Indebted Epilogue (Indebted #7)

by Pepper Winters

  I’d tell them of the debts and pain. I’d gloss over things too old for their young ears, but I would ensure the message behind the history remained.

  I believed everyone had a tolerance for darkness because life wasn’t just light. Life wasn’t rainbows and bunny rabbits nor good luck or easy fortune. Real life was hard. There was mess and lies and heartbreak. They deserved to know they’d suffer tragedies as well as triumphs. They needed to be equipped to deal with losing as well as winning. Because that was what made an empathic human over a monster.

  And no matter how twisted and terrible our story had begun, our belief in love and tenderness turned fate’s plan. Our dreams came true and were even more precious because of what we’d survived in order to earn it.

  “There’s darkness inside all of us.” I glanced at my children, making sure they paid attention. “Some of us let it rule us. Some of us let it destroy us. And some of us rise to the challenge and fight it.

  “All it takes is for that one person to believe that they’re worthy. That we won’t bow to poverty or hate or greed. That our life can be better than the shadows we let creep over it.”

  Emma nodded, but Kes turned sombre, turning over my words, soaking in the wisdom beneath.

  Nila had won because she fought against the darkness.

  And I’d won because I’d embraced my truth.

  All it takes is for one of us to be brave enough to turn on the light.

  “So the bad prince hurt Needle?” Emma whispered.

  “Yes, he gave her to the trolls in the forest to extract tolls and payments for things she hadn’t done.”

  “If she hadn’t done them, then why could they do that?”

  “Because they thought they were better than her and she owed them.”

  “That’s mean.” Emma pushed out her bottom lip. “Stupid trolls.”

  “I know,” I agreed. “Very unfair and against every law of the land they lived in.”

  “So…what happened?” Kes asked, his face alight with interest.

  “Yes, Kite, then what happened?” Nila brushed her lips across mine, her soul sewn completely to mine. “If the story started so cruelly, how does it end?”

  I had the perfect answer.

  The only answer.

  The most brilliant thirteen-word reply ever uttered.

  Kissing my wife and hugging my children, I murmured, “The only way such a tale can end...

  …

  They lived happily ever after.”

  “It all began with greed and gluttony and ended with diamonds and guillotines. Debts were incurred, contracts were written, and a curse landed on the firstborns from both houses.”

  William Hawk was born into a family with vengeance rather than blood flowing in his veins. Against all odds, he transformed himself from pauper to Lord of Hawksridge. He became a smuggler, king’s ally, and ruthless businessman. But he had flaws as well as triumphs.

  It was those flaws that ruined his inheritance. Those flaws that saved him from himself. Those flaws that brought him the greatest wealth of all.

  Her.

  Do you want more Hawks? Do you want to know the deeper questions to the Debt Inheritance? Well, you’ve read Jethro and Nila’s tale, now go back to the very beginning and read William’s in INDEBTED BEGINNINGS.

  Pepper Winters is a New York Times and USA Today International Bestseller. She loves dark romance, star-crossed lovers, and the forbidden taboo. She strives to write a story that makes the reader crave what they shouldn't, and delivers tales with complex plots and unforgettable characters.

  After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Dark Hero. She's an #1 iBooks bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotica Thriller. She's also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestseller, and recently signed a two book deal with Hachette. Represented by Trident Media, her books have garnered foreign and audio interest and are currently being translated into numerous languages. They will be in available in bookstores worldwide.

  Her Dark Romance books include:

  Monsters in the Dark Trilogy

  Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1)

  Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2)

  Twisted Together (Monsters in the Dark #3)

  Indebted Series

  Debt Inheritance (Indebted #1)

  First Debt (Indebted Series #2)

  Second Debt (Indebted Series #3)

  Third Debt (Indebted Series #4)

  Fourth Debt (Indebted Series #5)

  Final Debt (Indebted Series #6)

  Indebted Epilogue (Indebted Series #7)

  Her Grey Romance books include:

  Destroyed

  Ruin & Rule (Pure Corruption MC #1)

  Sin & Suffer (Pure Corruption MC #2)

  Her Upcoming Releases include:

  2016: Je Suis a Toi (Monsters in the Dark Novella)

  January 2016: Sin & Suffer (Pure Corruption MC #2)

  2016: Super Secret Series

  2016: Unseen Messages (Standalone Romance)

  2016: Indebted Beginnings (Indebted Series Prequel)

  To be the first to know of upcoming releases, please join Pepper’s Newsletter (she promises never to spam or annoy you.)

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  She loves mail of any kind: pepperwinters@gmail.com

  All other titles and updates can be found on her Goodreads Page.

  (Deleted Sex Scene from Final Debt is after this section. Xx)

  There are a few things I’d like to say now this series is complete. One, thank you for reading with me. For following Jethro and Nila through six books (really seven with the Epilogue) and (hopefully) enjoying their tale. As you’ve noticed, there is a lot of backstory and a rich world beyond their lives. I deliberately concentrated on Jethro and Nila’s side of the story, so as not to get too confusing.

  However, the longer I wrote Indebted, the more the past wanted to be told.

  After writing Mabel and William’s side when Cut is in the mine with Nila, it’s made me want to revisit the beginning and truly dive deeper into the trials and hardships endured by both sides.

  Indebted Beginnings will follow William as he builds Hawksridge, sets up an empire, and falls into his own pitfalls of life. I don’t have a release date yet but can’t wait to write his tale and answer any other questions you have about the series.

  Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about other things.

  The stabbing with Daniel and the knitting needle.

  Believe it or not, that is based on a true fact. In my family line—I won’t say if it’s my lineage or my husband’s side—a wife killed her husband using a knitting needle. She was tried and convicted of manslaughter after a long case of confusion. The puncture to his heart was barely noticeable and most doctors back then thought it was a heart attack. (Just in case you thought that wasn’t possible, it’s based on fact.)

  There are also a few other things in the story that are real. I, myself, suffer from vertigo. Not nearly as bad as Nila, but I know first-hand what her symptoms are like.

  Now, onto the acknowledgments.

  Thank you so much to Amy K Jones for being so likeminded as me. Yaya for being so honest. Tamicka for laying her thoughts out so concisely. Melissa for printing off Final Debt and reading in paper form. Vickie for keeping me going with awesome messages. Skye for being my daily writing partner for over two years. The ladies in FUNK who are the most inspiring bunch of women I know. Lisa for arranging my blog tours and handling PR. Kellie for the epic boxed set cove
rs for Indebted. Ari for the awesome single covers for Indebted. Celesha for making some incredible teasers for this series. Jenny for her quick editing skills. Ellen for her fast proofreading. Erica for her eagle-eye proofreading. Selena for running my groups and my life so well. Katrina for her wealth of industry titbits and knowledge. My husband for sticking with me and encouraging me to write even when the beginning was rocky. And to every reader who gave this saga a try and enjoyed—to every reader who gave it a try and didn’t. To every blogger, reviewer, friend, and confidant. Your messages and help and kindness truly make my life so much more rounded and happy.

  I know I’ve forgotten people but my brain always goes on the fritz when doing these acknowledgements, hence why I don’t do them often anymore as I’m terrified of leaving people out.

  Lastly, I thought I’d answer a few questions that had been asked over the past year while writing the Indebted Series. Now that it’s finished, I can shed light on any last minute questions and spend a little longer in the Indebted world.

  Do you love knowing that you reach your fans on such a deep level when they read your books?

  Yes, I’m beyond awed that I’m able to create an emotional response through words. I’m constantly grateful for messages saying they truly felt a scene or character. Nothing means more to me than that.

  Will we get spinoff stories/prequel to this AMAZING series?

  Yes, Indebted Beginnings will be released soon (no date as yet) and I might do a few more if the story strikes me. The history is very rich and a lot of avenues to explore.

  Who did you vision as Nila and Jethro?

  I don’t have an actor or actress in mind at the moment. But if you have someone in mind, email me and show me.

  Who was your favourite character to bring alive? Who did you hate most?

  My favourite was definitely Jethro as he had such a multifaceted character to bring out. Hate? Hard to tell because even if the characters were evil in the book, their strong opinions made it easy to write. I guess…Daniel was the hardest as I actually felt sorry for him and how he was treated.

  Will there be audio books coming?

  Yes, these are being created as we speak and will be out in early 2016, you can listen to a snippet HERE

  Will you do signed paperbacks of this series?

  Yes, you can order them from my website HERE. I’ll also have limited edition boxed sets. Debt Inheritance, First Debt, Second Debt in one edition, and Third Debt, Fourth Debt, Final Debt, Indebted Epilogue in another as there are too many pages for one complete book.

  Who was the toughest character to write about? Who was the easiest?

  I sort of answered this above but Jethro was easiest because I always knew who he was. Maybe the hardest was Kestrel because I fell in love with him and always knew his fate so it was bittersweet.

  Can you please create a lineage of all Hawks and Weavers back to when the Hawks were given the document by the Queen. Would like to see the whole family tree - even if there are mysteries.

  Yes, I’ll work on something like this to insert in Indebted Beginnings. I won’t share yet as if I do spinoffs I don’t want too many spoilers revealed too early.

  This story is EPIC! Why is HBO or Starz not working on the TV show already!!? Seriously!

  I would LOVE to see this as a TV Series. If I can make it happen, I will.

  What do you have coming next, can you share with us?

  I have a LOT coming in 2016. Sin & Suffer will be released on the 26th January 2016 and will complete the Pure Corruption Series. It will be in book stores and online. Unseen Messages will be my next release which I’m DYING to show you the cover and blurb. On the 20th December, I’ll reveal the insanely beautiful cover on my website. In January, I’ll also release the blurb and cover for the Super Secret Series I’ll be publishing in 2016. I’m BEYOND excited to share and have already fallen in love with these characters. Je Suis a Toi will be coming in 2016, too.

  Will you be at any signings in 2016?

  Not at this stage. I’m going to be focusing on writing as much as possible and building a home with my husband. I hope to travel again in 2017.

  You mentioned a deleted sex scene from Final Debt, where is that?

  Keep scrolling. It’s a few pages away from here.

  If you have any other questions please email pepperwinters@gmail.com or join the Indebted Group Read on Facebook to share with other readers.

  I haven’t forgotten that I promised sneak peeks into Unseen Messages and Sin & Suffer…here is a little taster:

  Unseen Messages

  Copyright, unedited. 2016 release.

  (Please sign up for release day alerts and my website to be the first to see the cover and learn of a publishing date)

  LIFE OFFERS EVERYONE messages.

  Either unnoticeable or obvious, it’s up to us to pay attention.

  I didn’t pay attention.

  Instinct tried to take notice; the world tried to prevent my downfall.

  I didn’t listen.

  I will forever wonder what would’ve happened if I did pay attention to those messages. Would I have survived? Would I have fallen in love? Would I have been happy?

  Then again, perhaps just like messages existed, fate existed, too.

  And no matter what life path we chose, fate always had the final say.

  I didn’t listen but it doesn’t mean I didn’t live.

  I just lived a different tale than the one I’d envisioned.

  Away from my home.

  Away from my family.

  But I wasn’t alone…

  I was with him.

  And he became my entire universe.

  Sin & Suffer

  Copyright, unedited. 26th January 2016 release.

  (Please sign up for release day alerts and my website to be the first to see the cover and learn of a publishing date)

  HE WAS A BULLY.

  Ever since his voice deepened he’d mean and short-tempered. Mom told me that he was at a point in his life where he had to lose himself to find himself. I had no idea what she meant. I just…I just really missed my best-friend. —Diary entry, Cleo, age nine.

  * * *

  AMNESIA.

  A curse or a blessing?

  Memory.

  A helping hand or hindrance?

  The things I’d forgotten and remembered had been both enemy and friend—solace and pain. They’d been constant companions, fighting over me for years. Amnesia traded my first life for a new one—with new parents, new sister, new home. But then the boy with the green eyes brought me back—showed me the path to my old world and a destiny I’d forgotten.

  For eight years I’d struggled, always fearing I’d left loved ones behind. I’d hated myself for being so selfish—knowing my brain had deliberately cut them out in an act of self-preservation. I’d always wondered what I would do when I finally remembered everything…if I finally remembered.

  I didn’t have to wonder anymore.

  Even after the consequences of following a mysterious letter, the snake pit of lies, the confusion of blended pasts, the rough way Killian had treated me—I wouldn’t change a thing.

  Those trials were a worthy payment for my broken memories. I was whole again…almost.

  As a final note, I’d like to say thank you again for reading. I’ll never stop being awed that this is my career and forever humbled that people enjoy my work. I write for you and hope to deliver many more books for decades to come.

  THANK YOU.

  (Keep reading for the deleted sex scene from Final Debt)

  26th January 2016

  Sin & Suffer (Pure Corruption MC #2)

  "Some say the past is in the past. That vengeance will hurt both innocent and guilty. I never believed those lies. Once my lust for revenge is sated, I'll say goodbye to hatred. I'll find a new beginning."

  Buy Now

  2016

  Je Suis a Toi (Monsters in the Dark Novella)

  “Life taught me
an eternal love will demand the worst sacrifices. A transcendent love will split your soul, cleaving you into pieces. A love this strong doesn’t grant you sweetness—it grants you pain. And in that pain is the greatest pleasure of all.”

  Buy Now

  Early 2016

  Unseen Messages (Standalone Romance)

  “I should’ve listened, should’ve paid attention. The messages were there. Warning me. Trying to save me. But I didn’t see and I paid the price...”

  Get Release Day Alerts when this Book is Published

  Early 2016

  Super Secret Series Starting Soon

  Please keep an eye out for the blurb and cover reveal early 2016. I’m beyond excited about this series and hope to deliver another epic tale.

  “He has millions, but without her he is bankrupt.

  And he’ll spend every dollar and penny to get her back.”

  Get Release Day Alerts when this Book is Published

  Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1)

  “My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.

  Then it all changed.

  I was sold.”

  Buy Now

  Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2)

  “All my life, I battled with the knowledge I was twisted… screwed up to want something so deliciously dark—wrong on so many levels. But then slave fifty-eight entered my world. Hissing, fighting, with a core of iron, she showed me an existence where two wrongs do make a right."