I should be on board for this, Caleb said. I thought I would be. But something seems off. Wrong.
Youre not usually the voice of reason. Dont start trying to be now.
Aden, listen to me. Answer me. Victoria shook her head, wet hair slapping at his cheeks, then shook him. Go back to when?
To the beginning.
Her eyes widened, the implications putting furious color in her cheeks. Lets talk about this. Think it through. If you go back, will Eve return to you? Will Julian? What about you? Your beast? Will you still be a vampire?
Probably. Maybe. I dont know. Probably not. Definitely not. Maybe.
Your wards
Will never have been applied. He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss into her lips. I love you. You know that, right?
He should have done this a long time ago. Should have listened to everyone when theyd asked him to do it. Instead, hed let fear and stubbornness rule him. And look where it had gotten him.
Yes. Blue eyes studied him, sad, almost defeated. I love you, too. But there has to be another way to
Theres not. If things worked out the way he hoped they would, he and Victoria would never meet. Never get to know each other.
Never cause such a cataclysmic event.
Hed rather meet her and deal with this, but he wouldnt. And that was love.
Like his parents had given him up, he was going to give Victoria up. Unlike his parents, he wasnt doing it for himself but for her.
In the end, this was going to kill him. He could walk by her, and she would not know him, but he would know her.
Aden, just give me a chance to
This is the only way. I know that now. He kissed her again, a deeper kiss than hed ever given her. A soul-shattering kiss. Their last kiss. He let her feel all of his longing, all of his dreams. All of his regrets. All of his prayers for the future.
And when he pulled back, he was trembling. She was crying. He tasted those tears in his mouth, a little salty, a lot heartbreaking.
He wiped those tears away with an unsteady hand, and then he did what was necessary. He closed his eyes and imagined the day hed first met Mary Ann.
Glossary of Characters and Terms
Blood-slaves Humans addicted to a vampires bite.
Bloody Mary Queen of a vampire faction thats rival to Vlads.
Brian Resident of the D and M, died when the ranch burned down.
Brendal Fairy princess, sister to Thomas.
Caleb A soul trapped inside Adens head. Can possess other bodies.
Chompers Demon beast that lives inside Victoria.
D and M Ranch A halfway house for wayward teens.
Dan Reeves Owner of the D and M Ranch.
Dmitri Deceased betrothed of Victoria.
Dr. Morris Gray Mary Anns father.
Drainer A human who feeds from and ultimately destroys those with supernatural abilities.
Draven Vampire female, challenged Victoria for the right to Aden.
Edina Victorias mother.
Elijah A soul trapped inside Adens head. Can predict the future.
Eve A soul formerly trapped inside Adens head. A time traveler.
Fairies Protectors of mankind, enemies to vampires.
Goblins Small, flesh-hungry creatures.
Haden Stone Known as Aden. A human who attracts the supernatural and has three humans souls trapped in his head.
Je la nune A poisonous liquid that burns vampire skin.
Jennifer A witch.
Julian Soul trapped inside Adens head. Can raise the dead.
Lauren Vampire princess, Victorias sister.
Maddie Vampire female, sister to Draven.
Marie A witch.
Mary Ann Gray Human turned drainer. Repels the supernatural.
Maxwell Werewolf shape-shifter, Rileys cursed brother.
Meg Reeves Dans wife.
Nathan Werewolf shape-shifter, Rileys cursed brother.
Penny Parks Mary Anns best friend.
Riley Werewolf shape-shifter, guardian of Victoria.
RJ Former resident of the D and M.
Ryder Resident of the D and M.
Seth Resident of the D and M.
Shannon Ross Adens roommate at the D and M.
Sorin Vampire prince, Victorias older brother.
Stephanie Vampire princess, Victorias sister.
Teleport To move ones body from one location to
another in an instant.
Terry Former resident of the D and M.
Thomas Fairy prince, ghost.
Tucker Harbor Mary Anns ex-boyfriend, part-demon illusionist.
Vampires Those who live off human blood and have a beast trapped inside them.
Victoria Vampire princess.
Vlad the Impaler Former king of Romanian vampire faction.
Witches Spell-weavers, magic producers.
Q & A with Gena Showalter
Q: Aden Stone has grown up with little understanding and a lot of pain and still has become a caring, compassionate person with a healthy sense of right and wrong. What was the inspiration behind this strong and complex hero?
A: I am surrounded by heroes. My father, husband, brothers. They are men who would take a bullet to protect their loved ones. (And, yes, even me.) I like to think Aden has their courage and their deep sense of loyalty. And I so admire them for those traits because, honestly, I curl into a ball and hide at the first sign of trouble.
Q: In Adens first story, Intertwined, you included yourself in your dedication, Because this one almost killed me, you said. Has writing the Intertwined Novels gotten easier as youve continued? How do you keep all the story threads straight?
A: Gotten easier? God, no! Each one has been more difficult than the last, and I swear Twisted grayed my hair. (Id also swear that extra ten pounds I picked up is Twisteds fault, too, and has nothing to do with that bread pudding.) The characters are growing, evolving, and so are the happenings around them. As for keeping the threads straight, Id love to tell you how organized I am, how I keep everything in a Word doc or a notebook. Yeah. Id really love to tell you that. Instead, I have to admit that everything is jumbled inside my head, and I have to fit the pieces together after Ive written my first draft.
Q: Which one of the Intertwined Novels characters do you relate to most, and why?
A: Im probably a mix of Aden and the souls. All my life Ive had people living inside my headstory charactersand they do talk to me. I talk to them, too, and it used to freak my family out. Im a homebody who rarely leaves the house. My smart mouth sometimes gets me into trouble, and yet Im a mediator who wants everyone around her to be happy (except when Im the one whos angry, and then all bets are off). I love my family and friends more than anything, andIm just gonna say itmy mind sweeps through the gutter upon occasion.
Q: In the Intertwined Novels, vampires are living, breathing creatures who sleep in beds and can go out in daylight. How did you come up with the vampire mythology for this series?
A: One of my favorite things to do is play with mythology. Using certain already accepted aspects helps ground the world I hope to create in reality, and twisting those same aspects adds flavor. I knew I wanted my vamps to exist in differing stages. The younger vamps, who are the most humanlike (except for their raging need for blood), the middle-of-the-roaders, who begin to exhibit more vampirelike/supernatural abilities, and the elders, who are very much like the vampires of legend. That way, there is always a change to anticipateor dread.
Q: Aden and Mary Ann have evolved from students working to get through high school into targets for all of paranormal-kind. Whats your most memorable moment from high school, and how did it change you?
A: Once I walked in the cafeteria and a friend lifted my skirtand held it up while I twisted and turned trying to cover myassets. She thought it was hilarious. I was mortified. For several seconds that seemed like an eternity, everyone got a peek at my undies. While there was nothing I could do to change what had happened, I learned that being treated with respect is hugely important, there are boundaries friends should never cross, and that its okay to end a toxic relationship.
Q: Rileys primary job is to guard Victoria, a duty that is both rewarding and frustrating. What are the best and worst jobs that youve ever had?
A: Ive worked as an aircraft title searcher (interesting), a calendar sales girl (frustrating), a food service provider (stressful), a day-care worker (really stressful), and a nurses assistant (really, really stressful). What I learned: I truly enjoy sleeping in, and I suck at customer service. My favorite job is, hands down, writing. Im doing what I love: creating, weaving stories. And I get to sleep in. Of course, I work seven days a week and sometimes fifteen hours a day, but its totally worth it!
Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be an author, and what was your journey to publication like?
A: Id already dropped out of college three times and quit what seemed like a thousand jobs. Before I could allow myself to venture down the writing road, I had to prove I could actually finish a book. So, I wrote that first one in three monthsand it sucked. But Id done it, Id written it from beginning to end, and as difficult as it was, I loved the process. I wrote another and another and kept sending them to publishersand kept receiving rejections. Until that seventh book, about five years later. Finally, in 2004 I had a taker! Harlequin and I have been working together ever since.
Q: What advice do you have for anyone who aspires to be an author?
A: Read, read, read, and write, write, write. The more you read, the more youll subconsciously understand story structure. The more you write, the more youll understand your own process and how to maximize your strengths. Also, write from the heart, not what you think others would want you to write. You do, and youll find your story magic. Oh, and never give up. Giving up is the only sure way to fail.
Thank you, Gena!
The Twisted Playlist
Raise Your Glass by Pink
We R Who We R by Ke$ha
Only One by Yellowcard
All Over You by The Spill Canvas
Moth by Audioslave
If I Die Tomorrow by Motley Crue
Thats What You Get by Paramore
Maybe by Sick Puppies
Secrets by OneRepublic
Basket Case by Green Day
Rebirthing by Skillet
I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas
Homecoming by Hey Monday
Your Love is a Song by Switchfoot
Firework by Katy Perry