1942664419 (S) (33 page)

JENNIFER M. EATON

Jennifer M. Eaton is a contemporary blender of science fiction, dystopian, and romance. (Because you can never get enough of a good thing) While not off visiting other worlds, Jennifer calls the East Coast of the USA home, where she lives with her wonderfully supportive husband, three energetic boys, and a pepped up poodle who tortures the family's goldfish and frogs. Jennifer’s perfect day includes long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but her greatest joy is using her over-active imagination constructively: creating new worlds for everyone to enjoy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Fire in the Woods
was meant to be a standalone. Imagine my surprise when I suddenly found myself with a three-book deal, a tight deadline, and no concept whatsoever for another two stories. Yikes!

I’d like to thank my husband, whose super macho domestic abilities kept my family fed, kept the laundry machine running, kept the house clean, and made sure the kids were on time for school every day.

Thanks to my three amazing boys, who nodded with excitement when we discussed this opportunity as a family, and who understood why Mommy had to be locked in her office almost every night, typing away.

Thank you to Georgia McBride, who knew I could do this even when I wasn’t so sure, and who also loved my story enough to slow down the process to make sure
Ashes in the Sky
was everything we both hoped it would be.

Thanks to my editors Kerry, Stacy, and Cameron, for putting up with Jess’s quirky voice and helping to curb my love of the dreaded comma.

Here’s a nod to all the people who critiqued parts of the book while I was dashing to finish this sucker: Kastil Eavenshade, Jocelyn Adams, Celia Lucente, and Dawn Burne.

And this is me waving madly to the Spanish Police: Aldana Maria Coitiño Diaz, Anmarie Hernandez, and Diana Esqueda, who jumped out of the Instagram world to help make sure my high school Spanish was indeed Spanish and not some strange language of my own invention. You guys are awesome incarnate. No, seriously, you are!
Muchas Gracias
!

I certainly cannot forget my duo of beta readers, who pushed up their sleeves and read
Ashes in the Sky
in record-breaking time to help me reach my deadline. Kelly Said and J. Keller Ford, you are my little angels. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.

And here’s a big shout out to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pens, who cheer me on when things are going great, who offer shoulders to cry on when things are hard, and who kick my rear in gear whenever I’m slacking. You guys are incredibly important to me!

Finally, here’s another big
THANK YOU
to the fans. You guys totally rock. Yep, I’m talking to
YOU
. Thanks for loving David and Jess as much as I do.

Alien Kisses!

OTHER MONTH9BOOKS TITLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

FIRE IN THE WOODS

EMERGE

GENESIS GIRL

BRANDED

IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING

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Sample Chapter

In the Shadow of the Dragon King

Chapter 1

Had Eric known what daylight would bring after the nightmares ended, he would have remained in bed, the covers pulled over his head.

Instead, he waded through the puddles of the castle’s upper courtyard, each gong from the clock tower coiling his stomach into tighter knots. Sloshing beside him along the aisle of topiaries and statues was his best friend, a devilish lad with unkempt hair the color of dirt and a cockeyed grin.

“I don’t know why you’re in such a hurry,” Sestian said, polishing an apple on his sleeve. “Weapons class began fifteen minutes ago. Master Mafi won’t allow us in.” The apple crunched in his teeth.

“You don’t understand, Ses. I have to try.” Eric swatted at the spindly arms of a willow tree. “This will be the third day in a row I’ve missed. If I don’t go, word will get back to Trog, and he’ll flog me. You know how he gets.”

“You worry too much. He’d never physically hurt you. However, I do have to admit, he is quite an odd fellow. I saw him make another midnight trek to the fountain last night. He sat there all hunched over like he’d lost his best friend, and then he stood, dropped a rose in the water, and left.”

Eric’s muscles bunched under his light shirt, his brow pinched. “That is bizarre, even for him.”

“Want to hear something even more bizarre?” Sestian paused, took another bite of the apple and buried the core in a potted plant. “I overheard Trog and my headache of a master talking this morning. I believe the exact words out of Farnsworth’s mouth were, ‘Fallhollow is under attack.’”

Eric came to a stop, his eyes wide. “Attack? From who?”

Sestian shrugged. “Don’t know, but members of the Senate and the Mages’ High Council arrived an hour ago, including the Supreme Master himself. They’re meeting with the Order as we speak.”

“What?” Eric’s pulse quickened. “Jared’s here? You saw him?”

The grand mage of all magical beings never involved himself in the affairs of men. Ever.

“No, but I plan to change that.” An impish twinkle glistened in Sestian’s eyes. “Are you game?”

“What? You want to—you mean—you’re joking, right?”

The puckish grin on Sestian’s face answered his question.

Eric shook his head. “Oh, no. There is no way you’re going to get me to eavesdrop on a secret council meeting. I’d rather get hit by lightning than suffer punishment from anyone sitting in that room.”

“Aww, come on, Eric. Must you always be so dull? Aren’t you the least bit curious?”

“That sort of curiosity will land us in the pillory at best.” Eric pushed past his friend through the carved citadel doors. Sestian darted in front of him and stopped.

“Your point?”

“My point is that I value my life.”

“And what of Fallhollow? Don’t you value our home?”

“Of course I do, but—”

“Then what are you waiting for?” Sestian punched Eric’s arm. “Let’s go.”

“Ses, no!” Eric’s protest fell on empty ears. His friend was gone.

Eric brushed past the lapis columns of the marble vestibule into the Great Hall, a wide-open space topped by a domed ceiling so high its ornate detail became lost in the darkness. Nobles and servants milled about, coming and going out of the many rooms, laughter echoing off the walls speckled with massive tapestries and oil paintings. A flock of girls dressed in aristocratic finery stood upon the majestic staircase, twittering like excited canaries. One of them, Lady Emelia, a startling girl with red hair and striking features, waved at him and winked. Eric rolled his eyes and scurried down the hall past the stairs. The last thing he wanted or needed was a flighty girl choking his freedom.