The Forever Song

  It took several weeks before people could return to Eden. Even with Sarren dead and Requiem halted, Eden was still infested with rabids, and none of the humans could return until they were destroyed. Digging them up during the day would take forever, but going after them at night was extremely dangerous. We could have waited for Requiem to run its course; eventually the rabids would have died from the disease, but there were no supplies left at the checkpoint, and the mayor didn’t want to risk a rabid getting off the island now that their fear of deep water was gone. Plus, it seemed to be taking an abnormally long time for the rabids to succumb to the virus, longer than it had taken the bleeders or even the infected vampires to die. Perhaps that was part of Sarren’s design, his plan to spread Requiem as far as he could, but whatever the reason, the mayor wanted the rabids destroyed as soon as possible. So of course, we volunteered.

  It had been Zeke’s idea to set a trap; use blood to lure the horde to where we wanted them, then ambush and kill them all. The flames from the burning building stung my skin and could be seen for miles, and the stench of charred rabid flesh lingered on the wind for hours afterward, but it took out a sizable chunk of the horde. After several more forays into the city, hunting down the remaining rabids, making certain we got them all, the mayor finally announced that people could return to their homes.

  Even then, it would still be a long time before Eden got back to normal. Many lives had been lost, homes and families torn apart, and devastation left in the wake of the attack. Zeke and I helped where we could, but it was obvious that the people of Eden were still leery of us, despite the mayor giving us full citizenship, and our presence was often looked upon with fear and anger. For all we’d done for Eden, we were still vampires.

  Still, we stayed, through the winter and on into spring. Sometimes, I thought of Kanin, and wondered what my sire would think if he could see me now. Zeke reconnected with his family and visited Caleb and Bethany when he could, though never alone, and never for long. He was at peace with himself now, content with his new status as a vampire, but he never forgot what he truly was, and what he could do. I made a few friends on Eden, Mayor Hendricks, for one, and Dr. Richardson, who seemed fascinated with vampires and wanted to learn all he could about them. He also provided Zeke and I with blood bags as often as we needed them. And as time passed, the people of Eden began to see us less as monsters and more as curiosities; we were dangerous, yes, and could easily kill a human, but we also guarded and protected the city. Not to mention, we had saved it from a superplague and driven off all the rabids. So, we couldn’t be completely evil. Eventually, Zeke and I were granted a very cautious acceptance and became just another part of the city. Eden’s resident vampires.

  Zeke and I were together constantly. It was strange; the more times we shared blood, shared ourselves and our emotions, the deeper the bond grew and the harder I fell for him. I’d once wondered if I could ever trust someone enough to stay with them for a lifetime; now, forever with Zeke didn’t seem nearly long enough.

  Still, even though I was happy with Zeke, more content than I’d been in a long time, I was restless. The laboratory had been fixed, one of the first buildings to be restored, and every human in the city was in line to receive the vaccine as often as it could be synthesized. Eden would soon be immune to Rabidism, but what about everyone else? The rest of the world knew nothing about the cure, that it even existed. Who would tell them? Who could tell them, with the country so infested with rabids, vampires and other monsters?

  I knew the answer, of course. Though it was hard to think about; the enormity of the task was simply staggering. If the world was ever going to be normal again, someone had to go out there and take the cure to everyone. Eden shone like a beacon of hope in the darkness, a safe haven for its residents, but it couldn’t reach the whole world. No, that burden would have to fall to someone else. Someone who cared about saving both humans and vampires. Someone with a lot of time on their hands.

  Now, it is your turn to leave your own mark on the world.

  So, I would.

  I stood at the edge of a lonely dock, cool wind tugging at my hair and coat, gazing over the dark waters of Lake Erie. Beside me, a simple rowboat bobbed up and down on the waves, knocking quietly against the planks. Empty but for a tiny cooler with a couple blood bags, a handful of syringes, and a case with several vials of the precious vaccine. Dr. Richardson couldn’t spare much of the synthesized version, but I wasn’t worried about running out. As long as I was alive, so was the cure.

  A breeze hissed across the lake, warmer now, hinting of rain. Winter was nearly over. It had been almost a year since I’d become a vampire. A year since that night in the rain, where I’d died in Kanin’s arms and begun a new life. Who would’ve thought that cynical, jaded street rat would end up here, a vampire ready to set out into the world, following the footsteps of her sire?

  Can you see me, Kanin? I thought, gazing into the darkness. Overhead, the night sky glittered with a million stars, and a full moon peered down at me, a halo of light around it. I hope I’m doing what you wanted, what you tried to teach me. It’s going to take a long time, but I won’t give up, just like you didn’t give up. And I pray that, wherever you are, you’ve finally found your peace.

  Footsteps thumped behind me, and Zeke slipped his arms around my waist, drawing me against him. I reached back and looped an arm around his neck as his lips traced my jaw, brushing it softly. My blood stirred at the contact, reacting to his presence, as if recognizing the other half of itself. A feeling of deep contentment stole over me, and I leaned against him.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” I whispered, closing my eyes against his touch. He nodded.

  “We’ve done all we can here,” he murmured back. “Eden is safe. Mayor Hendricks told me the last of its citizens will receive the vaccine tomorrow. Most the buildings have been repaired, and they have enough supplies to last the rest of the winter. Spring is coming,” he added, brushing a kiss against my ear. “The planting season will start soon. They don’t need vampires for that.”

  “Have you said goodbye to Caleb and Bethany?”

  “Oh, yes.” He chuckled. “You should’ve heard the tantrum Caleb threw. Guilt, tears, the whole song and dance. He even threatened not to like me anymore if I left. But I promised we’d come back. Someday.” He sounded amused and sad at the same time. “Though he might be grown up with kids of his own when I see him and Bethany again.”

  Feeling a little guilty, I turned in his arms, gazing up at him. This was Zeke’s home. I didn’t want to do this alone, couldn’t imagine being without him, but I wouldn’t drag him on an endless journey if he wasn’t absolutely sure he wanted to go.

  “Are you really certain this is what you want?”

  “Yes, Allison.” Zeke put a hand on my cheek, his eyes intent. “I’m certain. We finally have a cure, but the rest of the world needs to know about it. It’s up to us to spread the word, to let humans know they don’t have to live in fear. Eventually, people will populate the world again, and things can be like they were Before. They’ll have to figure out how to live with the vampires, how to coexist, if that’s even possible. But it has to start somewhere.” He took my hand and held it to his chest. “This is the beginning, right here. With us.”

  “It could take a long time,” I said, not to discourage him, but as a warning. “A very, very long time. We might never be finished, Zeke. It could take forever.”

  He smiled, lowered his head, and kissed me. Long and lingering, a promise full of love, and courage, and hope.

  “I love you, vampire girl,” he whispered as he drew back. “And forever is exactly what we have.”

  Acknowledgments

  It appears I have come to the end of another series, the first since the Iron Fey, and I have a lot of people to thank for it. For without them, Allie, Zeke, Jackal, and Kanin’s story wouldn’t have made it onto paper.

  Thanks always to my editor, Natashya Wilson, who push
es me to do better, to really think about my characters and their motivations, and who catches things I never would’ve given a second glance to. (Balloons in the apocalypse, who would’ve thought?) To all the people at Harlequin TEEN; I am supremely lucky to be a part of such a wonderful, supportive group. Here’s to many more years with you.

  Thanks to my agent, Laurie McLean, for keeping me sane during Crazy Deadline Panic Time. Maybe someday we’ll be able to take that break.

  Eternal gratitude to all my readers. As you probably know by now, your tears feed my muse.

  And, of course, my deepest thanks goes to my husband, Nick, who continues to be my best support, inspiration, and logic-hole spotter. Still couldn’t have done it without you.

  Questions for Discussion

  1. Why does Allie think she is a monster? Why does Zeke think he is a monster? Point to places in the text that illustrate their feelings about themselves. How are they the same, and how do they differ?

  2. In what ways do the main characters in this novel show heroism? When are they at their most and least heroic? What do you think the author’s opinion is of heroes and what it takes to be one, and how does she show that in The Forever Song?

  3. Jackal’s character undergoes a radical change throughout the BLOOD OF EDEN series. He is a quintessential antihero. Why is he necessary to this story, and how do his attitude and actions reflect the themes of heroism and human v. monster?

  4. Society as we know it has been decimated in the BLOOD OF EDEN world. In what ways do the human characters still show familiar qualities to our current society and in what ways have they changed to adapt to the environment they live in?

  5. For Allie and Zeke, having to live on human blood is the most horrifying aspect of being a vampire. How do they deal with what they must do to survive? What don’t they consider about their situation that might make it easier for them to come to terms with having to drink human blood?

  6. Kanin sacrifices himself for the greater good. His belief and expectations for Allie also help her through a dark time. Why does he succeed with Allie where he failed originally with Jackal? Who has more influence over Jackal’s actions in the end—Kanin or Allie?

  An exclusive excerpt from the most anticipated new series of 2014:

  THE TALON SAGA Book 1

  TALON

  Only from Julie Kagawa and Harlequin TEEN.

  Alpha was halfway up the lawn when the roof exploded. Something dark, scaly and massive erupted from the hacienda, sending tile and wood flying as it launched itself into the air. It was huge, a full-grown adult, the height of a bull elephant and three times as long. Curved horns spiraled up from its narrow skull, and a mane of spines ran down its neck to a long, thrashing tail. The sun glinted off midnight scales, and leathery wings cast a long shadow over the ground as the dragon hovered in the air a moment, glaring down at the battle below, then dove to attack.

  Wings flared, it landed on the lawn with a roar that shook the earth, and sent a cone of flame blasting through the ranks of soldiers. Bodies fell away, screaming, flailing, as hellish dragonfire consumed armor and flesh like tinder. The dragon pounced, scything through the ranks with its claws, crushing soldiers in its teeth before flinging them away. Its tail whipped out, striking an entire group coming up behind it and knocking them aside like bowling pins.

  Now! I leaped to my feet, as did the rest of my squad, and opened fire on the huge reptile. The M16s chattered in sharp, three-round bursts, and I aimed carefully for the dragon’s side, behind the front foreleg where the heart would be. Blood erupted along the armored hide, and the dragon screamed as some of the shots hit home, though not enough to kill it. It staggered, and I pressed forward grimly, concentrating fire on its weak points. If we could kill it quickly, the less damage it could do, and the fewer lives it would take. There could be no hesitation on our part; it was either us, or the dragon. Directly across from us, a black jeep with a mounted .50 caliber Browning M2 burst from the bushes, and machine gun fire joined the cacophony as the vehicle sped toward the dragon. Caught in a deadly crossfire, the dragon roared.

  Bounding away, it opened its leathery wings and launched itself into the air with a powerful downward thrust. “Aim for the wings!” the commander barked in my ear, though I was already switching targets, methodically firing at the sweeping membranes. “Bring it down now! Don’t let it fly away.”

  But the dragon had no intention of fleeing. Roaring, it turned and swooped from the sky, dropping fifteen tons of scales, teeth and claws onto its target. It smashed full force into the jeep, halting its momentum, crushing the hood and causing the driver to fly into the windshield. The gunner flew from the back, tumbling to the ground and sprawling limply in the ferns. With a triumphant bellow, the dragon overturned the whole vehicle, crushing metal and glass and turning the jeep into a mangled wreck. I winced inside, but there was no time to think on the lives lost. We would pay our respects to the fallen when the battle was won. My squad switched fire back to the dragon’s flank. Streaked with blood, the dragon jerked, and that long neck snapped around, a murderous gleam in its red eyes as it glared in our direction.

  “Hold position!” I snapped to the rest of my squad, as the dragon roared a challenge and spun, tail lashing. “I’ll draw it off. Keep firing!”

  I left my hiding place and started forward, firing short, controlled bursts as I did, heading around the dragon’s side. Spotting me, the dragon reared its head back and took a breath, and my pulse spiked. I dove away as fire erupted from its jaws, searing into the jungle and setting the trees ablaze. Rolling to my feet, I looked up to see the huge lizard coming for me, jaws gaping wide. My heart pounded, but my hands remained steady as I raised my gun and fired at the horned skull, knowing the thick breastplate would protect its chest and stomach.

  The dragon flinched, shaking its head as the shots struck its bony brow and cheekbones, and kept coming.

  I threw myself to the side as the dragon’s head shot forward, jaws snapping shut in the spot I had been. Quick as a snake, it whipped its neck around and lunged again, teeth that could shear through a telephone pole coming right at me. I avoided the six-inch fangs, but the massive, horned head still crashed into my side, and even through the combat vest, pain erupted through my ribs. The ground fell away as the force hurled me into the air, the world spinning around me, and I rolled several paces when I struck the earth again. Clenching my jaw, I pushed myself to my elbows and looked up… …into the crimson eyes of my enemy.

  The dragon loomed overhead, dark and massive, its wings partially open to cast a huge shadow over the ground. I looked up, gazing into its ancient, alien face, saw myself reflected in those cold red eyes that held no mercy, no pity or understanding; just raw hate and savage triumph. It took a breath, nostrils flaring, and I braced myself for the killing flames. There was no fear, no remorse. I was a soldier of St. George; to die hon orably in battle against our oldest foe was all I could hope for. A single shot rang out from somewhere in the jungle, the sharp report echoing loudly even in the chaos. The dragon jerked and lurched sideways with a roar, a bright spray of blood erupting from its side, as the armor-piercing .50 caliber sniper round struck right behind its foreleg, straight into the heart. The precision-perfect shot that Tristan St. Anthony was known for. The blow knocked the dragon off its feet, and the ground shook as it finally collapsed. Wailing, it struggled to rise, clawing at the ground, wings and tail thrashing desperately. But it was dying, its struggles growing weaker even as the soldiers continued to pump it full of rounds. From where I lay, I watched its head hit the ground with a thump, watched its struggles grow weaker and weaker, until it was almost still.

  Only the faint, labored rise and fall of its ribs, and the frantic twitch of its tail, showed it was still clinging to life. As it lay there, gasping, it suddenly rolled its eye back and looked at me, the slitted, bright red pupil staring up from the dirt. For a moment, we stared at each other, dragon and slayer, caught in an endless cycle of war
and death.

  I bowed my head, still keeping the dragon in my sights, and murmured, “In nomine Domini Sabaoth, sui filiiqui ite ad Infernos.” In the name of the Lord of Hosts and his son, depart to hell. An incantation taught to all soldiers, from when they’d believed dragons were demons and might possess you in a final attempt to remain in the world. I knew better. Dragons were flesh and blood; get past their scales and armor, and they died just like anything else. But they were also warriors, brave in their own way, and every warrior deserved a final send off. A low rumble came from the dying dragon. Its jaws opened, and a deep, inhuman voice emerged through the screams and gunfire. “Do not think you have won, St. George,” it rasped, glaring at me in disdain. “I am but a single scale in the body of TALON. We will endure, as we always have, and we grow stronger even as your race destroys itself from within. You, and all your kind, will fall before us. Soon.”

  Then the light behind the crimson orbs dimmed. The dragon’s lids closed, its head dropped to the ground, and its whole body shuddered. With a last spasm, the wings stilled, the tail beating the earth ceased, and the huge reptile went limp as it finally gave up its fight for life.

  I slumped, collapsing to my back in the dirt, as cheers rose around me. Soldiers began emerging from the trees, shaking their weapons and letting out victory cries. Beyond the massive corpse, bodies from both sides lay scattered about the lawn, some stirring weakly, some charred to blackened husks. Flames still flickered through the trees, black columns of smoke billowing into the sky. The crumpled remains of the jeep smoldered in the middle of the field, testament to the awesome power of the huge reptile.

  The firefight with the guards had ceased. Now that their master was gone, the last of the enemy was fleeing into the jungle. No orders were given to track them down; we already had what we’d come for. In a few minutes, another crew would chopper in, clean up the debris, raze the hacienda, and make all the bodies disappear. No one would ever know that a monstrous, fire-breathing creature of legend died here this afternoon.