until I heard Alex speak softly, his breath labored. “It’s…not…true.”

  Caleb laughed again, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle he’d created. “Oh, I assure you, Alex. It is.”

  Alex’s eyes widened, his mouth open slightly. His expression quickly shifted from stunned to horrified. “No. That can’t be.”

  Caleb studied Alex with cold eyes. “You didn’t know. I thought it was time you remembered the truth.”

  Alex gritted his teeth. “You’re a liar.”

  “Perhaps sometimes,” Caleb said with a sly smile, “but not about this. The memory came straight from your own mind. It was just blocked out.” Caleb threw his hands in the air, lifting a shoulder in a carefree manner. “Your cleanly cut version of right and wrong isn’t so clear anymore, is it? So which side are you on now?” Caleb asked, lacing his hands in front of him.

  Alex started to stand as I helped him to his feet. He staggered in front of me, shaking his head like he was trying to puzzle things out. I wasn’t sure what had just happened, but I wanted to know what he’d seen.

  Caleb looked back to me with a sinister grin. “Alex isn’t the only one who has a choice to make, Evie. I had no idea who you were before, or I never would have been so careless. You, my dear, are about to change the world.”

  “Leave. Her. Alone,” Alex managed to grind out.

  “Still protecting her. Do you really think she’d want you to if she knew the truth about what you did?” Caleb adjusted the gloves on his hands. “I know you didn’t forget this; the memory has haunted you for centuries. But maybe you’d like a reminder?” Caleb lifted his hand in the air, palm directed at Alex, and spoke another spell.

  Alex’s eyes fell back in his head and he started convulsing again for over a minute. Caleb spoke once more, releasing Alex from the memory. Alex, still unstable, started to collapse. I went to the ground with him, cradling him, breaking his fall. Alex could barely speak, but he wheezed out one word as he held Caleb’s eyes, “Don’t.” The word came out as a plea. His eyes were as big as saucers and he looked terrified of what Caleb might say.

  Caleb turned to me. I wasn’t sure I wanted his attention, but at least it would take his focus off Alex for a minute. I gave Alex a sympathetic glance before Caleb cleared his throat. “Alex has been keeping secrets from you, Evie.”

  I wrinkled my brow, looking from Caleb to Alex. As I watched them both, Caleb’s self-satisfied expression, and Alex’s utterly defeated features, I realized whatever memory the two of them were now discussing was important. This was something Alex had kept from me deliberately, and definitely didn’t want me to know.

  Alex tried to stand again, but stumbled back to his knees, his face pulled tight. It was clear his pain hadn’t subsided. He could barely talk, but his eyes didn’t move from Caleb’s as he gritted out, “No…not…your…place.”

  The corner of Caleb’s lips quirked. “Oh, but I think it is. It’s been centuries. When were you going to tell her about what really happened in that cottage by the ocean so many years ago?”

  Alex was shaking with a rage I knew he couldn’t adequately convey.

  “Such a beautiful place to be marred by such a horrendous act, Alex. And to think, she believed the Daevos were her only enemies.”

  “NOOOOOOOO!” Alex yelled.

  Then Caleb spoke seven words.

  Seven words that changed my life.

  “Ask Alex why he stabbed Cassandra, Evie.”

  I started to fall into a flashback.

  And my heart shattered.

  Publishing takes a village, and I’m so grateful to the amazing people I had the opportunity to work with on this book.

  Ali Cross, who makes sure my books are formatted perfectly! The women responsible for another amazing cover: Lani Woodland, photographer extraordinaire; and Alma Tait, my fantastic designer. Adrie Buchanan, my gorgeous cover model who spent a long winter afternoon in a strapless gown taking photos in below freezing temperatures…and is still my friend. And my mom, the amazing seamstress who managed to make the perfect wrap and belt for the dress from my explanation of, “It needs to be satin, long, and sapphire blue.”

  Ashley Argyle, my editing F.o.C at InkTip Editing. Thank you for a million reasons, but especially because the first draft wouldn’t have been finished without your advice. I’m so grateful you’re always by my side, willing to endure another round of the “editing version of childbirth.” To Dan, because you calm me down, rein in my crazy, and make me laugh. I love you—with all my heart. Also, a huge thank you to all of my family and friends who have been so supportive of my books.

  To my awesome betas: Lani, Natalie, Dan, and Heather, thank you for your comments! To all the wonderful bloggers who have supported this series so much, I can’t thank you enough! Jean Vallesteros, I’m so very lucky to have you in my life, my sweet friend! My career wouldn’t be where it is without you and Booknerd Tours. Thank you!!! Cristina Scutaru, thank you for being such a huge supporter of this series, creating the Eternal Starling Tumblr page, fan art, and spearheading the campaign to get the book published in Romania! Also, thank you to my Ang’s Devils Street Team and Julie Bromley, for helping me get the word out about my books!

  Chris Wells, the book Jedi, and the staff at the West Jordan, UT, Barnes and Noble who are so supportive of my books. I’m very lucky to have such an awesome local store!

  A huge thank you to the winners of the Sandy Hook benefit auction: Karen Versoi, and Chris and Karen DeVault. The winners got to choose the name of a character in Eternal Echoes. Karen Versoi chose the name Robert after her dad. Chris and Karen DeVault chose the name Vicki after one of the Sandy Hook teachers, Victoria Soto. I thought it was a touching tribute, and hope I did her name justice. And Chris, Snuffy is for you.

  And finall
y, love, hugs, and a MASSIVE thank you to my readers. I absolutely couldn’t do what I do without you! xoxoxo

  Angela Corbett graduated from Westminster College and previously worked as a journalist, freelance writer, and director of communications and marketing. She lives in Utah with her extremely supportive husband, and loves classic cars, traveling, and chasing their five-pound Pomeranian, Pippin—who is just as mischievous as his hobbit namesake. She’s the author of Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult fiction—with lots of kissing. She writes under two names, Angela Corbett, and Destiny Ford.

  You can find her online at

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