The stillness that came over her in that moment was indescribable. Panic and desperation gave way to terrified acceptance.
This is it, she thought to herself. This is how I die.
The fog in her mind made it impossible to concentrate. She knew there was something she ought to be doing, something she ought to be reaching for, but she could no longer remember what that might be.
All she knew now, was resignation.
Something bumped against her shoulder.
As Alex’s mind receded further into the darkness, she imagined she could feel a strong arm wrapping around her waist.
Someone was with her in the water.
And then there was nothing.
Pain.
A soft pressure on her lips. An ache in her chest.
“Come on, beautiful, come back!” A deep voice was shouting over the noise of the storm. “Don’t you die on me!”
Before she could open her eyes, Alex began to choke. Salty water poured from her mouth and nose as she rolled onto her side, gasping for air. Everything hurt.
She blinked her eyes slowly open, the world around her a hazy, half-lit blur.
The hard surface beneath her lurched from side to side as water continued to fall in sheets around them, a swirling mix of rain and ocean spray.
She was lying on the deck of a ship.
A hand cupped her face.
Alex felt the blackness creeping in around the edge of her thoughts once more. As her surroundings faded, she cast a final glance toward her savior.
A familiar pair of dark brown eyes stared back at her from a bearded face.
Just before she passed out, she managed to whisper his name in confusion.
“Nate?”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book might never have been written without the incredible support and encouragement I received from a lot of truly wonderful people. I owe each of you a tremendous amount of thanks.
Thank you to my family. To Mom and Dad for all your love, encouragement, and for your unwavering faith in my ability to overcome anything. To Mimi, for all of your support these last few years, and for making sure that everyone you knew in Mobile, Alabama had a copy of my first book. And to my family in Florida, for the laughter, the love, and the home-cooked meals. You all mean more to me than you could ever know!
Thank you to Carrie Gambill and Jinnie Brown, for the hours of conversation spent hammering out plot points and filling in plot holes, and for never giving up on this story, even when I was ready to. Without your patience and encouragement during those early attempts at a first draft, I never could have finished this book. You guys rock.
Thank you to my editor (and full-time miracle worker), Rana Williamson, for helping me whip this story into shape.
And last, but certainly not least, thank you to every reader, blogger, and fellow writer that has shown their support for The Variant Series. I never could have done this without you! Thank you!
JENA LEIGH is the author of the Variant Series novels Revival and Resistance. Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, she spent ten years in the mountains of North Carolina before returning home to the lightning capital of North America. A shameless geek, she loves coffee, loud music, bad sci-fi movies, Skittles, and shenanigan-filled road trips to faraway concerts.
To find out more about The Variant Series and author Jena Leigh, visit her online at www.jenaleighbooks.com or @jenaleighbooks.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Epilogue
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Epilogue