Shadow ambles over to me. Long legs, all grace.
Alone, I feel the toll inside me. I know I won’t ever forget Rael. And I won’t ever forget the extraordinary power I had for a brief time. But I’m not powerless.
Every second, I choose who I am. I have the power to be hopeful, or trusting, or forgiving. Every second, I can create a Reason.
I pat Shadow’s velvety neck, feeling her warmth and her reassuring breaths. “We did it, girl. We brought Bas home.” Then I look up to find the star where a fallen angel is suffering. I think I find it.
I must, because I feel hope.
I swing into the saddle and take up the reins. “Okay, girl. Let’s go home.”
CHAPTER 46
GIDEON
“Where’s Gideon? Has anyone seen Gideon?”
The voice sends a bolt of panic through me. Marcus splits into a grin as I shoot behind the pool house, hopefully out of sight.
Bas laughs, shaking pool water out of his hair. “Dude. Doc Martin loves you.”
“Yeah, but why?” I ask, peering from behind a hedge. “Why does he love me?”
When we planned to have a party at Daryn’s place in Connecticut, I was prepared for a lot of different scenarios for dealing with her dad. But not this.
Dr. Martin has literally followed me around all day, from the minute I showed up with the guys at ten this morning. He took me on a tour of the house, then the property. I got an expert-level tour of Daryn’s mom’s garden. Then he took me to the dock where he keeps his boat. That led to a quick two-hour boat ride around Long Island Sound. This was all while everyone else stayed here at the house, swimming, barbecuing. Having fun.
Doc Martin has asked me seventy-two billion questions about my prosthetic, my family, my goals and dreams for life. We even spent some quality time on celiac. I think at this point he might know me better than Daryn does.
The only upside to all this is that Chief, Dr. Martin’s dog, is just as into me. I look down, and the little guy jumps all over my leg, wanting me to pet him. I squat and let him attack-lick me. I’m pretty sure this dog was always meant to be in my life, just like Daryn and the guys. And Riot.
“Dr. Martin is either really smart, and knows how to keep his daughter happy, or … your terrific personality won him over.”
Jode laughs at his own comment. Hehehe.
“Is he close? Should I start running?” I look across the patio. The party is a mix of people I know and people I don’t.
Cordero’s here. Laughing at something Ben’s saying. It’s good to see her having fun. For a while there, I wasn’t sure I’d ever see that again.
Anna is deep in conversation with Josie, Daryn’s sister, but she occasionally looks over at Jode, like she just wants to know where he is. Like Daryn and me. Like Dr. Martin and me, too.
There are family friends of the Martins’ here. Some of Josie’s college friends and some of Daryn’s high school friends.
It’s a really diverse mix of people. High-powered doctors going red at the scalp from all the sun. Kids cannonballing into the pool and throwing Frisbees on the lawn. The sun shines and there isn’t a cloud in the sky.
Not many days earn the “perfect” label, but this one does.
Easy.
Even though Low isn’t here. And even though Mom couldn’t make it out.
It’ll happen someday.
For now, this is more than enough.
Maia comes over, wedging a lime into her beer bottle. “I need a Foosball partner. Suarez and Soraya are getting too cocky. Marcus.” She tips her head. “Let’s dominate.”
“Aight.” Marcus looks at me. “Better hide, G.”
And just as he steps away, Dr. Martin steps up. “Gideon! There you are!” He claps me on the shoulder. “I want you to meet one of my colleagues. He was a Ranger, too. Long time ago, though. I don’t think he’d know your father, but we’ll see.”
“Always worth a try, right?” I hear myself say, super gamely. He’s really not that bad.
Behind me I hear Jode’s laugh again.
Daryn’s dad keeps up a steady flow of conversation as we walk. Did I try the short ribs? He checked and the seasoning is gluten-free, and it’s his favorite, and I have to try it. Has he told me he has half a mind to give me Chief so he can stop hearing about the damage the dog’s doing to his wife’s flower beds?
“More than half a mind,” he says. “In fact, I think it’s a great idea. Don’t you think?”
I look down at Chief. The puppy’s trotting beside me, heeling perfectly for a few steps, then tackling my ankles. “Um, yes, sir. But don’t you think Josie or Daryn might have an issue with—”
“We’ll ask. I doubt it! They’ll say yes, I’m sure of it.” He looks down. “What do you say, Chief? Ah, look at that. He’s on board! Now, where were we? Oh, yes! Rangers!”
I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know how to react to this guy. He’s like Sebastian times a million. “Dr. Martin? Sorry to interrupt, sir. But have you seen Daryn?”
He stops and looks at me like he’s just remembered he has a daughter. “With her mother, I think. Can’t separate those two since Dare’s been back. Of course now that you’re here, I’m sure she’ll want to spend time with you. She’ll have to get in line, though. We’ve got some great times ahead of us, right son?” He loops his arm over my shoulders, which is awkward because he’s shorter.
“Absolutely, sir.”
He looks at me and shakes his head. “Good kid, Gideon. Come on! Let’s meet a fellow Ranger. Hooah!”
CHAPTER 47
DARYN
“Oh my goodness.” Mom rinses a glass and hands it to me without looking away from the window. Outside, Dad is accosting Gideon yet again, talking at him nonstop with a huge grin on his face. “I think your father is in love.”
It’s true. Dad’s acting like he just met his new best friend. I’ve never seen him so open right off the bat. So engaged and enthusiastic. But I suppose that after everything, he’s realized how precious time is, and how you can’t waste it.
I laugh as Gideon looks up and sees me, lifting his shoulders in a helpless shrug. “That makes two of us,” I say.
Mom turns to me, giving me a look that’s more happy than surprised. “Daryn. That’s so wonderful. I like him a lot. He’s a lovely young man.”
“He just got here, Mom. You’ve only known him one day. Most of it, he’s been with Dad.”
“But I can tell.”
Isabel, who’s drying dishes beside me, winks. “It’s in his bearing.”
“Yes,” Mom agrees. “I think that’s it. And he’s hot.”
“What? Mom, ew.”
She and Isabel laugh, enjoying my discomfort. I look from one to the other, wondering how I never saw it coming that these two would hit it off, too.
Isabel arrived a few days ago to spend some time with us before the party. It seemed important to bring the past year and a half home with me—and Iz was such a huge part of it. I think it’s helped Mom and Dad to see that, though I wasn’t here with them, I was with great people. It’s eased their minds some, even though there’s so much I’m not sharing with them. Things that are better left unsaid. We’re working on catching up on everything else, though. Everything we can.
Mom’s been doing well lately. Her depression has been under control for the better part of a year. She’s meditating and running and taking good care of herself, and the meds she’s on are working well for her. She’s active in the community, working on several charities that raise money for causes benefiting the families of missing children, caring for the homeless, and increasing awareness of mental disorders. She’s amazing.
And she looks happy. Happier than when I left. I’ve heard it said that parents are only as happy as their unhappiest child, but the same is true in reverse. If she or Dad weren’t happy, I wouldn’t be, either. I wasn’t. But, for now at least, they’re good and I’m good—and that’s a lot to be happy about.
Josie’
s stressed but it’s the reasonable, normalish kind. She’s taking summer courses, and it’s the stress she puts on herself to make good grades. She’s on track to graduate early, working really hard to achieve her goal of getting into a top medical school. I’ve met some of her friends from Yale and they’re awesome. A small, close-knit group. I can tell they balance out her relentless drive a little bit. Just ten minutes ago, I heard them making plans to go for pizza and a movie later. After a day of lounging around the pool, that’ll make an entire day of not cracking a book for Josie. It’s another thing to be happy about. We all need people to look out for us.
Dad, apparently, was lost until I came home. Both Mom and Josie suffered, but somehow managed to move on with their lives. He didn’t. From what I’ve been told, he was in agony until the second I walked back through the door.
I’d never seen Dad cry like he did that day. Big, racking sobs that shook me. It went on for hours, every time he’d look at me. All day, I found myself holding him, not even capable of comforting him with words. I had worried so much about their disappointment in me. Their anger. But there was none of that.
We were together again. That was everything. To all of us. The sobs and the tears and long, long hugs were just the release of all the worry and pain.
That was six weeks ago, and I still can’t think of that day without getting choked up and wanting to hug him. Even though, since then, he’s been overjoyed. He’s been the guy outside, with his arm hanging around Gideon.
I think I gave him his life back by coming home.
I think I did that for both of us.
The Sight never came back to me after we came out of the Rift. That part of my life is finished, as far as I know. It’s time for me to get on with life, not as a Seeker but as Daryn.
In the past six weeks, I’ve submitted applications to several colleges, trying for late admission. Gideon has, too. Some of the schools are the same. Some just close to each other geographically.
Who knows? We have no idea what’s going to happen. Education is important to both of us. It’s the right next step. But we’re both on the same page about our relationship. We know we’ll work it out so we can be together—that’s our priority.
We’ve been lucky enough to find each other. No one makes me happier than he does. I know there are no long-term guarantees, but I also know without a doubt what I want today, and tomorrow, and the next day.
Him.
His blue eyes. His smile. His strength and sense of honor. His belief in me.
Even his temper.
I want it all. If that’s not worth shaping my life around, what is?
Besides. Dad and Chief are both obsessed, and it would be cruel to break their hearts.
Mom, Iz, and I finish up this round of dishes. None of us expected the party to last hours longer than it was meant to, but we should’ve. These are the best people I know. I don’t want this day to end, and I’m obviously not alone in feeling this way.
As Mom and Isabel take the glasses out to the bar set up at the pool house, I slip away.
“Daryn?” Mom says, stopping me at the stairs.
“I left something in my room. I’ll be right out.”
She smiles. “Hurry back.”
I vault upstairs and into my room. My notebook is on my desk.
I grab it and bring it to my bed, flip it open, and read the last entries.
94. Home! With Dad, Josie, Mom, Mom, Mom. Chief! My room. The big gold couch. Josie’s cookies. Mom’s hugs. Dad’s smile. Our house. Home home home home home.
95. Making plans for the future with Gideon. Making a future with Gideon via plans.
96. Isabel, here at home. Like she’s a piece of the puzzle we always knew we’d find.
97. Every time I look at Sebastian. Every time.
98. Letting go of regret. Embracing life, the future, love.
I write the next one.
99. Today. This perfect day.
I smile as I hear footsteps coming down the hall.
Gideon appears at my door and props his elbow on the frame. Chief bounces around at his feet for a second, then flops on his back, waiting for a stomach rub. “I think your dad’s trying to give me your dog.”
I laugh. “Not so fast,” I say. “But I’ll consider sharing him with you.”
His eyebrows go up. “That’s better than I expected.” He sits beside me and takes my hand. His eyes drop to my notebook, scanning the last lines. “Nice,” he says, smiling at me. “What’s one hundred going to be?”
It’s a really good question. I smile, closing the notebook. “I’m leaving it empty. So I never stop looking.”
“I see a Reason now,” he says, looking right into my eyes.
I smile. “So do I.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Seeker lived up to its name. This book was most definitely a search—for the story itself and for what it means to me. I felt the support and guidance of Melissa Frain every step of the way. Mel, thank you for your editorial guidance and your friendship. I’ve been so very fortunate to work with you.
Thanks also to the entire team at Tor Teen, especially Amy Stapp, Diana Griffin, and Patty Garcia. It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to work with such a warm, talented, and passionate group.
I’ve also been lucky to have Josh and Tracey Adams on my side. Thank you for all you’ve done for me. My writing friends are always there to cheer me on or pick me up. Lorin Oberweger, Katy Longshore, Lia Keyes, Kim Turrisi, and Talia Vance were particularly helpful in the writing of this book. Thank you so much.
Finally, to my family, who make plenty of sacrifices so that I can do what I love: I love nothing more than you. So, um … are you up for another book?
TOR TEEN BOOKS BY
VERONICA ROSSI
Riders
Seeker
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
VERONICA ROSSI is the New York Times bestselling author of the Under the Never Sky trilogy. In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews deemed her first novel “Inspired, offbeat, and mesmerizing.” Seeker, the second of a duology, is her fifth novel for young adults. Veronica currently lives in the San Francisco area with her husband and sons. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Acknowledgments
Tor Teen Books by Veron
ica Rossi
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
SEEKER
Copyright © 2017 by Veronica Rossi
All rights reserved.
Cover art © Hugh Syme
A Tor Teen Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-0-7653-8256-6 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4668-8780-0 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466887800
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
First Edition: May 2017
Seeker Page 30
