Authors: Michelle A. Valentine
I turn to dash in the house before I say or do something that will betray Rick.
“Nat, I’m leaving tomorrow.” He says behind me and I freeze. “My dad, he finally broke down and told me the truth about what I am.”
I whip around. “He knows you’re part demon?”
Stew frowns, practically making his dimples disappear. “Yeah, he does.”
“How would he know that?”
“Because my mother was a demon. Dad said Mom never died either. He told me that was a lie that he had to tell everyone because she had to leave. She didn’t want to put me in danger.”
I gasp. “She’s alive?”
“Yes.”
I tilt my head to the side. “What kind of danger?”
His gray eyes meet mine. “If I’m a around demonic energy, I become a monster myself. Mom left so I could have a normal human life”
That’s how he never knew what he was. “So being around me and Rick…”
He nods. “Turns me evil, which is why now that I know what I am, I’m going to find my mother. I’ve been without her long enough. And I was hoping you’ll come with me.”
I frown. “I hope you find her, Stew, but I can’t go with you.”
Not wanting to wound him any deeper with a detailed explanation on how I may not fully be in love with him anymore, I turn around and head for the house.
I belong with Rick—the love of my past life. Somehow I can just feel that he’s who I’m supposed to be with.
Rick says with time, I’ll get the memories of my past life back. According to him, it’ll be gradual, with certain things triggering a memory—like a person with amnesia. It’d be nice to know what kind of love we shared before, but from the look on my face in that picture, we were happy, and I would give anything to feel that free again.
My future as a demon isn’t really clear. I mean, Rick said he would explain things in time and he’ll always be by my side, but it looks like I’ll have a lot of rules to learn about the soul collection game. Stealing souls for the devil was never part of my plan, but somehow I have to learn how to make this work.
This is going to be a hell of a year.
Acknowledgements
With every book I write I meet more and more amazing people. Thank you, dear reader, for embracing this book and giving an underdog Indie author like me a chance to entertain you with the crazy stories that spill out of my brain. I appreciate every single one of you from the bottom of my heart.
Next comes some of the best writing pals I comes my writing partners. I couldn’t have a better support system even if I wished for one with a magically granted wish. Emily Snow and Kellie Maine have been by my side through thick and thin and I am thankful each and every day that I have you two to lean on!
Katie Ashley has always assisted me in editing all my novels to this point, so I want to thank you for reading twenty thousand versions of this book and not complaining. You’re edits are amazing.
Kristen Proby, you make me laugh on a daily basis. Thank you for brightening my days with your wicked sense of humor.
To romance blogging community. Thanks to you all Google can now find my books. ;) Thank you for always supporting me. I would name all of you, but that would take up most of the page, just know if you are reading this that I have much love for you and want to thank you for all the pimpage you do for me and my novels. They would seriously never be read if it weren’t for you guys. Keep doing what you’re doing. Us authors need you.
Christine Bezdenejnih Estevez thank you for EVERYTHING. Thank you for organizing the book tour for this novel. I know it takes a ton of time to do that and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the work you’ve put in. Thank you for your keen eye and helping me catch all those pesky werid/inccorect words. You rock so much!
Holly Malgieri thank you for your words of encouragement when I’m down in the dumps. I couldn’t ask for a better cheerleader!
My beautiful ladies in the Rock the Heart Discussion Group, you all rock so much it isn’t even funny. Thank you for the laughs.
Jennifer Wolfel Thank you for helping me out with this novel. I know beta reading takes time, so thank you for helping me out and making this book better.
Nikki Sparks and Nichele Reese, what can I say but thank you for reading the rough draft of this book and cheering me on to publish it. Nikki, it’s because of your love of the book that it’s seeing the light of day. You got me excited about it again. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Last, but never least the two men in my life--thank you for putting up with me. I love you both more than words can express.
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