Chosen - Kiersten White Page 0,118

but it’s working for now.

“Seems like you need more training.” He frowns thoughtfully down at me, his hands around my waist.

“Excuse me?”

“You should have sensed I was there and blocked my attack.”

“You’re assuming I wanted to.” I go on my tiptoes and press my lips to his. We had a lot of talks. So you’re part demon talks, and so you thought you could die instead of having a fight about all your lies talks. Painful talks, but good talks. And now Leo and I both have someone who knows exactly what it feels like to worry you’re going to hurt the people around you. Who understands having to work to keep the angry and predatory parts of yourself under control. We don’t have to be ashamed. We can be proud. Because it’s hard, but we do it. Together.

A few moments—or minutes—luxuriating in the feel of his mouth on mine pass before I pull away, remembering I came down here for a reason. I twist free of Leo’s grasp with a laugh, then hurry to where Cillian’s mother is helping Chao-Ahn load everything. She’ll take the Slayer to an airport and help her get on her way back home. One of these days I’ll go to London to meet Faith in person. Maybe even San Francisco to meet Buffy. But for now, dreams are enough. I have plenty of Slayers in my real life too.

“I am ready.” Chao-Ahn loads her small pack into the car. Then she turns to me. “I was afraid to face the monsters of my home—my past—for too many years. Thank you for helping me find my strength again.”

“And thank you for helping me face my storm.”

“See you in dreams?”

“No more ice cream, okay?”

She laughs and hugs me, then climbs into the car. Taylor waves forlornly, but everyone else has already said their good-byes. Sanctuary might be permanent for some of us, but it makes me happy to see someone take what they need and then go back out into the world.

I’m surprised as another car pulls up just after Esther’s car disappears. A young woman, maybe a couple of years older than me, her nose pierced and her expression intense but haunted, leans out the window.

“I hear you help Slayers.” Her fierce tone is belied by the slight tremble in her hands as she grips the steering wheel. “Take them in.”

Prophecies and ancient forces have tried to claim me. Generations of tradition have tried to steer me. Trauma and fear have tried to stop me. But today, right now? I’m exactly who I’m supposed to be. I smile. “Welcome home, Slayer.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Liesa Abrams, Sarah McCabe, Jessi Smith, Michelle Wolfson, Sarah Creech, Kekai Kotaki, Cassie Malmo, Ian Carlos Crawford, Zoraida Cordova, Caleb Roehrig, Slayerfest 98, Stephanie Perkins, Natalie Whipple, Noah, my three children, my parents, my in-laws Kit and Jim, Buffy Summers, Faith Lehane, the cast, crew, writers, directors, producers, and everyone who brought Buffy to us, as well as the authors, graphic novel writers, and artists who continued her stories off the screen:

You know what you did.

(Thanks for what you did.)

More from this Series

Slayer

Book 1

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KIERSTEN WHITE is the New York Times bestselling author of many books for teens and young readers, including And I Darken, Now I Rise, Bright We Burn, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein, Slayer, and Chosen. She lives with her family near the ocean in San Diego, where she perpetually lurks in the shadows. Visit Kiersten online at kierstenwhite and follow kierstenwhite on Twitter.

SIMON PULSE

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Slayer

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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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SimonandSchuster

First Simon Pulse hardcover edition January 2020

Text by Kiersten White

Jacket illustration by Kekai Kotaki

Series and title logos by Craig Howell

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Jacket designed by Sarah Creech

Interior designed by Mike Rosamilia

Jacket designed by Sarah Creech

Jacket illustration by Kekai Kotaki

Series and title logos by Craig Howell

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: White, Kiersten, author. | Title: Chosen / by Kiersten White.

Other titles: Buffy, the vampire slayer (Television program) Description: New York : Simon Pulse, 2020. | Series: [Slayer] | Summary: “Now that Nina has turned the Watchers Council’s castle into a utopia for hurt and lonely demons, she’s still waiting for the utopia part to kick in. With her sister, Artemis, gone and only a few people remaining at the castle—including her still-distant mom—Nina has her hands full. Plus, though she gained back her Slayer powers from Leo, they’re not feeling quite right after being held by the seriously evil succubus Eve, aka fake Watchers Council member and Leo’s mom. And while Nina is dealing with the darkness inside, there’s also a new threat on the outside, portended by an odd triangle symbol that seems to be popping up everywhere, in connection with Sean’s demon drug ring as well as someone a bit closer to home. Because one near apocalypse just isn’t enough, right? The darkness always finds you. And once again, it’s coming for the Slayer”—Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019026228 (print) | LCCN 2019026229 (eBook) | 9781534404984 (hardcover) | 9781534405004 (eBook)

Classification: LCC PZ7.W583764 Ck 2020 (print) | LCC PZ7.W583764 (eBook) | DDC [Fic]—dc23

LC record available at lccn.loc.gov/2019026228

LC ebook record available at lccn.loc.gov/2019026229

Chosen - Kiersten White Page 0,118

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