“Not really change, so much as realization,” Sarah said. “Contrary to what I was told growing up, apparently I was born this way. I’m planning to call my memoir Lies my Mother Told Me.”
“Catchy. I like it.”
“But really,” Sarah said. “You’re okay?”
“I’m fine. I promise. Go have fun. I’ll join you in a minute.”
Sarah clapped her on the knee and got up, joining a conversation with Jules and some other sisters.
Eden looked around at them all, talking and laughing. She was part of something here, and she was happy. Things even seemed to be working out with Quinn.
None of the girls had shared what they’d seen—what they’d projected onto the boogeyman that had allowed his spell to work. Whenever the subject came up, it was quickly changed; no one wanting to admit what they wanted more than anything—maybe even to themselves.
The image of the boogeyman flashed in Eden’s mind, and her breath caught. Glowing, yellow eyes, spidering veins beneath too-pale skin, razor-sharp teeth. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves, just like Carolyn had taught her.
The flashbacks were happening less often and didn’t really scare her anymore. No matter how hideous, how terrifying he was, the boogeyman wasn’t coming back.
No, what frightened Eden—what made her blood run cold whenever she allowed herself to think of it—was that unlike the other girls, to Eden, he’d never been beautiful. Even outside her window when she was just six years old, he’d been nothing but a monster.
And still...she’d jumped.
Epilogue
Agamon smiled.
Not long ago he’d thought this world devoid of true power, scoffing at what passed for the craft in this place.
Until he’d sensed her.
Even in his prison, he felt the ripples she created in the field, how she bent the world with her need.
Sending the borahn had been a win-win proposition.
In the unlikely event he’d succeeded, Agamon would have the most important piece of the puzzle.
But even Mael’s failure served a purpose.
The witch had proven herself stronger and more valuable than he’d hoped. She would be worth however many foot soldiers had to be sacrificed in order to bring her to heel.
How he longed to touch this world.
To touch her.
And he would.
Soon.
<<<<>>>>
Thanks for reading Pledge
I hope you’ve enjoyed Pledge as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing it with you.
If so, would you be willing to leave a review? Reviews are the best way to help readers and authors discover each other and I appreciate each and every one :)
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Acknowledgments
So many people help with the creation of a book. My thanks to any and all who who have inspired me or let me bounce ideas off of them.
Special thanks to Danielle Butler for helping in the early stages, to Maia Akiva for input regarding structure, and to Christina Albetta for reading a mess of a draft and spending hours with me on the phone while I asked, “What if I did this?”
I’m a better person for knowing each of you ladies, and a better writer as well.
About the Author
Christina Garner began writing stories at the age of six. Her first—about a young girl who busted up a nefarious ring of furniture thieves—was a huge hit with her mother. At eighteen, her Hollywood aspirations had her packing up her car and heading out west.
Since then she has written and directed 10 short films and written four novels, including the completed Gateway Trilogy. She is currently working on her New Adult Urban Fantasy Series, The Witches of Coventry House.
When she's not writing novels, Christina spends her time working in the movie business, traveling, watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and playing with her dog, Griffin.
If you’d like to be the first to get the scoop on new releases, giveaways, and FREE books, sign up for my reader’s group. I’d love to have you!
You can also find me at…
@garnerchristina
GarnerChristina
www.christinagarner.com
[email protected]
Also by Christina Garner
Gateway (The Gateway Trilogy Book 1)
Chasm (The Gateway Trilogy Book 2
Tether (The Gateway Trilogy Book 3)
The Gateway Trilogy Box Set
Pledge (Witches of Coventry House Book 1) Page 20
