Legacy of Blood - By J. L. McCoy
Acknowledgements
Legacy of Blood was the hardest book I’ve written to date. I hope I wrote Skye’s story with the integrity it deserves.
To the readers and fans: Thank you for taking a chance on me; for all the reviews, emails, Facebook posts, and for sticking with me. You guys totally rock socks! Xo!
To Virginia Cantrell and Jax Flanders: 3 people in the right place at the right time. Lifelong friends made. Thank you for giving up a little piece of your sanity to help me regain mine. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I adore you girls… <3
To V., Katie Salidas, and Omar Rodriguez V., my magic workers: Thank you for all your hard work. I quite literally could not do this without you guys. You blow me away…
To Trudy Powders and Lois Friend: Thanks for the cool Divine Power suggestions.
To Nicole Broadhurst-Carriere, Anita Smith-Shields, Angel Herrera, Virginia Cantrell, Jacqui Flanders, Ashley Marie Pitts, my alpha/beta support team: You dropped everything once again to help me see this through. Thanks for the late nights and the wonderful advice. <3
To the reviewers/bloggers: Thank you for reviewing the book, hosting me on your pages, and for overall being wonderful, wonderful people! Your support of my work really means so much to me. I have enjoyed every minute of getting to know you.
To Mama: You are amazing… I can’t say it enough. I love you.
To Kenny: Tá mo chroí istigh ionat. A-chaoidh. Best 9 years of my life, baby.
To Daddy: Every girl deserves a Daddy like you. <3
To Kellie: If you get any hotter, my book covers are going to explode! Speaking of…BEST. COVER. EVER! Love ya, Smelly.
If I have left anyone out, I sincerely apologize. All mistakes herein are mine and mine alone.
A Very Special ‘Thank You’
I want to extend a very special thank you to the following people for their amazing support. I appreciate the reviews you leave and the time you take to visit and participate on my Facebook page. You guys are awesome! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, dolls! You mean the world to me! Xo!
Brandy Roark Dorsch
Vanessa Andrade Cavazos
Jennifer Maynard
Sara Jane Murdoch
Cassie Hoffman
Virginia Cantrell
Jacqui Flanders
Valari Roberts
Yvonne Monagas
Victoria N.
Natalie Walker Idrogo
Amy Russell
Crystal Newman
This book is dedicated to V. and Jax. There are simply not enough words…
Much to my chagrin I have no hunger for what I've been.
Obscene disregard for the moral love I've seen.
I haven't even begun, yet previous vitalities from here undone.
This pain can be no more than an indication
Infinite vexation will overcome this eternal exhilaration
Not discerning the displeasure of our gravity, forgetting our impressionable depravity.
The mystique of such unknown only caused the absorption of my mind to pique
A fain devotion to an addiction only motivated me to incite affliction
Descending from the heavenly luminous
My imminent fate can be no less numinous
~ M. Michelle Fey
Chapter One
I slowly opened my eyes and saw I was lying in an endless field of scarlet paintbrush wildflowers. I gasped at its beauty as I stood up and took in my surroundings. Tall hills rolled in every direction and the sea of flowers summited them as well. Where am I? I turned slow circles where I stood, trying to gauge where I was, but I had never seen this place before; I had never seen a place as breathtaking as this in my entire life.
I bent down and softly trailed my fingers over the dewy tops of the flowers as I slowly walked through them. Water droplets kissed each petal and shined and shimmered like diamonds in the bright morning sun.
How did I get here? I thought back as hard as I could, trying to remember. Slowly, memories of pain and blood flashed through my mind. I remembered looking up at Archer from my place in his arms and I gasped audibly as I recalled my painful death.
“I’m dead,” I whispered to myself as I looked around at the wildflower field again. It was so beautiful and could only mean one thing. “I made it to heaven?”
“No, child,” Amun said behind me and I whipped around as I fearfully clutched my hands to my chest. “Do not be afraid, Damu. I mean you no harm.”
“I-Is this one of your dreams?” I asked unsteadily. “Am I dreaming?”
“Something like that,” Amun nodded his head. “You are evolving, my precious.”
I suddenly remembered the last few words Archer and Trey spoke before I slipped into unconsciousness.
“Oh my God. Her eyes.”
“She’s transforming. She’s turning.”
“Her eyes are completely pitch black. They look just like…him.”
Anger coursed through me