“It’s been a year of firsts for us,” she said. “Our first Thanksgiving without her, our first Christmas. Her twenty-fourth birthday, the Fourth of July. Life has been a little emptier without her. A little quieter. But I still feel her with us, watching over us. Sweetheart, we love you.”
Andrew came to stand by their mother, putting his arm around her to comfort her. A few people wiped away tears. Serena wanted to cry, too.
I love you, too. And I’m so much closer than you’ll ever know.
Muriel turned to look up at Serena. Her mother could sense her standing there on the cliff—Serena was sure of it. She sent love down to all of them. It still made her intensely sad to know that she would never be able to comfort her family and friends physically, to put her arms around them. But in her absence, they would comfort each other. And she would never be too far away to watch over them.
Her human life may have ended. But she understood now that her time on earth was just beginning.
She had the Company now. And she had Julian by her side.
In these past few weeks with him, despite the trials they’d undergone together, or perhaps because of them, she finally understood the true nature of romantic love. With him, she felt whole, as though whatever had broken in her during her human life had finally healed. Whatever was missing, she’d finally found. The little voice inside her was finally at peace, no longer whispering of bitterness or resentment.
Behind them, a noise sounded, the faintest brush of movement, too quiet to be human. They both turned at the same time, to see Arielle making her way up the rock toward them. Serena’s heart felt as though it had cracked open and a warm glow spread over her. In that instant, all of time seemed to collapse into one single moment, and all beings seemed connected by a single unifying force: love.
Nearby, under the dense cover of foliage, a pair of green eyes as verdant as the cedar trees glinted in the night. Luciana hid, watching, and fingered the vial of poison that still dangled from her neck. She tilted her face upward in the cool night air, gazing up at the stars through the canopy of forest overhead. And gave thanks. Sent gratitude to the dark forces that had helped her to escape, once again.
Her run-in with the Company had been a setback, and it had drained her energy, to be sure. But she was free. And just as Serena had come home, so Luciana would return home, to a city on the shore of another ocean.
Home to Venice.
To recuperate. To recover. And to plan her revenge.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my very own set of earthly guardians:
Valerie Gray, executive editor at MIRA Books. Thank you for your wholehearted support of this series, and your unwavering commitment to great storytelling. In the past year, your lessons in craftsmanship and your creative guidance have made me a better writer. You have taken me beyond what I could have achieved on my own. House calls much appreciated.
Kimberly Whalen, agent extraordinaire at Trident Media Group. Thank you for taking care of the business side of writing, for your expert advice on the industry. And for helping me to navigate my way through foreign tax forms and other lurking evils.
The Harlequin team. I am eternally grateful for the incredible support from the editorial, marketing and PR departments. I am just getting to know all of you, but recognize the hard work and talent you have each contributed in order to bring this book into the world. Special thanks to Sean Kapitain, for your gorgeous cover art. And to the wonderful Ana Luxton in the marketing department.
Patricia and Garyen. Mom and Dad, thank you for your dedication and love. For teaching me what I needed to know, for your backing and encouragement through the many years of university and through a major career change.
Johanna. I’m so appreciative of your advice and your generosity as a big sister and friend. You have always encouraged me to follow my dreams.
Friends and teachers from various university programs, yoga communities and other walks of life. Over the years, I have been blessed with the company of many kindred spirits. In particular, I thank my dear friend Jeanette, for all the positive energy you have given to this project and others.
Ed. My husband, my best friend, my real-life hero. Best daddy in the whole world to our baby pug, Dexter. Last, but certainly not least—thank you for building a life with me. For showing me the world through your eyes. For your tender heart and extraordinary compassion toward those in need. For continuing to grow with me.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-1179-7
WHERE DEMONS FEAR TO TREAD
Copyright © 2011 by Stephanie Chong
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