Heather Long

Das Herz des Ganzen war ein Geheimnis und eine Lüge. Ein Geheimnis, das wir ihr nicht verrieten. Eine Lüge, die wir uns selbst erzählten. Emersyn Sharpe war mehr als nur das Mädchen, über das wir wachten. Emersyn war genau die Frau, die zu uns passte.

My name is Grace Degas Black. Years ago, I made a splash during a charity fashion show where an agent discovered me. My work led to the glitzy world of haute couture, perfume ads, and more.

Mein Name ist Emersyn Sharpe. Bis vor einigen Monaten war ich die Hauptdarstellerin einer Wandershow, die ihren Vertrag noch zu Ende erfüllen musste. Ich war geschlagen worden, aber nie gebrochen.

Grandfather tried to prepare me for everything… Yet, how could anyone prepare me for this? Kidnapping. Blackmail. Deception. Grief. Vengeance. The Royals have always been about blood. Blood lines, blood relations, and the spilling of blood. I didn’t ask for this war. I didn’t go looking for it.

Emersyn Sharpe gehört nicht in unsere Welt. Eigentlich ist der letzte Ort, an dem sie sein sollte, bei uns. Aber jemand tut ihr weh. Wir haben es alle gesehen. Wir haben versucht, die Warnzeichen zu ignorieren. Wir haben versucht, den Menschen um sie herum zu vertrauen.

Die Pop-Prinzessin mit den leuchtend blauen Haaren, den vollen Lippen, den eindringlichen Augen und der Stimme einer Sirene … Musik scheint die einzige Sprache zu sein, die wir beide sprechen. Das ist nicht genug. Nicht für sie. Nicht für die anderen. Für niemanden. Ich bin nicht genug.

They say you can never go back… ‘Course, I never wanted to return. It took me years to age out. Once I made it, I took off and never turned around. Trust me, there were only three reasons I managed to survive there as long as I did and they abandoned me as soon as they were able.

My only connections were forged through the veil of a computer screen. I was their voice in the dark, their operator. I was their lifeline—until the day my past tore into my present, and they had to become mine.

Five years ago, I disappeared from the life I had and built this one. I spend my days and most of my nights on the line, helping my clients achieve their goals. They call me when they are in a jam or are getting ready to move on a target.

Madness runs in my blood or so my family history would suggest. For more than thirteen years, I've been driven by one quest. One desire. One goal. It's about more than just DNA and legacy, it's about a promise. One I swore I would never give up.

Family legacy dictates everything from type of education to suitability of friends to eligible marriage opportunities to the type of business I’m expected to go pursue. It’s more than just DNA, it’s also about birth order, gender, and unfortunately—the family name.

Do you ever lie to yourself? I do. Making friends has been the cruelest choice I ever inflicted upon myself. I like to say I don’t regret it, and for the most part that’s true. I resent it.

Survival isn’t everything. I’ve fought to protect my family....

I was born into this world. Power and wealth are the keys to controlling it, but they aren’t everything. They are a means to an end when it comes to protecting the people I care about. I’ve known my destiny since I was old enough to sit at the table....

Kaitlin Crosse wields an extraordinary power over me. She pushes, dares, and drives me to the brink of madness. Ever since our paths intertwined, my obsession with her has been absolute and unyielding.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to escape. I hid in my dance. I ran away from my life as much as I could. I fought to be somewhere else, even if I couldn’t be someone else. One night, after my partner lashed out at me and I’d been hurt, the Vandals took me and never looked back....

From the moment I learned she was coming to our school, I had a gut feeling it would end in disaster. Out of all the schools in the world, why did Kaitlin Crosse have to choose ours? Her presence confused my brothers....

I won’t stop hunting for those who took Daddy while I continue his work. But I won’t do it alone. And I won’t let anyone take Rick, Fletcher, or Cash from me....

The pop princess with her bright blue hair, pouty lips, haunting eyes, and the voice of a siren. She’s always been too busy for us. Music seems to be the one language we both speak. It’s not enough. For her. For them. For anyone. I’m not enough....

My name is Mickey James. Little Bit is everything. I fought to stay away, and I’ll fight to keep. Our enemies are going to learn that my skill at healing broken bodies makes me damn talented at damaging them too. They drew blood, we’ll bury them....