Alyson Noel - Horizon

Going through a whole series of toasts that grow sillier by the moment, until the server drops off our plates, and Xotichl squeals, “They look even better than I remember. They glow purple! It’s a shame you guys can’t see it in the way I do because they are truly glorious. This is clearly a chef who loves her job.”

“And what color are Lita’s muffins?” Dace asks, getting us all laughing again.

“Last I saw they were a deep charcoal black,” Auden quips.

“Maybe to you guys, but to me they glow the color of sincere effort.”

“Aw, thanks, flower.” Lita grins.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m willing to eat them,” Xotichl quips.

“And thank you for that as well.” Lita stabs her fork into her stack, and we all follow suit.

The six of us eating in a happy, contented silence, when Dace calls for the waitress to refill his coffee, and I follow his gaze to see a bleached-blond ponytail with half-inch dark roots swinging over a shoulder.

The move oddly familiar, and yet I can’t place it.

Can’t make sense of the overwhelming dread it elicits.

It’s not until she wipes a hand over the front of her apron, and tightens her grip on the coffeepot she wields in her hand, that I’m able to place her. The elaborate snake tattoo that winds up her arm serves to confirm it.

“Marliz,” I whisper her name, as she turns on me with a frosty gaze. Not nearly as surprised to see us as we are to see her. “I haven’t seen you since . . .”

“Since you killed my fiancé.”

She lifts her free hand to her hair, pushes her bangs from her face. Revealing eyes that look tired, rimmed with fatigue. Though her cheeks appear fuller, her complexion flushed and radiant. And while I’m tempted to explain that, technically, it was Dace who killed her fiancé, not me, the hateful glare in her gaze tells me there’s no point in quibbling.

“With Gabe gone, I had no reason to stick around, so I left. Didn’t get very far, not like that time I went to L.A. with your mom. Still, I managed to make it out of Enchantment for a whole five months and counting.” Her lips lift a bit, but the grin is as tight, perfunctory, and frigid as her delivery.

“You could still go back to L.A.,” I tell her. “Jennika’s there. She’s living in Malibu now. Married to Harlan. I’m sure they’d be willing to help you get settled.”

She does an exaggerated shake of her head, causing her ponytail to sway from side to side. “No, thanks. I did my time in LaLa Land. Turns out New Mexico’s a much better match. Besides, it’s not just me anymore. I have my son to consider.” She lowers a hand to her belly, and that’s when I see it.

That’s when we all see it.

The unmistakable bulge straining the seams of her apron.

“Seven months,” she says with a triumphant grin, as though she’s been waiting for this very day. “Looks like a part of Gabe lives on.” She reaches into the neck of her apron, and reveals a long gold chain she arranges to hang down her front. The tourmaline engagement ring Gabe gave her now worn like a pendant, resting precisely at the place where her belly begins to swell with his child.

“So, coffee?” She waves her pot as her gaze moves among us, but we’re so shocked by the sight of her, Dace can barely manage a no, while I can hardly manage a shake of my head.

My pulse pounding, mind reeling, vision blurring, until my entire world shrinks down to one chilling fact: Another Richter is about to enter the world.

It’s the kind of blow I never considered.

I was so sure we got every last one of them—and yet, the evidence is right there before me in the form of Marliz’s protruding belly, along with the only tourmaline that managed to survive.

I struggle to keep my breath even. Fight to steady myself. Only vaguely aware of Dace fumbling under the table in search of my hand, as I lift my gaze to meet Marliz’s. The gleam in her eyes signaling just how much she’s enjoyed the reveal—taking great pleasure in upending our world.

She turns on her heel, starts to move away. Then glancing over her shoulder as though it’s an afterthought, she says, “Be sure to give my regards to Enchantment.” Her lips tilt in a sardonic grin. “Funny how often I find myself missing it. As soon as Gabe Junior’s old enough to truly appreciate it, I plan to return. And don’t worry, I’ll be sure to look you up when I do.”

“Noël does a terrific job of slowly unspooling secrets and motivations with writing that is both charismatic and spunky.” — Los Angeles Times

“A rush of romance will sweep you away in this hauntingly mystical read. I’m already as addicted to Daire and Dace as I was to Ever and Damen.” — Justine magazine

“With fantastic characters and an amazing plot, Fated will suck you in and leave you breathless. Noël is a master with words . . . with passion and thrills around each corner, this book is a must read.” — Romantic Times (Top Pick!)

“Atmospheric and enjoyable . . . Noël’s many fans will be eager to find out what happens next.” — Publishers Weekly

“Readers will feel the pull of Daire’s quest just as forcefully as Daire herself does.”— Shelf Awareness, Maximum Shelf

“Two boys, one light and one dark, factor heavily into the intriguing, twisting storyline, which is sure to draw “Another captivating series from Alyson Noël.” — The Story Siren

“ Fated reads very well and the descriptions set the scene perfectly. Noël takes the time to set the story up right so it never feels rushed or that any details were missing.” — The Reading Date

“If you’re looking for a new series to get stuck into The Soul Seekers is out of this world.” — Dark Readers

“A superb thriller. The key to this absorbing tale is the heroine who makes the Noël mythos seem genuine as she enters the underworld while wondering who she can trust.” — Alternative Worlds

“This book has it all—magick, spookiness, cute boys, a little romance, danger, fun and lighthearted moments, some mystery, and there’s even good/evil twins (cute ones, too!). What more can you ask for? I am very intrigued by this world that Alyson has created.” — Once Upon a Twilight Alyson Noël is the author of many books for teens, including the bestselling The Immortals series. Her books have been published in thirty-five countries and have sold millions of copies around the world. She lives in California, where she’s busy working on her next novel, but her favourite city is Paris. If Alyson could travel back in time she’d visit Renaissance Florence, but only if she could take her modern-day grooming habits! Alyson is an eternal optimist, who always believes in silver linings.

The Soul Seekers series

Fated

Echo

Mystic

Horizon

The Immortals series

Evermore

Blue Moon

Shadowland

Dark Flame

Night Star

Everlasting

For younger readers

The Riley Bloom series

Radiance

Shimmer

Dreamland

Whisper

www.AlysonNoel.co.uk

RABBIT: Rabbit represents creativity, fertility, and new life. Rabbit teaches us how to plan and how to set plans in motion. Being a most common prey, Rabbit creates tunnels in the earth, open in front and back, which it can use to escape when necessary, reminding us never to allow ourselves to be boxed into a corner. With its ability to move from a statuesque pose to great speed, and to turn rapidly and double back, the spirit of the Rabbit encourages us to take advantage of fleeting opportunities. Active at dawn and dusk, Rabbits are guides to the mystical world, showing us how to recognize hidden teachings, intuitive messages, and signs in the universe around us.