“High or low, the moon’s rhythmic phase; surround us in wonder for all of our days.”
Wolfe pulls back and watches in awe as it spins around us, dark water perfectly controlled by darker magic.
Slowly, I let my magic ease. The water drains back to the ocean floor, lifting us up as it does, and together we swim to the beach. Wolfe takes my hand and gives me a meaningful look.
“I think it’s time to head back to the manor.” His gaze lingers on my lips before finding my eyes.
“I think you’re right.”
I lace my fingers through his, but before we leave, I turn back to the water one more time. It looks so perfect with the moonlight glinting on its surface, a thing of beauty and power, heavy silence and deceptive calm.
A force that recognizes the magic inside me and yields to it because it knows I’ll keep it safe.
A home that has unfailingly let my wild heart be free.
I used to believe that I belonged to the sea.
But I was wrong.
The sea belongs to me.
acknowledgments
This book is extremely special to me, and from the moment the initial idea sparked in my mind, all I have wanted was to share it with readers. If you have picked it up, read it, or talked about it, thank you. Thank you so much.
There are many brilliant people who helped me get Bring Me Your Midnight from idea to finished book, and I feel very fortunate that my stories are touched by their wisdom, support, and enthusiasm.
First, to Pete Knapp, my literary agent. Thank you for your belief in me and my stories and for being such an incredible advocate for my work. You make me feel like anything is possible, and I know my hopes and ambitions are in the best of hands.
Thank you to Annie Berger, my incredible editor. You saw the magic in this story before it was even on the page and helped me find it when I lost the thread. Thank you for loving this book and helping me turn it into the best version of itself. I am so lucky to work with you.
To the entire Sourcebooks Fire team, thank you for the amazing work you do to get my stories out into the world. Karen Masnica, Madison Nankervis, and Rebecca Atkinson, thank you for making readers aware of this book in the coolest, most exciting of ways. Thank you to Liz Dresner for designing the most striking cover of all time, Elena Masci for bringing it to life so beautifully, and Tara Jaggers for the gorgeous internal design. Thank you to Erin Fitzsimmons for the case and end papers of my dreams and to Sveta Dorosheva for the most stunning map I’ve ever seen. Thea Voutiritsas, Alison Cherry, and Carolyn Lesnick, thank you for putting the finishing touches on this book and for polishing it until it shined. Gabbi Calabrese, thank you for your help in making this process smooth and seamless. Margaret Coffee, Valerie Pierce, and Caitlin Lawler, thank you for your tireless work to put my books on the radar of as many booksellers, educators, and librarians as possible. Ashlyn Keil, you are an events rockstar. Thank you for everything you do to connect me with readers. Sean Murray, I have seen my book on so many shelves because of the work you do—thank you. And finally, thank you to my publisher, Dominique Raccah. I love being a Sourcebooks author.
To the entire Park & Fine team, I am so grateful to have your collective brilliance behind me and my books. Andrea Mai and Emily Sweet, thank you for the strategy and enthusiasm you bring. Stuti Telidevara, thank you for keeping me organized amidst the chaos. Kat Toolan and Ben Kaslow-Zieve, thank you for your work to get my books into the hands of readers all around the world.
To Debbie Deuble Hill and Alec Frankel, thank you for being such excellent guides on all things television and film.
To Marta Courtenay, thank you for your creativity, enthusiasm, and for the hours of work you save me.
To Elana Roth Parker, thank you for helping make this book happen.
To the authors who so generously read this book early and sent along such wonderful blurbs—thank you. Your enthusiasm makes me so excited to send this book out into the world.
Adalyn Grace, thank you for the hours you spent on the other side of my screen, drafting with me. May our schedules forever align. Diya Mishra, you read this book first, and your enthusiasm and excessive use of the f-word fueled my love for it from the very start. Thank you. Julia Ember, Miranda Santee, Tyler Griffin, Heather Ezell, Kristin Dwyer, and Rosiee Thor, thank you for not only being some of my very favorite people, but for also reading this book early and providing such invaluable insight. Rachel Lynn Solomon, Adrienne Young, Isabel Iba?ez, and Tara Tsai, I wouldn’t want to be on this journey without you.
Angela Davis, you gave me permission to imagine a path for myself that was truly mine. Thank you for helping me find my happiness.