Ravenous, p.30
Ravenous, page 30
“Then I won’t go willingly.”
He steps forward and the air around him sizzles. His silver hair rises from the static charge, lending him a crazed appearance.
“That matters not to me. Besides, you stole something from me too. Who do you think the Bane you found in the volcano belonged to?” He narrows his eyes. “I was furious at first when all that magic was released from my Bane. Though I admit, you did provide an excellent distraction and the perfect way to weaken my wards around the city.”
“It was yours?” Shock drains all the color from my face.
“Of course it was. They”—he points to my parents—“denied me what I needed to take the magic from the realm in one spell, so I’ve had to improvise. Wizard’s Banes drain magic, not just wizards. I turned it on the realm itself, and it’s been slowly draining magic for years. It was almost full, too, until you stupidly released it.”
Horror makes my knees feel like fragile flower stems in a hurricane.
“Please,” Mama begs, “please take our jewels and leave.”
Mustering all the bravery I have, I step between them. “No, take me. Let them be.”
“I will consider it,” the man says. I brace myself when he reaches for me, but Mama throws herself at him.
He shoves her off with a bright light and bang, sending her tumbling to the floor and knocking over a vase of our best blush roses in the process. She lies very still, her back to me amid the falling petals. Her blue silk skirts spread out on the marble floor like flowing water, and sparks of magic flicker over her. Blood pools from where she hit her head on the corner of the table.
The world stands still. Everything is blue and red and her golden hair. I barely register Papa reaching for me or the second blast that sends him flailing.
Mama is dead. An awful certainty takes hold of my insides, making me numb.
Then cold hands grab my arms. Shockingly cold, given the amount of heat those hands burned at my parents. The cooling touch creeps over my skin like thousands of tiny insects, prickling and numbing, and cracking my skin in places. Rivulets of blood trickle down my arms, but I cannot feel a thing. I cannot struggle. I cannot scream. I can only stare at the face of the silver-haired man as his hands wind around my neck and squeeze.
One long, black flash of cold, then oblivion.
EPILOGUE
THE KING WEEPS OVER THE BODY OF HIS WIFE AND THAT OF THE DAUGHTER he can no longer find. A sealed letter and a few drops of blood are all that remain where she stood. A bitter end to a vile promise finally fulfilled. Darkness creeps around him, haunting and hollow, filling him up with every sob.
Outside the city walls, the raging forest calms. Saplings and ancient trees alike shamble back to their resting places, where the magic that animated them will return to the one they obey.
In the garden behind the palace stubborn seeds sprout to life. The roots swell below the earth, taking hold of the stones in the foundations, reaching, grasping, ever so slowly. Shoots of black and green pierce the earth, coaxed from their long rest by a sacrifice. Some dark things can only be baptized in blood.
These black, coiling twigs twine around the garden, snaking toward the palace walls, ready to claim what their master truly desires: utter revenge.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Second books are strange beasts. In some ways they’re easier, because you know what to expect, and in other ways they’re even trickier. Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to work with an amazing group of people—at HarperCollins, New Leaf Literary, online, and at home—who’ve supported me and this book the whole way through. My particular, infinite thanks to those noted below:
Ravenous would not exist without the brilliant advice of my editors, Rosemary Brosnan and Annie Berger. I can’t thank them enough for the tough editing love and for shepherding this book to publication. It’s a privilege and a joy to work with them and the entire marvelous, talented staff at HarperCollins Children’s Books. Everyone from editorial to design to marketing and publicity put a lot of time, love, and hard work into this book. Truly, I consider myself the luckiest author in publishing!
My agent, Suzie Townsend, for being smart and savvy, and for doing so much more than just selling books. Her insight, advice, and assistance on all aspects of the publication process have proven invaluable. Suzie and the rest of the New Leaf Literary & Media staff are rock stars at everything they do, and I’m so glad to have them in my corner.
Illustrator extraordinaire Skottie Young, for bringing my characters to life on the gorgeous covers for both Ravenous and Monstrous and in the delightful chapter-heading illustrations inside. His work is incredible, and I can hardly believe how perfectly he captured the mood and feel of both books. My stories could not possibly be better dressed.
My excellent critique partners Mindy McGinnis, R. C. Lewis, Riley Redgate, and Derrick Carmado, who speedily read Ravenous and always challenge me to make my books better than I could envision on my own. Also, my critique group and beta readers: Sakura Q. Eries, Amy Trueblood, Michelle Hauck, Christina Busby, Eric J., and Chris Shaw. They may not have all read this particular book, but they have helped make my writing stronger and have been wonderfully supportive along the way.
Speaking of support, there are so many ups and downs and sideways detours on the route to publication, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to be part of not one but two debut author groups. To all the members of the Class of 2K15 and the Fearless Fifteeners, thank you for the commiseration, for the book love, and for generally being all kinds of awesome. I’m glad we got to share our debut year together!
My local Boston Writers Meetup group, which is also a great source of support and friendship and excellent for ensuring I leave the revision cave at least once a month. Crepes and commiseration go a long way to keeping me grounded.
It would be remiss of me not to include the very kind authors who took the time to read my first book and provide blurbs: Anne Ursu, Natalie Lloyd, Claire Legrand, Rebecca Behrens, and Emma Trevayne. So many thanks for making this newbie author feel like part of the “club” and for taking the time away from their own wonderful books to do so!
My best friends, Trish Ellis and Chandra Reber, for being two of my biggest cheerleaders and always patiently listening as I babble about my adventures in publishing. And, of course, Trish’s mom, Diane, for foisting my first book, Monstrous, on strangers at every possible occasion. Ravenous will no doubt owe more than a few readers to her efforts as well!
My family, for always being excited to hear about this book’s progress no matter how many times I talked about it. Also, my extended family—a veritable army of in-laws who came out to many events in support of me and my book.
My husband, Jason, and our pugs, Tootsie and Milo. The pugs for being my foot warmers and plot sounding boards through the months I spent writing this book. And Jason for many, many things, but here notably for naming the Sonzeeki and being the most supportive husband a writer could ask for. You’re always my favorites.
And last, but anything but least, all the readers, and the booksellers, librarians, and teachers who’ve put Monstrous and Ravenous in their hands. There is nothing better than knowing there are people who love these books and love sharing them. Thank you.
BACK AD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo by Cheryl Colombo Photography
MARCYKATE CONNOLLY is a writer and arts administrator living in New England with her husband and pugs. She’s a coffee addict and voracious reader. She is also the author of Monstrous. You can visit her online at www.marcykate.com.
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BOOKS BY MARCYKATE CONNOLLY
Monstrous
CREDITS
Cover art © 2016 by Skottie Young
Hand lettering © 2016 by David Coulson
COPYRIGHT
RAVENOUS. Text copyright © 2016 by MarcyKate Connolly. Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Skottie Young. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2015940703
ISBN 978-0-06-227274-4(trade bdg.)
EPub Edition © January 2016 ISBN 9780062272768
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FIRST EDITION
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MarcyKate Connolly, Ravenous
