Gena Showalter - Lifeblood

“My Firstlife is over, but my Everlife is only now beginning.”

With her last living breath, Tenley “Ten” Lockwood made her choice and picked her realm in the Everlife. Now, as the war between Troika and Myriad rages, she must face the consequences.

Because Ten possesses a rare supernatural ability to absorb and share light, the Powers That Be have the highest expectations for her future—and the enemy wants her neutralized. Fighting to save her Secondlife, she must learn about her realm from the ground up while launching her first mission: convincing a select group of humans to join her side before they die. No pressure, right?

But Ten’s competition is Killian, the boy she can’t forget—the one who gave up everything for her happiness. He has only one shot at redemption: beating Ten at a game she’s never even played. As their throw-downs heat up, so do their undeniable feelings, and soon, Ten will have to make another choice. Love…or victory.

Lifeblood

Gena Showalter

To God, my rock, my fortress and my deliverer!

To Naomi at French ’N’ Bookish—Thank you for all you do. Your support and enthusiasm are absolutely priceless!

To Katy Evans and Sarah J. Maas—You guys are such a delight, and so freaking talented! I’m honored to know you.

To my earthly support team, Vicki Tolbert, Shonna Hurt, Michelle Quine and Jill Monroe—You are divine blessings!

To Bryn Collier—You give good promo! Thank you, thank you and a thousand times thank you!

To Siena Koncsol—You, brilliant lady, do so much behind the scenes and I’m so very grateful!

To my editor Natashya Wilson—The time and attention you give to me and my work is so appreciated!

“I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss. I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous and happy. I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts, and in the hearts of their descendants, generations hence. It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

—CHARLES DICKENS, A TALE OF TWO CITIES

The light Expands and the darkness Narrows

I’ve heard it said your entire life flashes before your eyes as you die. Those words comfort those who have loved and been loved but torment those who have failed and been failed.

I say, when you know where you’re going to spend eternity, celebrate! Death has been defeated. Life forever reigns.

I am proof. My Firstlife is over, but my Everlife is now beginning.

My Light will shine…

The shadows will scatter…and every life will matter…

It’s time to do what I was born to do. It’s time to arise and shine.

Whatever I face—be it war, persecution, hunger, simple threats or my Second-death—I will not be deterred. Night will be replaced by day, and those who cry in the dark will rejoice in the morning.

The day is about to dawn. Time is short. Let the battle begin.

Glossary of Terms excerpted from the Book of the Law

Abrogate—

Without hope, there is no Light.

★ The highest rank of General in Myriad.

★ Rare, none currently in existence.

★ Those who extinguish the Light in others.

Conduit—

Day will forever chase away the night.

★ The highest rank of General in Troika.

★ Rare, only two currently in existence.

★ Those who absorb the essence of sunlight from the Land of the Harvest and direct the beams to Troika.

Covenant—

So you shall say, and so it shall be.

★ Any blood oath agreed upon between two separate parties (i.e. a human and an Everlife realm), legally voided only through court.

★ If covenant terms are broken illegally, a human can be punished and put to death and a spirit can be enslaved.

Everlife—

Where there is no beginning and no end.

★ The afterlife, where Troika and Myriad are in power and at war.

★ Also known as the Unending.

Firstking—

He reigns with mercy and might evermore, evermore.

★ Creator of Troika, Myriad, humans and their home, the Land of the Harvest.

★ Father of the Secondkings: Eron the Prince of Doves, and Ambrosine the Prince of Ravens.

Firstlife—

What is isn’t always what’s supposed to be.

★ A human life (i.e. a spirit encased inside a body).

★ Dress rehearsal for the Everlife.

Firstdeath—

The end is merely the beginning.

★ The demise of a human body.

★ Occurs the moment a spirit cuts ties with its body.

Fused—

Believing a lie does not make it a truth.

★ A Myriadian belief that a spirit is joined to another spirit (or even multiple spirits) after Second-death to be reborn in the Land of the Harvest.

★ Disputed by Troikans.

General—

Learn the way, go the way, show the way.

★ Next in command under the Secondking.

★ Those who oversee specific teams of Leaders, Headhunters, Laborers and Messengers within the realms.

★ Responsible for planning battle strategies and leading armies into war.

Laborer—

Clear the way, make the paths straight.

★ One of six main positions within the realms, directly under Leader.

★ Responsible for returning to the Land of the Harvest to convince select humans to make covenant with their realm of choice.

★ ML, the term for a Myriadian Laborer; TL, the term for a Troikan Laborer.

Land of the Harvest—

We shall sow, and we shall reap.

★ Earth, home to humans.

Leader—

A helpmate is more valuable than diamonds.

★ Assistants to the Generals.

★ Responsible for delegating assignments to all other sub-positions within the realms.

Many Ends—

Ignore your future, pay the price.

★ The realm where Unsigned are imprisoned after Firstdeath.

★ Where happiness goes to die and nightmares come to terrible life.

Messenger—

Harken and deliver the good news.

★ One of six main positions within the realms, directly under Laborer.

★ Responsible for teaching humans about the realms, protecting others from the enemy and chronicling exploits within and without the realm.

Myriad—

Autonomy, bliss, indulgence.

★ The dark realm, ruled by the Prince of Ravens.

★ Magical forests whisper enchanted tales, and secrets lurk in every corner…self-indulgence is revered, and the party never stops…victors are adored and failures are abhorred…emotion always trumps logic.

★ Motto: Might Equals Right.

Penumbra—

In the dark, the blind lead the blind.

★ A disease born and spread in darkness, capable of draining Troikans of Light.

★ Origin and cure unknown.

Realms—

Home is where the heart is nourished or starved.

★ Kingdoms in the Everlife: Troika, Myriad and Many Ends.

Second-death—

Another end, another new beginning.

★ When a spirit is drained of Lifeblood.

★ Myriad believes a spirit is Fused to another spirit(s) in order to return to the Land of the Harvest; Troika believes a spirit enters into the Rest forevermore.

Secondking—

The one you follow decides the roads you take.

★ One of two sons of the Firstking; Eron the Prince of Doves, and Ambrosine the Prince of Ravens.

★ Ruler of a realm.