Though I did not know whether my own heart remained beating, I could hear the man’s who clung to me. Blinking at him, I noticed his shimmering eyes, and I sighed with certainty that he was not the same man who tried to kill me.
“Celestria… Oh God,” he whispered into my right ear.
I winced, feeling an all too familiar pain in my shoulder.
“Stay with me. I’ll find you help, dove, even if it’s the last thing I do,” he said.
My head dropped back, and I stared blankly at the world I no longer recognized. The darkness wasn’t as overwhelming now; I could see the moon in the distance.
He raised my head and held it up with his hands, but he gasped at something.
“Can you hear me? Celestria?” He caressed the side of my neck, though his hands shook.
Despite the countless times I blinked, nothing around me would come into focus. All I could see was the moon’s faint outline, and even that seemed so far away from where I was. At last the man stood up and the water no longer flowed over my legs. He carried me away, and though I desired to speak, I couldn’t find my voice.
If you could hear my thoughts would you be able to save me from myself. Tell me, what is this strange world I live in? No… Tell me if I’ll live through this or not. I thought, trying to focus on my rescuer.
He repeatedly asked if I was all right and if I could hear him. I wanted to tell him that I could comprehend what he spoke, but even if I was able to I doubt he would have revealed what condition I was in. Even so, every few minutes he said “oh god,” and a few minutes later I could hear other voices. I didn’t understand what they said, but they murmured and gasped among themselves.
I was grateful to the man carrying me, and even though his name would not come to me, I recognized his blue eyes. Those piercing blue eyes…
He told me everything would be okay before my head dropped again. There was a thicker taste of blood than spit in my mouth. I could not feel his touch, and the darkness that took away the little I had been able to see was frightening. The darkness overwhelmed me at the same time when he cried my name.
Acknowledgments
This book is and always will be my baby. This journey started back in 2010, and it has come a long way since then. I cannot put into words how thankful I am for everyone who has been involved with the series, but I will try.
I would first like to thank Old Line Publishing, who published the first edition of this book in 2012. Sadly the company is no longer in business, but OLP is responsible for helping make my dreams a reality. After countless rejections they took a chance on a new and young author, and for that I am forever grateful.
I’d like to thank my readers, the ones who make my job enjoyable. You are the reason I write. You remind me every day why I decided to start on this journey. If you’re a returning reader, I cannot thank you enough for once again being a part of this. And if you are a new reader, I am delighted to welcome you to this series and everything else that awaits in the future.
A shoutout to Wicked Book Designs and Lori Follet for re-designing the cover for Cursed With Power. I cannot wait to work with you on re-designing the other three books in the series. Thank you for your patience and your creativity.
Thank you to Allyson Gottlieb for the interior design for this book. I don’t know how I managed in years before you. Thank you so much for your never failing support and hard work.
Lastly, a huge thank you to fellow writers, friends, family, my boyfriend, my coworkers, and countless others who have supported me and my writing.
Cursed With Power Page 24
