Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (127)
“One hundred percent,” Kol agreed.
I laughed. “Never a dull moment.”
He pulled me into his arms. “Regretting marrying into the most chaotic family on the planet?”
“Never,” I said, stretching up to kiss him. “You keep me on my toes. I’d hate to have a boring life.”
Kol’s mouth curved against mine. “You gonna meet me in the twilight tonight?”
“Only for forever,” I whispered back.
“Forever isn’t nearly long enough.”
Acknowledgments
ICAN’T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I WAS TO WRITE NOVA and Kol’s story. From the moment I began writing book one in this series, scenes with these two were playing out in my mind. But when it came time to start plotting, I panicked. I couldn’t figure out the right character trajectory for Nova.
She had been through an incredible trauma, but it didn’t feel right for her to be meek or hiding out. As I thought about the two parts of her that seemed to be at odds, I really struggled. It was in talking it out with a friend and realizing that Nova’s trauma could spark recklessness, thrill-seeking, and LIVING to the fullest that Nova really became unlocked for me. So my first and biggest thank-you has to go to my partner in wording crime, Elsie Silver, for helping me figure it out.
Creativity doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and for me, it has to be tended and cultivated. Maybe that’s why I’ve also recently entered my plant-mom era. Regardless, none of the magic of creation happens without a community around you. And I am beyond fortunate to have one of the most amazing ones. I’d like to give an extra little shout-out to friends who help me find my way whenever I’m lost: Devyn, Sam, Laura, Elsie, Rebecca, Kandi, Ana, Lauren, Amy, Willow, Mia, Jess, and Paige. Thank you for all you do and all the ways you show up for me. I love you all.
To all my incredible friends who have cheered and supported me through all the ups and downs of the past few months, you know who you are. Romance books have given me a lot of things, but at the top of that list are incredible friends that I am so lucky to have in my life. Thank you for walking this path with me.
To my incredible betas, Anna, Glav, Elle, Jess, Jill, Kelly, Kristie, and Trisha, who read this one at various phases and helped find the characters when I was struggling. I’m so lucky to have you all in my corner.
And to the most amazing hype squad ever, my STS soul sisters, Alice, Hollis, Jael, Katrina, Laura, and Paige, thank you for the gift of true friendship and sisterhood. I always feel the most supported and celebrated thanks to you.
The crew that helps bring my words to life and gets them out into the world is pretty darn epic. Thank you to Devyn, Jess, Tori, Glav, Rae, Kelli, Paula, Chelle, Jaime, Julie, Cat, Mary, Stacey, Katie, Jenna, and my team at Lyric, Kimberly and my team at Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management. Your hard work is so appreciated!
To my team at Sourcebooks: Christa, Gretchen, Katie, and so many others, thank you for helping these words reach a whole new audience and making my bookstore dreams come true. And to my team at Evermore and Century in the UK, especially Claire, Jess, and Rosie, thank you for bringing the stories to stores across the globe.
To all the reviewers and content creators who have taken a chance on my words … THANK YOU! Your championing of my stories means more than I can say. And to my launch and influencer teams, thank you for your kindness, support, and for sharing my books with the world.
Ladies of Catherine Cowles Reader Group, you’re my favorite place to hang out on the internet! Thank you for your support, encouragement, and willingness to always dish about your latest book boyfriends. You’re the freaking best!
Lastly, thank YOU! Yes, YOU. I’m so grateful you’re reading this book and making my author dreams come true. I love you for that. A whole lot!
Ready for your next visit to Starlight Grove?
Read on for an exclusive first-chapter preview of Beneath A Midnight Moon!
Prologue
Aster
TWELVE YEARS AGO
'Do you think there’s anywhere the stars are brighter?'
I spoke the words barely louder than a whisper, the dark gobbling them up like some sort of silent vacuum, but Maverick still heard them. He always did. It was as if he could hear things I didn’t even say. Maybe because he listened so intently, or maybe because he gave me a safe place to say the things I wasn’t comfortable letting slip free anywhere else.
His strong fingers flexed around my shoulder, pulling me closer to him in the bed of the truck. 'I don’t think there’s anywhere they’re more beautiful.'
The whole landscape was breathtaking—the back pasture of Twisted Oak Ranch, where we could see the forests and fields, and even the pond on my granddad’s ranch peeking out through the trees. Everything about it felt like my favorite place to be. With Maverick, most of all.
I let the heat of his body seep into mine, my eyes drifting shut for just a moment. I only allowed myself brief, stolen moments like this one when I could pretend that Maverick was more than just my confidante, my partner in crime, and my best friend. When I could pretend my father didn’t hate him and his entire family with a fiery passion. Stolen moments when he was simply mine.
I forced my eyes open, not letting myself linger in that place where I longed for things that would never be for so many reasons.