Iron & Bone (Lock & Key #3) (47 page)
Read Iron & Bone (Lock & Key #3) Online
Authors: Cat Porter
Two years later, Boner and I had our own child—a boy who was blessed to have those remarkable green eyes of his grandmother and father.
Nicolàs is three years old now, and he and his dad chase a soccer ball on our front lawn, the two of them laughing loudly, both of their long manes of dark hair flying. Becca lets go of my hand to run after her baby brother and his ball, her laughter joining theirs. Pure joy shines on my husband’s face.
Unfettered, free.
Our son kicks the ball hard down the hill and, jumping up and down, waves wildly at me, filling the air with his loud screeches and whoops.
In this very moment, I know that Nicolàs’s eyes will never doubt, never know the darkness his father or I had. They will live in this beautiful light that his parents have fought so hard for.
This I know, deep in my bones. Those eyes will feel and see and reflect our bright.
Always.
LOCK & KEY
RANDOM & RARE
BLOOD & RUST—COMING SOON
WOLFSGATE
CAT PORTER
was born and raised in New York City, but also spent a few years in Texas and Europe along the way. As an introverted, only child, she had very big, but very secret dreams for herself. She graduated from Vassar College, was a struggling actress, an art gallery girl, special events planner, freelance writer, restaurant hostess, and had all sorts of other crazy jobs all hours of the day and night to help make those dreams come true. She has two children’s books traditionally published under her maiden name. She now lives on a beach outside of Athens, Greece with her husband and three children, and freaks out regularly and still daydreams way too much. She is addicted to reading, cafes on the beach, Instagram, Pearl Jam, the History Channel, her husband’s homemade red wine, really dark chocolate, and her Nespresso coffee machine. Oh, and Jamie & Claire Fraser and those Vikings...never mind. Writing keeps her somewhat sane, extremely happy, and a productive member of society.
Come Find Me Online
I COULD NOT HAVE MADE THIS DREAM COME TRUE without a great many wonderful, supportive and very smart people who deserve my big hugs and my sincerest thanks:
To Jovana Shirley for your keen insights, clarity, and enthusiasm, and the magical sweep of your editing and design wands.
Lots of hugs and kisses to Najla Qamber for yet another wonderful collaboration and for making my ideas and last minute epiphanies a breathtaking reality. Too much fun!
To Billy Blue of Blue Bayer Design NYC for the use of your amazing pirate dragon silver sworn bone pendant featured on the cover and in my story and for your enthusiasm. Everything came together with this gorgeous piece of piracy.
To Jenn whose friendship and deep heart knows no bounds-lost without you. To Alison for cheering me on and for your organizational skills on my behalf an ocean away. To my goddesses, Natalie, Ellen, Lena, Larri, Sue, Andrea, Tina, Sharon, Lori, Kandace-endless rivers of love for your friendship, support, laughter, intensity, and pearls of wisdom.
To my terrific beta readers Alison, Judy, Lena, Natalie, Needa, Sharon, Rachel, Tina, Jenn. Thank you for taking the time to help me with so much care and thoughtfulness and for putting up with my new versions. To Sharon and Penny for their guidance in the ways of Spanish and Argentina. Special thanks to Deana for her VS memories.
Huge thanks to Melissa, Sharon, Linda, and Jesey of Sassy, Savvy, Fabulous PR for their professionalism, support, guidance, enthusiasm, and friendship.
Big smooches to my author friends, Lauren Gilley, Needa Warrant (yes, keep kicking my ass, please), Leylah Attar, BL Berry, Daryl Banner, Lana Grayson, Autumn Jones Lake, and Lorelei James for their friendship, support, and insane sanity that matches my own.
To my fabulous Cat Callers, love you hard! To the Facebook groups that have welcomed me so warmly and the reader friends I've met this past year for their enthusiasm, sharing, and soooo much laughter, like Amy Figas, Sammy, Cindy, Kimber, Shanda, Stephanie, Iza, Jessica, Jan, Toni, Angie, MJ, Jo, Tracie, Caroline, Dawn, and many many more wonderful women. A very special thanks to Angel Dust, Mary Orr, and Donna whose tireless work and devotion amaze me on a daily basis.
To the wonderful blogging women of The Book Bellas, Dirty Book Girls, Guilty Pleasures, EDGy Reviews, Kinky Book Obsessions, Kindle Friends Forever, Divas Book Lounge, Book Gossip, I Love Book Love, Book Babes Unite, Maryse, Perusing Princesses, IScream Books, RedHotRomance, and Totally Booked, among many, many other blogs. The incredible, tireless work these wonderful women do on their blogs in the name of reading and woman power mean so very much to me as an author and a reader and always will.
To my husband for his support and most especially to my three children who put up with my crazy at all hours and thankfully laugh along with me at that crazy, giving me hugs and gentle reminders to feed them and pick them up from school. (Yes, I have been known to forget.) You're my everything.
To my readers, this is truly nothing without you. Thank you for letting my words whisper in your ears and in your hearts. You make it all the sweeter. I love hearing from you on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Visit my Pinterest page where I have dedicated boards for all my books, and I hope you enjoy them much as I do pinning them into creation. (Yes, yes, I'm still addicted!) And when you get a chance, please do leave a review wherever you may roam. All are very much appreciated and vital to a book's journey out in the big world.
xx, C