Sera smiled at him anyway.
She made her way to the back of the diner, each step shaking a little less than the one before, not stopping until she stood a few feet away from the boy sitting there. Sera studied him, drinking in his familiar features—the bend of his shoulders, the silver stud glinting in his eyebrow, the soft curve of his mouth—and slid quietly into the seat opposite him. She heard his sharp intake of breath, and when their eyes met over the table, Sera’s own breath hitched in her throat as Kyle’s clear green-flecked gaze caught and held hers.
She couldn’t breathe. All the warmth in the world was in those eyes.
As her heartbeat rushed in her ears, and time and space flowed around them, Sera knew without a doubt that there was no other place she needed to be … there was no other place she would rather be.
She was home.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4-8
AUTHOR'S NOTE
FOOD FOR THOUGHT ON HINDU MYTHOLOGY
Note: Although Alpha Goddess is a work of fiction, a lot of my inspiration for the characters and the world-building in this novel is based on Hindu mythology. My father is a second generation Brahmin (priest class in traditional Hindu society), so Indian mythology was an integral part of my childhood. Fascinated by stories and legends of various Hindu gods who incarnated as avatars to avert human tragedy, I wanted to write an epic story that encompassed some of the Hindu mythology elements I enjoyed as a child. Here are a few interesting tidbits about some of the themes/characters appearing in this novel.
HINDU PHILOSOPHY: Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religious traditions and is also one of the most diverse. It is based on an incredibly large variety of different traditions. The core of Hinduism is the belief in Brahman, the underlying universal life force that embodies existence. Hindus recognize one single Supreme Being, and all other gods and goddesses are lower manifestations of that one Supreme Being. Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion and is known as one of the most tolerant religious faiths because of the diverse nature of its teachings.
REINCARNATION: The notions of reincarnation and karma are integral to Hindu philosophy. Hindu mythology defines fourteen worlds with seven higher worlds (heavens) and seven lower ones (hells). The earth is considered the lowest of the seven higher worlds. According to Hindu scriptures, man is trapped in a karmic cycle of death and reincarnation (samsara) until final unification with Brahman, so the ultimate goal of living is liberation (moksha) from this cycle of death and rebirth, and reuniting with the one Supreme Being. Reincarnation is rooted in karma, where a person’s actions in one life will determine their fate in future lives.
TRIMURTI: There are hundreds of gods and goddesses in Hinduism. However, at the top are the Trimurti, which comprises Shiva, the destroyer; Vishnu, the protector; and Brahma, the creator; as well as their consorts (the Tridevi), Shakti, the goddess of power and courage; Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity; and Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and learning.
DEVA & ASURA: Hindu texts and scriptures reference celestial creatures called Devas, which literally means the “shining ones” and loosely translates to “heavenly beings.” In the scriptures, the opposite of the Devas are the Asura, power-seeking deities who are considered to be demonic or sinful in nature. They are both important parts of Hindu culture and appear in mythological scriptures, art, and poetry.
AVATARA: Hindu scriptures talk about the manifestation of a god or goddess into mortal form to avert human tragedy or to guide humanity. This incarnation is called an avatar. One of the most famous of these stories is the epic tale of Rama and Sita.
VISHNU: Vishnu is the second god in the Hindu trinity, along with Brahma and Shiva. In the Hindu Trimurti, Vishnu is known as the preserver of moral order and the protector of life, balancing the processes of creation and destruction. Vishnu is usually portrayed with four arms holding the conch, the discus, the mace, and the lotus. He has a blue body and wears yellow clothing with a garland of flowers around his neck, along with golden earrings and a crown. The blue color symbolizes infinity. Vishnu is also known for taking the form of ten avatars to restore order in the world, the most popular of which are the incarnations of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama. According to the scriptures, Vishnu returns to Earth as Kalki, seated on a white horse, as the tenth and final avatar to end the final age of darkness and the destruction of the Kali Yuga.
SITA: Known in Hindu mythology as the wife of Rama, she is one of the more powerful incarnations of the Goddess Lakshmi. In Hindu mythology, she is considered the ideal woman and the ideal wife, embodying forbearance, wifely devotion, and chastity. Sita is most popularly associated with the Ramayana.
KALI YUGA: Kali Yuga in Hinduism is known as the “age of vice” and is the last of the four eras that the world goes through based on Indian scriptures. The Kali Yuga is referred to as the darkest age of man, because according to the scriptures, sin is rampant and man is uninterested in spiritual pursuits or closeness to god. The Kali Yuga is also associated with the apocalypse demon Kali.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First of all, a huge thank you to my terrific editor at Sky Pony, Julie Matysik, for seeing the promise in Alpha Goddess and for allowing me to share this story with the world—your vision for this book has exceeded my every expectation. To my phenomenal warrior princess agent, Liza Fleissig of the Liza Royce Agency, and her partner in crime, Ginger Harris-Dontzin, another massive thank you. Once more, you have found the perfect home for my book as well as an editor who just gets it (and me). Thank you for everything you do so tirelessly to make my writing dreams a reality.
A tremendous thank you to Julie and Marissa from JKS for all their help and publicity over the course of several books and many years—thank you so much! To Kristi Cook, I couldn't ask for a better critique partner or friend—thank you for everything, and for reading pretty much anything I throw at you. All I can say is that you rock! To the ladies of my writing retreat group who keep me inspired, thank you for being some of the most amazing women I know. To all the bloggers who spread the word about my books and humble me with their unwavering support, I only have mad love for you.
Thank you to my father, Pundit Gyanendra Gosine, for his guidance on this novel and for sharing his expertise in the Hindu religion. To my mother, Nazroon Ramsey, who keeps me grounded, thank you for always being my first reader and for all your encouragement through every single book I have written. I know this story was near and dear to you. To my extended family, friends, and fans, thank you so much for your continued love and support. It means more than you know.
Last of all, but certainly not least, to my loves—Cameron, Connor, Noah, and Olivia—you are my heart and soul. Thank you for keeping me tethered to a beautiful reality.
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