"Everyone," I said, a little hurried.
"Wesley made an irritated gesture with his hand. "And I thought you'd tell the truth. As if you have been burdened with the truth a single day of your life."
"It is the truth, Blakeley! The most magical, sinister, deadly, fabulous creature alive is a--" I stopped. A movement at the edge of door in the very back of the hall had caught my eye.
Just another person leaning in, trying to catch the play.
Only this person had massive black wings behind him, disappearing on either side of the door. And nobody else seemed to notice him, which was good, because he was mouthing my line at me--"a human--and giving me a look like you're making an idiot of yourself.
The audience was watching and waiting, and I was just standing there, staring at Sullivan with a half-smile on my face.
My arms were covered with goose bumps.
"I'll see you again," Sullivan said, and no one else seemed to hear. "I'm sorry for that. Be ready."
"Wesley prompted me. "... is a what?"
"A human," I said. "The most dangerous and wonderful creature alive is a human."
There are many people without whom this book would be physically impossible:
1. Andrew Karre, my first editor, who is my Yoda. There are not enough languages to say "thank you" in.
2. Laura Rennert, my incredible agent, whose superpowers allow me to write professionally without getting an ulcer.
3. Brian Farrey, my second editor at Flux, who let dead characters stay dead and finally found a name for "The
Stiefvater Gambit."
4. My critique partners, Tessa Gratton, because she loved
Sullivan so much I had to love him too, and Brenna Yovanoff, because she makes me do it right.
5. My friend Naish, for keeping large parts of my sanity intact.
6. Cassie, for keeping me from saying rude, incomprehensible things in Irish. Mostly.
7. A bunch of folks who helped me with the facts of life: Carrie
Ryan, Steve Porter of Phillips Academy, and Maeghan
Passafume of Interlochen Arts Academy.
8. My sister Kate, as ever, for being the first and last reader.
9. My parents, for tolerating me when I got kicked out of preschool, and for helping me get through deadlines.
10. Nannie, who stayed up until 2 am reading Lament and did so much for me.
11. My husband Ed: love you, babe.