Like the Dawn (Lark #3) (22 page)

Authors: Erica Cope

Bonus Scene

Jacoby

Okay, so maybe it was wrong. Unethical even, but I had to check on her. Sometimes it just happened, but I'd be lying if I said it was
never
unintentional. Sometimes I just wanted to know if she was thinking about me. Good lord I was such a loser.
              I didn't consider it to be spying though. Not really. Okay, so it was kind of spying. Sue me.
              It was just so easy to do. She had improved her ability to block me—I had to give her that. But when she was upset? Yeah, it did her no good. Those mental walls came tumbling down and I was thrown into her mind so fast it gave me whiplash.
              As much as she tried, she couldn't completely keep her secrets from me.
              But seriously, I wasn't spying
all
the time. It wasn't like I wanted to know all of her secrets. I would've given just about anything to have avoided witnessing that little incident between her and Grey.               Greyson. He's a decent guy, but damn, I wish he would stop mooning over my girl. He had his chance before but he blew it and she chose me—
me
.               It seemed like now that I wasn't around, he was trying to take advantage. Not that I could really blame him. It was Mia, after all, but she was
my
Lark. She would always be my Lark.
              The only reason that the kiss they shared didn't completely break me was the uncertainty she felt afterward. It gave me hope. Just a tiny shimmer, but hope all the same. Hope that she still loved me.
              Tonight I could tell something was going on. I could practically feel her tension and frustration even before the images from a place far away and the distant thoughts that didn't belong to me flashed in my head. It took me a minute to really get the full picture—like an old-fashioned television set that needed the rabbit-ears adjusted to bring the fuzzy image into focus.
              She was in the War Room, surrounded by Alberico's council. She had just argued with half the council over the ball they were forcing her to agree to. She was already on edge because of the fact that the council was trying to push her into an arranged marriage. Like I'd ever let
that
happen.
              But it was more than that. I knew that the Dark Elves had been attacking more and more openly lately and I knew that she blamed herself—she was stubborn like that. The Dark Elves were getting braver—or maybe just more careless, and with every new attack Mia's frustration grew as did the feeling of guilt.
              I knew Alberico had a full guard detail stationed covertly outside of Mia's family's house because I had been keeping an eye on them as well. I couldn't let anything happen to them. It would destroy Mia. And I couldn't let that happen so that's how I had been spending my days and nights. I only returned to this rundown house to eat and sleep.
              I knew Isobel wanted me to return to Álfheimr but I just couldn't. I may be unethical with the whole not-spying thing, but I wasn't a total masochist. Checking on her was one thing; being around her right now and not being able to
be
with her would end me. I was barely surviving now. I glanced around the house that I had been hiding out in. The mess was disgusting to me but that wasn't enough motivation to make me do anything about it. I just didn't see the point.
              I felt a pang of embarrassment knowing that she saw the place like this. Of course, how was I to know she'd just show up here? I couldn't face her then. I knew I didn't have the self-control. Honestly, I didn't know how I was going to be in the same room with her now.
              But she needed me and that was enough to make me do the craziest things. What was a little more pain? It wasn’t like she could possibly shatter my heart any more than she already had.

“That doesn’t mean it has to be the only way! We need to train our people to not just defend themselves by relying on the elements. We need to teach them to fight!”
I heard her tell her father.
              I could sense her hopelessness and I couldn't help it. I acted on instinct.
              Within seconds I was back in the castle for the first time since Mia told me we couldn't be together. I had left her mother's house that day and came here to tell my aunt I needed to leave for a while. And even though it was less than a month ago, it feels like an eternity has passed between now and then.
              Even without the insight into her head that I was privy to, I'd still be able to find her in this massive castle. Our souls were magnetic. She was the other half that made me whole. Staying away from her this long had been a nearly impossible feat but I did it because I thought it would make things easier.
              It didn't.
              I guess I never really believed it would. You don't just get over your soul mate.
              I knew that this would end badly, but I couldn't stay away from her any longer. Not now when she needed me. Even though she didn't realize it yet, I could help her. I would help her.
              I tried to convince myself that it wouldn't change anything. I needed to not be the pathetic asshole still hung up on the girl who dumped him. I needed to play it cool—nonchalant even. I could pull that off. I could be the bigger man. Right?
              Who was I kidding? There was no way I was just giving her up without a fight.
              She and Alberico didn't notice my entrance right away.
              “As reluctant as I am to admit this, I think you may be right. I have always played it safe and depended on our defensive mechanisms during battle, waiting for our opponents to make their move. Perhaps we are too soft. But, my dear, who will train them?” Alberico asked, and it seemed as good a time as any to make my presence known.
              “I will,” I said coolly, though my insides were trembling. The shock on her face was priceless and it took every ounce of self-control not to take her in my arms. But I needed to be patient.
              “You're here,” she said, her voice breathless.
              “Yes.”
              “But—why? I mean, what are you doing here?” she asked, a little more confidently.
              “Aren't you happy to see me?” I could tell she was and I swear if I wanted to, I could fly right there and then. Perhaps there was more reason to feel hopeful than I previously thought, because as much as she tried to deny it, her heart was still mine.
              The thing about being an unethical masochist was that I wouldn't ever give up on her—even if it destroyed me in the end.
              I guess I was just as stubborn as she was.

Acknowledgements

I still can't believe how much my life has changed in such a short amount of time. I've always been a writer—my grandpa and I used to write poems together and my love for words just sort of grew from there. I always knew I wanted to write a novel but every time I started, I could never finish—that is until February 2012 when I had that dream that started it all. Lark and her story will always hold a special place in my heart for that reason.
There have been so many people who have helped me along the way but a few of them definitely deserve a special shout out.

Heather Sloan—words cannot even begin to describe how much I appreciate everything you do for me. My books would not be the same without you.

Maya Bentley—once again your attention to detail is invaluable! I'm so grateful for your editing and your friendship.

To my “Dashers”, Komal Kant, Michelle Flick and Heather Diemer, thank you for your support and feedback. It means so much to me that whenever I'm doubting myself I can send you all a message and you always help make me feel better. (PS I'm really sorry Michelle, but I hope you understand why it had to be Jacoby, but don't worry, I have plans for Grey)
              Thank you Autumn Doughton, Sarah Smith, Sarah West, Lisa West, Sarah Bates and my “Street Team” for beta-reading for me and offering feedback.
              I want to thank my husband for all of his support—he's always “bragging” about my books and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
              And finally, thank YOU so much for reading Lark's journey—I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. XOXO

About the Author:

Erica Cope lives in Missouri with her husband and their three children. She has been writing short stories and poetry since she was a child, though Lark was her first novel.

She enjoys knitting, pretending she knows how to play her guitar, and reading pretty much anything you put in front of her.

You can find Erica on Facebook, Twitter (@EricaCope3), and she blogs at www.
ericacope.com

The Lark Trilogy

Lark (Lark #1)

In the Shadows (Lark #2)

Like the Dawn (Lark #3)

Other books by Erica Cope

Pieces of Me

Unfamiliar

Coming Soon...

Sea Swept

When dreamwalker Kate realizes that the girls in her town aren’t just being killed as they sleep—they’re being killed
in
their sleep she knows it's up to her to stop it.
But can Kate figure out how to find the killer in the real world and keep the ones she loves safe while they sleep?

Find out in WALKER!