Undead Much?

by Stacey Jay

  Dearest Megan,I heard from a little bird you’d taken your first heart. Don’t you know a good witch always starts with a hand? Here’s one to hold you over until your training can truly begin. All the best, love, Your father

  Ethan stood up fast and scanned the parking lot even as he grabbed his phone and dialed for backup, but I stayed where I was. If I stood up, if I spoke, then this would be real, and I didn’t want it to be real. Not yet. Not ever.

  Just when I’d thought it was over, it was really only beginning. My biological father had found me and scared me more than anyone ever had. All that, and I didn’t even know his name.

  I do. His name is Addison Strain. He’s not here yet, but he will be. Soon. I joined Ethan, spinning in a wild circle, searching for any sign of the boy who owned that voice. It was Cliff, speaking in my mind, just like he had when we’d shared a body for those brief moments last night.

  Where are you? Did you see who—

  I didn’t see who put it there, but I’ll keep my eyes open. And I’ll be here when you need me. Be careful, Megan. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a flash of a dark green sweater and shoulder-length brown hair at the edge of the parking lot. It was Cliff, but a very pale Cliff, with a huge bandage wrapped around his neck.

  My stomach turned as I remembered the way his throat had been ripped open, then turned again as Cliff vanished and my gaze dropped to the hand. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  “Right, we’ll see you in five.” Ethan snapped his phone shut and wrapped his arms around me. “Just take deep breaths. Kitty’s on her way back, and Monica is going to grab your parents and be right out. We’ll find out who did this and make sure you’re safe. Don’t worry.”

  I buried my face in Ethan’s chest and took a deep breath, pulling the comforting smell of him into my soul, searching for the calm I’d felt only a few minutes ago. Surprisingly, I found it was still there, buried beneath the fear and anxiety, waiting for me to call it to the surface.

  “Okay. I’m going to be okay.” I pulled away from Ethan and stood up a little straighter. What had just happened was crazy and horrible, but that seemed like it was the story of my life. This time, however, I was determined to be the one writing the next chapter.

  Ethan smiled, that special smile he only showed me. “Of course you are. I never doubted it.” He took my hand in his and squeezed as we turned to watch the gym doors, ready for whatever happened next.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thanks again to all the people at Razorbill who put their talent to work on “Undead Much”, with special thanks to Lexa Hillyer, my amazing editor. You made this book a joy, Lexa!

  More special thanks to my agent, Caren Johnson. I could never juggle everything without you, thanks for all you do.

  And then some more special thanks to the Diamond State Romance Authors, Jamie Fender, and Stacia Kane for friendship and girl talk.

  And then yet even more special thanks to my family—my mom and dad, my adorable husband who I love more every day, and my preshush children and stepchildren who keep me on my toes and have taught me as much as I’ll ever teach them.

  And then still more special, heartfelt thanks to my readers. Every email I’ve gotten about Megan and Ethan and the Settler world has completely blown me away. Thank you for reading and for loving my characters as much as I do.