Guardian Of The Grove (21 page)

“Do you know how many you lost?”

“Three for sure. The rest will depend on what the healers can do.”

“I’m sorry for your losses. If there is anything else we can do, please let us know.”

“Nothing for tonight. As soon as they are done patching up who they can, you should probably leave. There are elders who will advise me that we shouldn’t work with you, but I assure you, after tonight, my commitment will be stronger than ever before.”

“Thank you for that, Guardian.” Adam lowered himself to one knee in front of her.

Alby reached out and helped him to his feet. “Thank you for coming, Adam. Do not hesitate to count on us as allies in your battle against the demons.”

“Your generosity will not be forgotten.”

Alby turned and started walking back through her wounded guards, checking on them and giving words of encouragement where she could. The battle was done for now, but there would be more coming. The demons had announced themselves in a big way tonight, and after something like this, it would only get worse. We had to be ready. What we did meant more now than ever before.

Now we knew the name of our enemy. She was the voice of the abyss.

F
irst and foremost
I have to thank my wife. Without her unwavering support, none of this would be possible. When I told her I wanted to stay at home a write, she could have told me I was crazy. Instead, she has supported me every step of the way. I love you, babe.

T
o my beta reader Kay
. You do such an amazing job and have never asked me for anything in return. Thank you so much for all that you do.

M
y three furry beasts
. Jackson, Blizz and Cisco Ramon (a.k.a. Shuggie shuggs) love you guys. You can't read so this will go largely unnoticed by you, but I promise treats later.

T
o my parents
. They have been more supportive than I would have thought possible. They have read all of my books, even though they aren't exactly in their preferred style.Thanks, guys, I love you.

F
inally
, I couldn't forget about all the wonderful readers that have reached out to me since I started this adventure. I love hearing from you. Sometimes that little message is what gets me through the day. Writing is largely a solitary endeavor, so when someone drops me an email, I truly enjoy it. Thank you for buying my books and making my dream come true.

I
f you are
interested in learning more about Jackson’s biological parents, you can jump into their adventure with the Ascendancy Origins Series. Only on Amazon
http://amzn.to/1rIrXhT