“I think we all played a part in the final resolution,” I said, remembering how he had braved the crowd of Darklings, trying to save Hunter.
He nodded, silent, then turned and headed down the stairs, toward his car.
I stretched my sore muscles again, then walked through the house shutting off the lights. The moonsong was so strong now I could hardly think. I entered my bedroom and opened the window, glass shimmering in silver moonlight, while the landscape beyond glistened in a way it never had before. I took a deep breath, let the black midnight flow into my lungs, and I stared into the forest that surrounded the little bungalow. Something sparked in the distance, almost like heat lightning. But it couldn’t be. Not down this low.
It was the Legend, looking for me. Circling from one tree to the next, word by word, speaking the next chapter into existence.
It’s good to have you back, a voice spoke through the night sky. It was Elspeth. We’ve missed our Legend Keeper.
I smiled. It was good to be back home again, to return from my journey to the real world, the land of deadlines and editors and agents. I much preferred this, the world of never-ending stories, of myth and magic. I thought I heard the distant flap of broad black wings.
Thump.
The noise beat against my chest and clouded my vision.
Thu-thump.
Both hands gripped the windowsill and I leaned forward.
Thump.
“You can come in now,” I whispered.
As soon as the words left my lips I saw the view outside change. The midnight horizon of sky, stars and ever-deep forest shimmered and twisted. The landscape began to melt and dark smoke poured over the windowsill into my room, tendrils like liquid swept across the floor, then spiraled into a tall column until it turned into flesh and bone.
Ash.
“Quite an entrance,” I said.
“Just a reminder of what you’ve been missing,” he replied.
He took me in his arms and it was like being wrapped in midnight itself, he kissed me and I could taste the forest—the evergreen, the river, the incense of leaves as they whispered in the wind.
“You could have come with me,” I murmured. “I was only gone for a few days—”
“You know I hate the city.”
“Me too,” I said. His arms held me safe and secure. I knew that I would fall asleep soon, wrapped in his embrace, welcome for the rest I would find there. I closed my eyes and then Ash swept me into his kingdom, a land where we were no longer monster and storyteller. Here, we both had a future and a hope and the kind of love that could last forever.
Here, we walked together, hands clasped.
Into the Dream.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my wonderful agent, Kimberley Cameron, and my talented editor, Diana Gill. Thanks to cover illustrator Gordon Crabb, graphic designer Amy Halperin, and to the rest of the amazing staff at HarperCollins: Ellen Leach, Laurie Connors, Pam Jaffee, and Will Hinton. Big hugs to my pals at the Supernatural Underground: Tracey O’Hara, Terri Garey, and Karina Cooper; and to my writer buddies, B.J., Rachel, Becky, Mike, Kate, Nancy, Leann, Andrea, Jeremy, Paul, and Brandon. Also, a hearty thank you to Sgt. Roy Mason of the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department for helping me with my research, and to the town of Big Bear, California, for providing inspiration for the fictional town of Ticonderoga Falls. As ever, thank you to my husband, Tom, for being incredibly supportive as I continue to pursue my dream of making up stories. And a special thank you to all of my readers—you make the impossible possible.
About the Author
MERRIE DESTEFANO left a 9-to-5 desk job as a magazine editor to become a full-time novelist and freelance editor. With twenty years’ experience in publishing, her background includes editor of Victorian Homes magazine and founding editor of Cottages & Bungalows magazine. She lives in Southern California with her husband, their two German shepherds, and a Siamese cat. For more information
Visit www.merriedestefano.com.
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By Merrie Destefano
AFTERLIFE
FEAST
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 by Merrie Destefano
Cover art by Gordon Crabb
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FIRST EDITION
EPub Edition JULY 2011 ISBN: 9780062092298
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