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A note from the author
Dear Elemental World readers,
Once again, we come to the close of another chapter in the Elemental universe. While the Elixir storyline is finished, I hope you can tell from hints given in this book that my work in this world is far from over. My very next project is working on the Elemental Legacy series featuring Ben Vecchio and everyone’s favorite wind vampire, Tenzin.
There are currently two prequel novellas that tell what has happened to Ben after the Elemental Mystery series. A lot of time has passed for the young boy adopted by vampires. Ben is all grown up and ready for his own adventures. Who better to keep him company than a vampire who loves starting trouble?
The first of five books featuring Ben and Tenzin will be out in the fall of 2017. Until then, I hope you’ll look for their stories, Shadows & Gold and Imitation & Alchemy, available now at major retailers in e-book and paperback. A third, Omens & Artifacts, will be published in early 2017.
And after that, who knows? As long as there are stories to tell in this world, I will keep writing in it. I hope you’ll come along for the journey.
Be well, and thank you for reading.
Elizabeth Hunter
November 22, 2016
Acknowledgements
At the end of every series arc, there always seems to be so many more acknowledgments than usual, and this particular book has benefited from the wisdom and eyes of so many individuals, I’m almost positive I’m going to miss some.
But here is my attempt to try to remember most.
To my editing team, Lora, Anne, and Linda. Every book you challenge me to be better, and this one was no exception. Thank you for your professionalism, dedication, and critical eyes. I could not write my books without you. Any mistakes left in this book are probably mine from trying to mess with your beautiful work.
To my cover designer, Damonza.com. I thank you for the truly gorgeous cover for A Stone-Kissed Sea. You captured the color and beauty of this book and these characters. Thank you.
So many people contributed to the extensive research for this book, but I especially wanted to thank everyone from National Geographic Expeditions, who introduced me to the inspiring country of Ethiopia. Thanks to Anne Butcher, Henok Tsegaye, and David Scott Silverberg for their expertise and generosity. Their guidance through the complicated history, anthropology, and geography of Ethiopia and the East African Rift was extraordinary.
Effusive thanks to two wonderful writers whose work informed and inspired me, Rebecca Haile and Lemn Sissay. And fangirl adulation to the many musicians whose work was my soundtrack for this book, Baaba Maal, Gigi, Salif Keita, Mumford & Sons, The Very Best, Nina Simone, FKA twigs, and The Gospel Whiskey Runners.
I want to thank my beta readers for this book, particularly Cat Bowen and Pamela Bonsu, who not only checked my voice for this story and offered encouragement and insight, but also reassured me that the MAGIC!science made at least a little sense and that scientific research professionals were as awkward and as wonderful as I imagined. I cannot thank them enough. Additional thanks to all my many readers in STEM fields that helped me with details in this book.
To my beautiful David, thank you for showing me your Ethiopia. Thank you for being you.
To my family, I want to thank you for putting up with all the travel I did during the research for this book. (My patient son, especially.) I cannot wait to bring you along on the next adventure… as long as you’re not in school.
To my readers, thank you for following me on this journey. Thank you for your support and encouragement. Thank you for having extraordinary imagination and insatiable curiosity.
You are my people.
ELIZABETH HUNTER is a contemporary fantasy, paranormal romance, and paranormal mystery writer. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher. She once substitute taught a kindergarten class but decided that middle school was far less frightening. Thankfully, people now pay her to write books and eighth graders everywhere rejoice.
She currently lives in Central California with her son, two dogs, many plants, and a sadly empty fish tank. She is the author of the Elemental Mysteries and Elemental World series, the Cambio Springs series, the Irin Chronicles, and other works of fiction.
Also by Elizabeth Hunter
The Elemental Mysteries Series
A Hidden Fire
This Same Earth
The Force of Wind
A Fall of Water
Lost Letters & Christmas Lights
The Elemental World Series
Building From Ashes
Waterlocked
Blood and Sand
The Bronze Blade
The Scarlet Deep
Beneath a Waning Moon
A Stone-Kissed Sea
The Elemental Legacy Series
Shadows and Gold
Imitation and Alchemy
Omens and Artifacts (February 2017)
The Irin Chronicles
The Scribe
The Singer
The Secret
On a Clear Winter Night (short story)
The Staff and the Blade
The Cambio Springs Series
Shifting Dreams
Long Ride Home (short story)
Desert Bound
Five Mornings (short story)
Waking Hearts
Contemporary Romance
The Genius and the Muse
A STONE-KISSED SEA
Copyright © 2016
Elizabeth Hunter
ISBN: 9781941674109
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Cover art: Damonza.com
Developmental Editor: Lora Gasway
Copy Editor: Anne Victory
Proofread: Linda at Victory Editing
Formatted: Elizabeth Hunter
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
For information, please visit:
ElizabethHunterWrites.com
Table of Contents
Contents
A Stone-Kissed Sea
Title Page
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Saba I
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Saba II
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Saba III
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Saba IV
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Saba V
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
&nbs
p; Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Epilogue
Connect with Elizabeth
From the Author
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Also by Elizabeth Hunter
Copyright
Elizabeth Hunter, A Stone-Kissed Sea
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