****
When Gem walked out of the clinic three hours later, she had only a vague recollection of going through the tests. She felt like she was walking out of a cloud, and her mind still swam in the remnants of the fog.
Robotically, Gem somehow found her way to the gym and to her afternoon calisthenics. She scanned her wrist and entered the room, panning the group for Gryff. She did remember he was going to meet her. She did remember — with clarity — he had received his orders, and he was leaving… tomorrow.
She spotted Gryff in the back row and made her way to him. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her elbow. With a start, Gem spun around to find herself face to face with a uniformed staff person.
“Gemini?” Recreational staff were less formal than the clinical staff.
“Yes?”
“Your exercise assignment has been changed today. You’ll be joining a different group. Will you follow me?”
Gem glanced at Gryff. He stared back questioningly. Gem shrugged helplessly and followed the attendant out the door and down the hall.
This has happened before, so it wasn’t cause for alarm, but Gem couldn’t help but feel disappointed about the timing. Next week would have been better — tomorrow even. She needed to spend every moment possible with Gryff, and this unexpected change truncated the precious time she had left.
In spite of her emotional turmoil, her desperation for control in a situation that was out of her control, she followed obediently. Because that was what was expected.
Available now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Astraea Press.
Author Note:
First and foremost, I thank God that I’m able to live out my dream and write! I feel so blessed to be able to spend my day in a fantasy world with my characters.
Readers, you guys seriously rock. I have so much fun talking to you on Facebook/Twitter, at book signings, you name it! You make my job so fun, and I honestly don’t know what I would do without all of your support and encouragement.
Laura Heritage, thank you so much for the great cover art and editing. You are seriously a pro at what you do!
Liza Tice, girl, we’ve been on a crazy journey. You are the best beta reader! I don’t know what I would do without you!
Angie Eads, you are the best publicist/online assistant EVER! Thank you so much for keeping my head screwed on straight and making sure all my ducks are in a row, you are a seriously gifted woman.
Julie Sherwood and Tiffany Davis, gals, you guys were my saving grace this last year at RT, and I so appreciate your help with Shatter!
It’s so strange that this series started out as one book… I was hanging out in Seaside, Oregon on family vacation — violently ill — and thought, Hey, I should write a book about rock stars. Random. I know. And yet here I am, three books later with a fourth one in the series in less than a year. Wow. Amazing.
Thank you so much for reading the books and as always, I’m only a click away! Hit me up on Facebook, Twitter, or at [email protected].
If you loved the book, review it. If you hated it, still review it! Every little bit helps me as an author and is much appreciated!
Other books by Rachel Van Dyken:
The Devil Duke Takes A Bride
The Ugly Duckling Debutante
Every Girl Does It
Compromising Kessen
Savage Winter
The Parting Gift
Waltzing With the Wallflower
The Seduction of Sebastian St. James
Beguiling Bridget
The Redemption of Lord Rawlings
Upon A Midnight Dream
Whispered Music
An Unlikely Alliance
Tear: A Seaside Novel
Pull: A Seaside Novel
The Wolf’s Pursuit
Taming Wilde
The Bet
Elite
Coming Soon:
Fall
Divine Uprising
When Ash Falls
Irresistible Terms
Elect
The Wager
About the Author
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her husband and their snoring boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandyken.com.
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