Eyes of the Woods (24 page)

The morning sun exposed the ruins of the battle we’d just fought. Mother was sleeping in her bedchamber. Since we needed only a few hours of sleep a day, the rest of us stood outside, trying to clean up the wreckage the battle had left behind.

“I wish Jonathan could see this,” I said.

Lukas’s half smile didn’t go unnoticed, and I hugged him. “He would have loved this,” Lukas said. “I wish he could have experienced it.” His eyes stayed dry, but it was becoming natural to see someone cry without tears. I held him tighter.

Slowly, one by one, the humans stepped out into the sunshine from the barn. The snow had covered the most gruesome sights, and the pile of nightwalkers was all but ash.

The hope in their eyes was comforting. They didn’t give us a wide berth, but walked past us, many of them shaking our hands or giving us hugs.

A small girl tugged on my belt. “You have pretty eyes.” Her eyes were bright blue and without fear. Like her, the next generation would have no prejudices, no lies for their fears to feed on.

I knelt down beside her. “Thank you. I like yours too.”

“Were they always like that?” she asked. I felt Daniel behind me, and he ruffled her mousy brown hair.

“No. They were blue. Like yours.”

Her father swept her up and away, turning to give me a quick look of disapproval before leaving the compound.

“It won’t happen overnight,” Daniel said, reaching for me.

I took his hand and stood. “You would think since we saved their lives…”

“They’ve been told for generations to fear us. It might take that long to change their minds.”

“Fear is a dangerous thing,” I said.

“We’ve fought worse.”

Daniel and I walked back to the nests with Ilana and Ganon. They regaled us with the story of how she finally found them hiding in a cave near Skoran. She had almost given up hope. None of us missed the way she said Lukas’s name, and the way she spoke of his promise to visit our coven.

When we arrived back at the nests, it was quiet. Evander’s throne was empty, as were much of the grounds. We were three of only a dozen of the Onan coven who survived. We were glad to see a few had stayed behind, hidden with their children, refusing to choose a side.

Ganon and Ilana said their good-byes, and he returned to his territory alone. He had a few in his coven waiting for him, but not many more than we had left in ours.

Daniel and I walked to the river with our fingers intertwined. The edges were still, with a thin sheath of ice. The waterfall had slowed, parts of it frozen. The center of the river still flowed. I stripped off the top layers of clothing and smiled when the ice crunched under my bare feet as I broke through. I waded out until I couldn’t touch anymore. The water was ice cold but not uncomfortable. It felt thicker, refreshing. I scrubbed the soot from my skin and leaned back, looking up at the sky, letting the sunshine pour down on me through the gray winter clouds.

“You’re absolutely beautiful, do you know that?” Daniel said, treading water not far from me. I sat upright and swam over to him. He wrapped his arms around me. “From the moment I first saw you, walking carefully along the forest floor, your eyes sharp, your movements nearly silent, you captivated me. Eternity wasn’t something that excited me until now.”

Snowflakes tickled my face and then vanished. My wet hair was slicked back and away from my face, fanning out and dancing along the surface of the water. As the ash washed away, the buttery color began to show through. I leaned in to kiss him.

“Betrothal wasn’t something that excited me until now.”

Daniel kissed me back, and amid the flurries of snowflakes, I felt a warmth inside me that I hadn’t felt since I fell from Hopper’s Tree.

“What now?” I asked.

“We teach the humans that they no longer have to fear us. We teach the immortals that they no longer have to hide. And I court you, everyday, until you’re ready to wed.”

“And then?”

“We combine our nests. Or we move into my family home, or the Helgren compound, or even split our time between all three, and live the rest of eternity in bliss.”

Bliss. Forever, I will live in bliss.

the end

The biggest of thank you’s to my mom, Jamie. I’m not sure I would be an author without you. Your support, role model, and encouragement have meant everything. Thank you for all the hours you spent on your “summer off” to work with me on my debut novel, for your advice and guidance, in books and in life.

Thank you to my best friend and cousin Tori for being one of my first readers. Even when my own confidence falters, your belief in me never failed.

To my teachers: Mrs. Gizzo, Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Brock, and Mrs. Siders. Your enthusiasm for my dream will always be deeply appreciated, it’s what sets apart great teachers from good teachers. You’ve taught me lessons that come from much deeper places than a textbook.

Thank you to my editor Elizabeth for not only making this novel better, but for your encouraging words in your notes.

To my publicist Autumn Hull from Wordsmith Publicity: you took time from your day to help mold this book into to what it is. Thank you so much for your honest and helpful input, and for using your know-how to spread the word!

Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations created this cover to fit my exact needs, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. Thank you, Sarah, for listening, and working extra hard to turn my vision into a reality.

Thank you so much to the formatter Jovana Shirley of Unforeseen Editing. Your hard work was the tip of the spear in getting this book ready on time!

To Nana for always being there, in either body or spirit from the moment of my birth until now. Some people have grandmas, and some have Nanas. I love you!

Thank you to the MacPack for being such a driving force behind awareness of this book! You are my first fans, and I’ll never forget it.

To my friends who’ve supported me in my writing journey, and listened to me talk about this story for two years: you know who you are, and years from now when I think back on this time, I’ll remember your thoughtfulness, kindness, and support.

EDEN FIERCE
was born on August 25, 1999 and lives in Enid, Oklahoma with her parents and two siblings. Eyes of the Woods is her debut novel, although it’s only one of nine novels she has completed. Eden enjoys writing, reading, and high school cheer and volleyball.