Second Guard (39 page)

“I could not suffer it again,” he said, with a heavy sigh, hands dropping back to his sides as if they were made of stone, his face transformed back into her commander. Then he
turned and walked back down the pier, disappearing into the dark shadows of the Alcazar.

Nor could I, Tali thought, slowly heading back to the party, where nearly everyone she loved waited for her.

Our profound thanks to those who helped this story become a book:

The agents: Tracey and Josh Adams. Barry Goldblatt.

The editors: Kevin Lewis. Ricardo Mejias.

The publisher: Stephanie Lurie and the Disney-Hyperion gang.

Team TVZ: Ever grateful for my family, friends, and students, including (but not limited to): Cole Zimmer, Pauline and Werner Schwitalski. Trish, Shane, Wes, Alec and Josie DeLong. Paul, Gayle,
Zach, Jesse, and Mahaley Vaughn. Gary Kleman. Jessica Swaim. Laura Collier. Beth Gaines. Lakota West High School administration (shoutout: Elgin Card, Jason Jackson), teachers (ahem: Amanda
Bimonte, Mary Mahoney, Susan Kerkhove, and the amazing English Dept.), not to mention an entire cast of inspirational students, past and present.

Team JD: To my family and friends (you know who you are), I love you more than the earth, sun, and moon combined. If there were an Awesome Guild, you guys would be in it.

J. D. V
AUGHN
is the pen name of Julia Durango and Tracie Zimmer, two friends who are also writing partners. Julia is a former school librarian from Illinois and a winner of the
Golden Kite Award. Tracie, a high school English teacher from Ohio, has also received critical acclaim, including the Schneider Family Book Award. Together they share a love of travel, reading,
chicken biscuits, and the teenagers who call them Mom.