What do I do now?
And when the bumblebee landed on her cheek, she didn’t flinch.
It crawled along the tracks of her tears, down her face to the lips he’d kissed, and she didn’t even blink. Instead, she sat and stared westward, listened to the slow footsteps on the sand behind her. Drawing closer. She heard the hiss of dank breath over too many teeth. Sharp claws tearing the earth at her back.
She didn’t even turn to look.
“Hello, Hunter,” she said.
“Lemonfresh,” came the reply.
“Let me guess. I must come with you to CityHive.”
“She is important,” Hunter replied. “She is needed.”
The girl climbed to her feet on shaking legs. Turning, she found herself looking up into a pair of golden eyes. Down to an upturned palm.
She put on her braveface.
Her streetface.
And she took the Hunter’s hand.
She hoped Ezekiel wouldn’t feel too bad. That he and Cricket had found each other. That maybe they’d find Evie, too. She hoped they’d all be okay. That one day, somehow, they’d all find their happy ending.
She knew it was silly to hope.
But in the end, it was all she had.
Much gratitude must go to the following incredible droogs:
My amazing and courageous editor, Melanie Nolan. Thanks for helping me tame this bioengineered beast.
The beta readers who’ve helped forge this series into something remotely coherent: C. S. Pacat, Lindsay “LT” Ribar, Laini Taylor, and Amie Kaufman. Big hugs must go to Marie Lu, Beth Revis, and my hobbit queen, Kiersten White.
Long and slightly uncomfortable hugs must go to the incredible band of reprobates at Random House/Knopf—“Auntie” Barbara Marcus, Karen Greenberg, Artie Bennett, Lisa Leventer, Alison Impey, Ray Shappell, Stephanie Moss, Ken Crossland, Natalia Dextre, Jake Eldred, John Adamo, Kelly McGauley, Jenna Lisanti, Adrienne Waintraub, Lisa Nadel, Kristin Schulz, Kate Keating, Elizabeth Ward, Cayla Rasi, Aisha Cloud, and Josh Redlich.
Huge thanks are also owed to Anna McFarlane, Jess Seaborn, Radhiah Chowdhury, and all the crew at my Australian publishers, Allen & Unwin, for making me feel so at home, and to all my amazing publishers around the world.
My very own killer agents, Josh and Tracey from Adams Lit, and all my Adams Lit family. Thanks for everything you do. Keep pounding!
All the bookstagrammers, bloggers, and vloggers across the globe who’ve supported my books—there are far too many of you amazing folks to name individually, but please understand I see all you do for me. For the fan art and the reviews, the pimping and the tattoos (!!!), you are amazing, and I couldn’t do what I do without you.
The artists who inspire me, in no particular order—Bill Hicks (RIP), Tom Searle (RIP) and Architects, Maynard James Keenan and Tool, Oli and BMTH, Chino and the ’Tones, Burton and FF, Ian and the ’Vool, Ludovico Einaudi, Al and Ministry, Trent and NIN, Marcus/Adrian and Northlane (especially for the instrumental of “Intuition,” which was my constant sound track for this book), Winston and PWD, Paul Watson, Jeff Hansen and the amazing crews at Sea Shepherd, William Gibson, Scott Westerfeld, Marie Lu, Cherie Priest, Jason Shawn Alexander, Lauren Beukes, Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin, George Miller, Jenny Beavan, Mike Pondsmith, and Veronica Roth.
My droogo di tutti droogi—Marc, B-Money, Surly Jim, Eli, Rafe, Weez, Sam, the Hidden City Rollers, and all my nerdboyz, past and present.
Chris Tovo, for the clickies.
My family, for always being there.
Amanda, my best friend and the love of my life.
And last, but most important of all, coffee.
CHRISTOPHER TOVO