Kristin and I would like to dedicate this book to LGBT teens.

Gender preference does not define you.

Your spirit defines you.

It gets better.

We heart you.

No matter what “they” say, life is really about love, always love.

As always, we would like to thank our St. Martin’s Press family; it’s great to be able to say we honestly love and respect our publisher!

We heart our agent, Meredith Bernstein, without whom the House of Night would not exist.

Thank you to our fans, who are the smartest, coolest, Best Readers in the Universe!

And a special thank-you to our hometown supporters who have made the House of Night Tulsa Tour such fun.

We heart Stephen Schwartz, for allowing us to use the lyrics of his magickal song. (Jack hearts you, too, Stephen!)

P. S. To Joshua Dean from Phyllis: Thanks for the quotes. Heeheeheehees!

A disquieting sense of irritation awakened Neferet. Before she had truly departed that amorphous place between dreams and reality, she reached out with her long, elegant fingers and felt for Kalona. The arm she touched was muscular. His skin was smooth and strong and pleasing beneath her fingertips. All it took was that small, feather-like caress. He stirred and turned eagerly to her.

“My Goddess?” His voice was husky with sleep and the beginnings of renewed desire.

He annoyed her.

They all annoyed her because they were not him.

“Leave me … Kronos.” She had to pause, and search her memory to remember his ridiculous, overly ambitious name.