Gabriel (41 page)
Authors: Nikki Kelly
Wait â¦
A triumphant grin edged my lips as it dawned on me what that really meant. “Why would she tell me not to follow her if there was no way I could?” My words hung in the air, and both Ruadhan and Gabriel stared blankly at me. “She had no warning, and yet somehow she was able to keep your light at bay. She told me she came back for me, but how could she have if she never left?”
My attention turned to the collapsing rift. In a few moments, it would disappear completely, and then the possibilityâthe opportunityâwould be lost.
I flipped my hood over my head and crouched low, readying myself.
“Lad, noâ” Ruadhan surmised my intention, but Gabriel cut him off.
“Bring her back, Jonah.” Gabriel's face was a mix of pain and desperation.
I stared at the rippling ink of the gateway, hoping that I was right; it wasn't like there was another option. I could stay here, without her, and merely exist alone in my darkness, or I could try. And if my soul drained into the dark matter, then the result was no worse.
Either way, I'd be lost.
The light at the end of the tunnel was through that rift.
I would find her, and I would bring her home.
I ran and leaped into the center of the black liquid, and it spilled around me as I fell through.
If she was a hurricane, then I was bound now for the eye of the storm.
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M
OM & DADâWHO TAUGHT
me that life is limitless.
Because of you both, I, too, believe that “the truth is out there.” I'm guess I'm trying to find it by telling these stories.
Gillanâ“I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.”âAndy Bernard,
The Office
 ⦠Because of you, know that I knew.
Pat-DadâFor Gillan and me, you took a house and transformed it into a real home. Though we might now be living farther away, I don't think we've ever been closer. You did that, and we are so glad you did.
JenâA beautiful person, inside and out. You made all the difference, and right when we needed it the most.
PennyâVery few people enrich the lives of others the way you do; even fewer do it without realizing. I hope you know how very special you are.
GillâThank you for cheering me over yet another finish line!
KenâYour job title has officially been upgraded from Wine Waiter to Muse. I'll get you a badge.â¦
My dearest friendsâThe tea flag is still at full mast, ladies! As ever, grab the Jammy Dodgers and let's swap some stories.
The Wattpad readersâThank you for continuing to *fist pump* and *face palm*! Your messages and comments make my day, every day.
My Wattpad HQ familyâWith special thanks to Ashleigh, Caitlin, Maria, Danielle & Gavin.
The Wattpad Retirement HomeâA special group of writers who I know are destined for great success!
Claire JacobâI will never forget your words written in response to mine. That day, I felt like my voice had been heard. Thank you.
Beth CollettâMy personal proofer and uber-Brummie friend ⦠I look forward to reading your first novel someday soon!
Lori GoldsteinâA wonderful writer who brought
Becoming Jinn
to the world, my trusted beta reader, and a very good friend. Being on this journey with you has made it so much more fun! It is truly a privilege to know you.
Macmillan / Feiwel and FriendsâHow very lucky I am to be able to work with such an incredible team! Every day I am grateful to Jean Feiwel, who welcomed me so warmly into the F&F family, and to Liz Szabla, who quite frankly changed my life.
Special thanks toâAngus Killick, Anna Roberto, Christine Barcellona, Holly West, Lauren Burniac, Lauren Scobell, Bethany Reis, Molly Brouillette, Ksenia Winnicki, Caitlin Sweeny, Kathryn Little, Rich Deas, Anna Booth, Dave Barrett, Nicole Moulaison, Gabby Oravetz, Allison Verost, and Elizabeth Fithian.
My Fierce Reads tour matesâMarissa Meyer, Gennifer Albin, Jessica Brody, and Lish McBride. With special thanks to Mary Van Akin.
Martina BooneâWho loved
Lailah
enough to blurb the book, and who has been a fantastic support to this newbie!
Anasheh Satoorian and Patricia LopezâWho did the most awesome job of hosting
Lailah
's blog tour over on
The Fantastic Flying Book Club
blog, and who became my best book buddies in the process!
The Styclar Street Team FoundersâWhat can you say to the most wonderful and supportive group of bloggers that ever existed? Thank you for devoting your time and putting in so much effort to spread the Styclar word out in the bloggersphere and beyond! To you I give #AllTheHugs.
The Styclar Street Team Founders are made up of the following bloggers. Be sure to check out their sites for all things YA!
Amber and Jessicaâ
The Book Bratz
Anashehâ
A Reading Nurse
Andrewâ
Endlessly Reading
Bethâ
Curling Up With A Good Book
Brittâ
Please Feed the Bookworm
Crystalâ
Bookiemoji
Danaâ
DanaSquare
Dannyâ
Bewitched Bookworms
Genissaâ
Story Diary
Octavia and Shellyâ
Read.Sleep.Repeat
Patriâ
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club
Piliâ
In Love With Handmade
Rachelâ
A Perfection Called Books
Riâ
Hiver & Café
And a very special thank you to all the readers, old and newâyou make all this possible!
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Nikki Kelly
is the author of
Lailah
, Book One of the Styclar Saga.
Lailah
was first launched in serial form on Wattpad, an online readers' and writers' community. Within six months, the novel had over one million reads. Nikki lives in London with her husband.
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CONTENTS
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Copyright © 2015 by Nikki Kelly
A Feiwel and Friends Book
An Imprint of Macmillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010
All rights reserved.
Feiwel and Friends logo designed by Filomena Tuosto
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by e-mail at [email protected].
First hardcover edition 2015
eBook edition October 2015
eISBN 9781250078643