Descendant

“A hot new spin on paranormal,
Descendant
is refreshingly imaginative and powerful. I can’t decide which was best --piecing together Abby’s sinister past or keeping up with her heartbreaking future. If you like your YA laced with melt-my-heart romance and a good helping of heart-pounding suspense, you’ll love this book!”

-- Michelle Davidson Argyle, author of
The Breakaway

“Nichole Giles has crafted a story that breathes from the pages. Her characters are authentic, the action intense, with powerful emotions that will keep
Descendant
on your mind long after the book ends.

Open your eyes to another facet of our world in
Descendant
and you’ll be sucked into an adventure with Abby and Kye, that will explore the power of gifts, courage, and love. With top-notch writing, Giles has crafted a story that breathes from the pages.”

--Rachelle J. Christensen, award-winning author of
Wrong Number
and
Caller ID

“Nichole Giles brings a fresh new voice and flawless writing technique to the world of Young Adult fiction. I was swept away to another place and never wanted to come back.”

--Tristi Pinkston, author of
Turning Pages
and the
Secret Sisters
mystery series

“This debut novel delivers in all the right ways, with heart-pounding action and a delicious romance that sweeps centuries. I loved it!”

--Elana Johnson, author of
Possession
and
Surrender

Rhemalda Publishing, Inc. (USA)

P.O. Box 1790 Moses Lake, WA 98837 USA

First American Paperback Edition

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, dialogues, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Copyright ©2013 by Nichole Giles

Edited by Diane Dalton

Text design by Rhemalda Publishing

Cover design by M. W. Cover Designs

Cover photograph by Conrado

Author photo by Heather Zahn Gardner

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

ISBN Paperback: 978-1-936850-67-9

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013936266 (print)

Nichole Giles’s author website is
http://nicholegiles.blogspot.com

Rhemalda Publishing

For Brayden, Brittany, Madison, McKay, and Gary
I would battle demons for all of you.

Kye’s
white shirt is drenched with blood. It pools on the smooth, black floor of the cave, soaks my knees, and ruins the silk dress I bought in New York just yesterday. A river of it runs into his golden hair until it’s orange and sticky. He’s so still, so broken.

I’ve always known it’s my destiny to give in to death while healing someone else. That’s the one lesson Gram taught me that actually stuck. I just never imagined the day would come before my eighteenth birthday. No amount of childhood training—no crystals, herbs, or healing energy—will give back the life slowly draining away.

It’s happening again. Feelings of helplessness and grief are at war as I struggle to hold on to the last shred of the person I’ve loved for so many lifetimes but only known a few weeks. So much has happened, and all I can think is that his car is at the airport.

Knowing that the person who did this is dead doesn’t comfort me. Too little, too late. It doesn’t change what’s been done. To me. To him. To all of us. I’ve cried so much today that I’m already drained. I can’t catch a breath, so I let the tears come. Emotions crash down on me; anger, sadness, frustration, love, pain. They flow into me, swirl together until flashes of memory sharpen my other senses.

His face close to mine, his thumb stroking my cheek, a heartbroken
declaration of love on a pedal-cab ride through Central Park. It’s not enough. Not nearly. It’s not his time to go. Or mine either.

Except ...

There is a solution. Something I can do to save him. I can offer my life in place of his and hope the goddesses accept. One of us will survive. As I picture my life without him, the world without him, I know it’s the only thing left for me. Because I love him that much. The world and others like us need him more than they need me, and I’m the only one who can save him.

He’s already done everything in his power to protect me, to save me. I am why he’s here. It’s my turn now.

I bend to touch one last kiss to his swollen lips and whisper, “It’ll all be over soon. I’ll love you forever.” Then, with all I have in me, I gather his broken energy together and call it into myself—preparing my body to die in place of his.