Chest puffed, Braxtus rose, radiating with the honors given him.
Next, Hermes stepped up holding a laurel wreath. “Kostas, my son.” Kostas took a knee before his father. “You have already earned your title and temple, but for your bravery and great sacrifices, I am proud to crown you a Hero of Olympus.”
Galene’s heart swelled as Kostas bowed his head and Hermes placed the laurel upon his dark curls. He stood, bowed to his father, and walked back. Galene held his gaze, feeling the pride and joy flooding from his glistening raven eyes.
Without faltering for a moment, Kostas stopped in front of her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and kissed her.
Galene’s mind exploded into stars at the soft pressure of his lips against hers. She felt his heart beating, fast as hers, as he hugged her close. Cheers and whoops from the crowd echoed through her fuzzy brain. He broke away, fixing her with one last, dizzying stare before turning and taking her free hand in his.
Heat coursed through her, pooling in her cheeks as she tried to avoid the gaze of a thousand jubilant gods and goddesses. But a smile bloomed on her face and didn’t budge. It could probably last forever.
Zeus retook the center of the dias. “Iyana, Galene, and Braxtus, with your titles and the approval of Olympus, you are now ready to obtain immortality.”
Kostas trailed his fingers through hers as he stepped back.
The other ten Olympians gathered in a half-circle around their king. In one motion, they raised their right arms out to the three of them, and the ethereal glow emanating from them seemed to collect, channeling into their palms. Beams of light shot out, engulfing Galene and her two friends.
For a moment she was afraid, but then she felt it. A warm, electric tingling flooded her being, every inch of her. She seemed impossibly energetic, alive, charged with Olympic power.
The light faded and Galene looked to Iyana and Braxtus. Their eyes gleamed, and they looked radiant, emanating a soft glow.
“Olympus,” Zeus bellowed, “I give you your heroes.”
Never before had Galene heard such a joyous uproar. Flowers and laurels flew into the air, raining down upon the cheering gods of Olympus. Tears she didn’t know had gathered tumbled freely down her cheeks.
They had done it. She was welcome. She was home.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Our idea for The Immortal Game started at a sleepover in seventh grade. This book has come a long, long way since slumber parties and pajama pants, and a slew of people’s help and support shaped this story into what it is. A thirteen-year stretch of support is a long time—but we’ll do our best to list everyone!
Thank you, Ben Grange, our awesome agent, who helped us navigate the exciting new world of publishing. Thank you, Holly West, Val Otarod, and Lauren Scobell, our stellar editors, who came up with amazing new ideas! Our book wouldn’t have made it this far without you, and without you believing in this story. Special thanks to Liz Dresner (our talented designer), Mandy Veloso (production editor), Celeste Cass (production manager), and Jean Feiwel (publisher of F&F and Swoon Reads). Thanks to our publicist and marketing teams, and everyone else who turned this book from an unformatted Google doc into a beautiful creation, and launched it into the world.
Thank you, Brandon Sanderson, for being a teacher and inspiration in so many ways. Thanks, too, to Isaac Stewart, for your amazing publishing advice and for connecting us to Ben.
So many thanks to Talia’s wonderful mom. You never doubted us and supported us with a fierce passion, despite the fact you don’t quite “get” fantasy. ;) You helped us write our first-ever query for this book and gave us endless, amazing advice. We love you!
ASHLEIGH:
I have so much gratitude for everyone who read and gave feedback over the years: Chelsea Holdaway, the best of friends, who read and edited all of my first drafts. Camilee Belloli, for all the hours of hiking, brainstorming, and talking stories. Jay Gould, who was always excited about my latest project and fell in love with this book. Ethan Fullwood, for being my first friend, fan, and supporter. My husband, Ken, for being my biggest cheerleader as we struggled through hours of edits. My parents, the first ones to read my young, messy writing and who’ve encouraged me to always climb to greater heights.
Thank you to everyone in all my writing groups through the years who’ve helped my writing get to this point.
Finally, thank you to all my students, for celebrating with me when I first got the call, in the middle of third period, that this book was getting published.
TALIA:
Thank you to the people who read and loved it first:
My dad, who believed in my dreams. Cairo, who really thought this story was special. Stephen, who let me read it to him. Amanda Friend, who read the printed, fat, original manuscript and gasped aloud at all the appropriate places. And my mom, again, who loves with her whole heart and is my biggest inspiration.
Thanks to Heather Merkley, who gave it its first review on Swoon Reads. You’re a stellar friend. Thank you SO MUCH, Michelle, for cheering me on from the sidelines my whole journey. I love you forever.
Thanks to my amazing writing group—Lee Sandwina, Nicholas Binge, Lia Holland, and Eleanor Roth Imbody—for being the best writing support and a solid group of friends. Thanks, too, for all the last-second help on this book.
Thanks to my husband, Nathanael, for being my dear friend and confidant, for listening to all the woes and triumphs of writing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Talia Rothschild is passionate about stories in many forms—music, dance, photography, film, and, of course, great novels. When she’s not happily writing, she fulfills her other dreams by mothering the sweetest baby girl and making memories with her husband. You can sign up for email updates here.
A. C. Harvey is teaching high school physics and bringing her writing dreams to life. English-born and world-traveled, she loves filling her life with new adventures, such as visiting a new country or exploring the Wild West with her husband. She also finds escape in movies, literature, music, and yearly comic conventions. You can sign up for email updates here.
The Immortal Game is their debut novel.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
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
Chapter 48
&
nbsp; Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Copyright
Copyright © 2021 by Talia Rothschild and A. C. Harvey
A Swoon Reads Book
An imprint of Feiwel and Friends and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, LLC
120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271
Swoonreads.com
All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by email at [email protected].
First hardcover edition 2021
eBook edition 2021
eISBN 9781250262912
The Immortal Game Page 31
