Lawrence had hired new guards after Vivienne escaped in April to help with acquiring subjects for the most recent round of testing—or at least that was what his brother claimed. Jasper couldn’t help feeling like the two henchmen who followed him like mosquitos buzzing in his ears were there to keep an eye on him as much as his subjects.
A few hours later, Jasper climbed into the backseat of the town car and squeezed between his bodyguards. He nodded at each of them. “Rhett…Terry.” When his greeting was met with silence, he found himself looking forward to seeing the shock on their chiseled, scarred faces the first time they saw one of the PAN fly.
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I’d like to thank you for reading this book. My hope is that you found yourself as invested in this story as I’ve been since I wrote it.
I’m blessed to have a husband who is a true partner in every aspect of this crazy, exhausting, brilliant life. I couldn’t have written this—or anything—without his willingness and ability to take up my slack. Jimmy, I love you.
Colin and Lilly, thank you for being so good at watching cartoons and for letting me stare at my screen while you fall asleep. I hope someday this story makes you feel like magic is possible.
Thank you to my mom—who also happens to be my biggest fan. All those paperback romance novels (sans front covers) you let me borrow are the reason I fell in love with reading. And thanks to my dad for repeatedly reminding me what it means to be a Hickman. Look up. Move forward. I miss you every day.
Thank you to my sisters who never told me my first drafts were crap. Megan Kitzmiller, Dani Hickman, & Tillie Lee: I forgive you for lying.
I’d also like to thank Phyllis and Shay Fyfe for helping me hit my deadlines by being our go-to babysitters. You’ve been wonderfully supportive. I feel like one of the family now.
Thank you to Miriam Sincell Burton. You’ve read every story I’ve ever written and have found something positive to say about each one. Everyone should be so lucky to have someone like you cheering them on. And to my neighbor April Drew, you’ve been an integral part of this journey as a sounding board, a cheerleader, and a friend. You inspire me every day to keep going—or to take a much-needed break. If the audiobooks need sound effects, I’ll let you know.
Lenka McGurk, Bibi Breen, and Magda Cronin, I want to thank you for forcing me to be sociable even when I didn’t feel like it. I’m blessed to have found such wonderful, close, supportive friends at this stage in life.
Brittney Maynard, I’m enamored with the crest you’ve created for the PAN. Thank you for lending your brilliant artistic ability to this project. And Mila, thank you so much for giving this novel a beautiful new look.
A huge thanks to the experts who helped bring this fantasy a bit closer to reality. Anne Bicker: without your late-night input, brilliant ideas, and genetic expertise, I would’ve just been making stuff up. And Brandon Stein: thanks for keeping my guy out of jail.
I cannot thank Elle and everyone at Midnight Tide Publishing enough for giving my orphan novel a home. And Candace Robinson, you are an angel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you’ve done.
And to my editors: Jess Moore, you made me Google purple prose and highlighted my writing ticks and flaws. This story is stronger because of you. Meg Dailey, you pushed me to make this story better than I could have imagined. And your comments/asides in the margins always brought a smile to my face and kept me going when I felt like stopping.
Lastly, I feel it is imperative to thank J.M. Barrie—the genius who created Peter Pan. You gave us magic; you gave us adventure; you gave us Neverland.
About the Author
Jenny grew up in Oakland, Maryland and currently lives in County Tipperary, Ireland with her lilting husband and two tyrannical children. Her love of reading blossomed the summer after graduating high school, when she borrowed a paperback romance from her mother during the annual family beach vacation.
From that sunny day forward, she has been a lover of stories with Happily-Ever-Afters. In early 2008, she wrote her first novel, The Mirrors at Barnard Hall. But it was not until she moved to Nashville, TN and met her mentor, Billy Block, that she was encouraged to self-publish the work in 2012.
Seven years, and two additional self-published works later, Jenny is ready to release her next novel, The P.A.N., the first book in a YA Sci-Fi Romance trilogy of the same name.
Also by Jenny
The PAN Trilogy
The H.O.O.K. (Spring 2021)
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