“But where have you been?” Tessa demanded when they finally broke apart. She stepped back and took in the clothes, the expensive watch on his wrist.
“It will take time to explain,” Will said with a smile, “but thanks to your deeds, I have a rightful place in this world. I have a home. I even have a history. It seems that in 1511 Hugh de Chaucy was the only survivor of a terrible plague of smallpox in Cornwall. But he survived to be the Earl of Umbric’s heir. He married and had twelve children.”
Tessa clapped her hand to her mouth and laughed. She was so happy for Hugh.
“My family’s name, our lands and title all survived. I have a place in the world, Tessa. Although”—he ran a hand through his hair in a familiar gesture—“the path ahead is not certain.”
“It doesn’t matter. We’ll figure it out.” A feeling of happiness swept over her. “It’s really you,” she whispered. Then she yelled, “Dad! Come down, please. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Will hugged her, and his lips grazed her cheek as he bent down and whispered, “So you finally accept it. We are destined to be together?”
“Uh-huh.”
He smiled and pulled her closer. “I thought you didn’t believe in fate.”
“I didn’t before,” Tessa said. She took his hand and, looking down, wove her fingers into his. The connection felt strong. It felt right. “But I’ve learned a lot,” she said slowly. “Every person makes a difference. And the choices we make, the things we do—they matter.” She looked up into Will’s eyes. “And now I do believe in fate. Especially the kind we make ourselves.”
EPILOGUE
Beneath the tree Yggdrasil, the Norn spoke to each other after a long silence.
“How has she done this?” said Spyn. “Having the key alone would not have twisted his path so.”
“They shared a connection from the past,” said Scytha.
“Perhaps—”
“No.” Weavyr shook her head. “She has the gift. It is the only explanation.”
“Does she know?” Scytha asked in a dismal tone.
No one answered. The Norn stood silent for a time, pondering this question. Then they returned to work.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am grateful to many people who helped bring this story to life. I thank my family for the love and support that allows me to write and encourages me to think I can. My wonderful critique partners, Angie Frazier, Amy Henry and Dawn Metcalf, all gave me invaluable feedback and helped an early draft take flight. My lovely editor, Michelle Poploff, and her assistant, Rebecca Short, asked all the right questions, even if they were sometimes hard to answer! I especially owe a loving debt to my writing friend Marissa McCarthy Goodell, who read Warped from the very beginning and always wanted to know “What happens next?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Before beginning her writing career, Maurissa Guibord worked slinging pizzas, alphabetizing things, and practicing medicine. Now she writes fiction for young adults who love the same kind of story she does: mysterious, romantic, and with a touch of humor. She lives on the coast of Maine with her mysterious cat, her romantic husband, and three kids who make her laugh. Warped is her first published novel.
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