Sacrifice (40 page)
Authors: Denise Grover Swank
Tags: #Romance, #Paranormal, #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Fantasy, #Paranormal & Urban, #Romantic, #Psychics
The water gushed now, washing over her. She gasped for breath as it poured over her head.
The car dropped several inches, pulling her down with it. Her hold on Will loosened.
“
Don’t let go
!” he screamed in her head.
She swallowed her panic. They were bound together now. Her power could help him. She filled herself with it and pushed it through her connection to him. If nothing else, maybe she could give it to him to keep if she fell with the car and died.
The torrential water engulfed her, pulling her down, but Will’s hand held tight. Fuzziness filled her head from her lack of oxygen. Her fingers loosened their hold but Will’s grew tighter. She felt the car give, heard metal crunching from the stress. Pulling her with it.
But Will held on and the car finally slipped away, freeing her. She dangled over the cliff with nothing but Will’s grip saving her. The rushing water stopped and she coughed, fighting for breath as he pulled her up onto the tree branch. She laid her head against his chest and gasped for air.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, holding back her tears of happiness and relief.
“What, no sarcastic retort?” he asked, running his hands over her as he searched for injuries.
She threw her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her waist as he scooted back against the cliff.
“I realize being tied to me for eternity is like a death sentence, but no need for hysterics.”
She hit his chest with her fist. “Shut up, Will.”
He tilted her head back, staring into her eyes. “Thank you.”
She had released him to his destiny, yet she didn’t know how he did the things he did. “What about Raphael?”
Will grinned. “He left. Once he realized he was out numbered, he hightailed it out of here.”
“Once he realized who you were.”
His eyes hardened. “Yes.”
“So you
are
Water.”
Will straightened. “No.”
“But…how?” she looked up at him in confusion.
He cupped her cheek, his eyes filled with love and devotion. “I told you that we could change destiny.”
She shook her head in confusion.
“I’m the
son
of Water.” His mouth found hers as he finished the seal to their vow.
A slow, methodical clap echoed overhead. Emma’s head jerked up, terrified that Will was wrong and Raphael had returned. Instead, a man she didn’t recognize stood at the edge. “Emma, I hear you’ve been looking for me,” he called over the edge.
Emma’s eyes widened as she glanced from Will back to the man.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Marcus.” A lazy grin spread across his face. “And I’m your worst nightmare.”
About the Marks
Three intertwined symbols are on The Chosen Series covers: a trident, fire and water. All three appeared on Emma’s shoulder blade at various times.
The trident was the symbol that Jake branded on Will’s forearm as proof that Will was The Chosen One, the protector of his mother Emma. That mark was highlighted in
Chosen
.
In
Hunted
, the symbol for fire is highlighted on the cover and embedded on the title and chapter heading pages. Fire is the symbol that appeared after Jake was conceived and the symbol on the pendant Emma’s father gave to her mother.
Water was highlighted in
Sacrifice
because Emma realizes Water has control over Raphael and sets out to find him. Also, Will discovers his birthfather is Marcus, the element water.
The fourth yet untitled book will have a new symbol.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my children for tolerating Mom’s crazy work schedule and spontaneous, yet embarrassing, dance numbers. At least I don’t do it in public. Yet.
Thank you to my critique partner and friend, Trisha Leigh for keeping me sane and talking me off a ledge when my new developmental editor sent me an email that began with “Sometimes it’s good to start these editorial letters with a big glass of wine.”
Thank you to my new developmental editor, Alison Dasho. I loved her instantly when she encouraged more wine consumption. (Ironically, I did not drink before reading her lengthy editorial letter.) She not only jumped into Will and Emma’s world feet first and running, but was excited to be part of it. Her enthusiasm, encouragement, and fantastic ideas, made Sacrifice a much better book.
Thank you to Bill Cameron, mystery writer extraordinaire, whom I’m lucky to call a friend. Not only has he offered encouragement and advice in a whole variety of publishing subjects, but also introduced me to the wonderful Ms. Dasho. For that alone, I will be eternally grateful.
Thank you to Jim Thomsen and Jill Mueller for line edits, copy editing and proofing.
Thanks to Laura Morrigan for creating another awesome cover!
And finally, thank you to my readers. There are a million books to chose from and you chose to read mine. I’m honored, flattered, and humbled. I cherish every email or comment I get. I do not take you for granted.
Ever.
About the Author
Denise Grover Swank lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.
You can find out more about Denise and her other books at
www.denisegroverswank.com
or email her at [email protected]
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