Well, the apocalypse had a way of changing priorities.
The man sighed. It couldn’t be helped, of course. The wind, always present in Hope City, sped up, almost pulling the photos he carefully guarded from his hands. He held on, until the gusts calmed.
He stood up, and gazed at the photos, a small smile forming across his lips.
One photo contained a girl with dark, chestnut hair and blue eyes, holding an ice cream cone at a park. The other, a blonde girl in a dark hoodie, posing as if for a school photograph.
Two projects. Two creations. Now, one.
It was all coming together. And the pieces were all forming. Beautifully. One by one.
The cursed dagger, given to that hapless thug, was just another piece. It would kill a normal mortal. But not her. It would only push her inward. Make her realise more of what she was. What she could be.
It made her stronger.
The man smiled, as he let the photos fly off in the wind. They disappeared into the void before they could get too far.
She was almost ready.
Ready to be a worthy Vessel.
A worthy saviour of the world.
“I can barely contain my excitement.”
The man turned his back to Hope City, splayed his arms, and fell backwards into the void.
***
The real war begins. The Last Light may be a beacon of hope and light in a city being consumed by darkness, but can she defeat her creator?
The Last Light, book 14 of the Kat Drummond Series, will be out later this year!
Follow the Kat’s Crusaders website, join the Facebook group and follow the newsletter so you don’t miss the release!
Website:
https://kat.nicholaswoodesmith.com/
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Afterword
This book is not just a sequel to the Kat Drummond Series. In a way, it is a direct continuation of the conflict and struggle of Blood Hunter, the first novel in the Katverse to not star Kat. It is only right, then, that Guy came to take up much of this book.
I know that I’m not alone in my love for Guy Giles-Mgebe. Many readers adore him so much that they send me hate mail for daring to harm him (keep it coming!).
Before Blood Hunter, he was a bit of an unknown. A professional, cold character that served more as a straight man to contrast with Brett’s snark.
But, as characters always do, Guy evolved. It started with hints of his background in Darkness Beckons, where he speaks about his failure to avenge his family and how vampires are pursuing him. This started as a way to give him a motivation like Brett. But it got me thinking. And then it got me writing. And then Blood Hunter was born.
The Katverse has many powerful and amazing characters. And Guy Giles-Mgebe, despite being only human, is one of them.
His path may now be complete, but that doesn’t mean his story is done. And, perhaps, I may even explore the stories of other characters in the future. I know that Cindy Giles and Conrad Khoi have a lot of stories to tell. About banishing Satan and saving the world from an angelic apocalypse.
All in good time, though. First, Kat and Candace have to face their creator. Will they survive? I can’t wait for you to find out!
Acknowledgements
It takes an organisation as tenacious and as large as the Crusaders to produce a book. Thankfully, I have my very own Crusaders to help me bring my creations up to a standard where you can enjoy them.
Thank you to my editor and mother, Shelley Woode-Smith. Who else would I have to argue Latin with if not you?
Thank you to Deranged Doctor Design for another stellar covers!
Thank you to all the beta and advanced readers for providing critiques and affirmation.
And, finally, thank you and all other readers. You are the real Crusaders, for without you, there would be no Katverse. Just some random documents sitting on my computer, gathering digital dust.
For giving Kat life, I am forever grateful.
Children of Blood (Kat Drummond Book 13) Page 21
