For Darkness Shows the Stars Part 28

He reached for her. "I'll show you."

They climbed on the deck again. The night had arisen around them, the stars winking into life like the ones in the roof of the cavern sanctuary, but a thousand times more brilliant. Kai held firm to her with one hand, and pointed up with the other. "I can see them, Elliot. I can see them all. In the night, in the day, through clouds and storms and the setting sun."

She stared at him in wonder. This was his miracle, and he was sharing it with her. "Thank you," she said, "for coming back for me."

"Elliot." He bent his head close to hers, and looked deep into her eyes. His gaze was no longer strange to her. He was just her Kai, the man he'd been born to become. "No matter where I went, I always knew my way back to you. You are my compa.s.s star."

And he was hers.

Acknowledgments.

THEY NEED TO MAKE some kind of medal for editors who go above and beyond the call of duty. Kristin Rens, you are a G.o.ddess of patience. Were it not for a constancy rivaling Elliot North's and your pa.s.sionate belief in this story, I would have gone mad four letter-rearrangements ago. Thanks also to Sara Sargent, who possesses a name worthy of a captain of the Cloud Fleet. I will always cherish your declaration about what you'd do if Kai and Elliot didn't work it out. I am also grateful to the entire team at Balzer + Bray: Alessandra Balzer, Donna Bray, Emilie Polster, Caroline Sun, Amy Ryan, Joel Tippie, Jon Howard, and Margery Tippie.

I am in debt to my agent, Deidre Knight, for convincing me that I could write this book and helping me dig for the perfect t.i.tle. Special thanks go to first readers Justine Larbalestier (who called from the other side of the world), Jacki Smith, and Mari Mancusi; Erica Ridley for her brilliant brainstorming advice and Lavinia Kent for her historical romance know-how. And to Carrie Ryan, who offered countless hours of encouragement, brainstorming, critique, admonishment, comfort, and last will and testament wording a.s.sistance . . . what do you want? A kidney? A crate of champagne? My firstborn? (Just kidding about that last one-don't look so scared!) And to my husband, who got all excited at the thought of me finally writing sci-fi (and less so when I clarified that it would be Jane Austen sci-fi), I hope I haven't scandalized you with the absence of tech. (I'll make it up to you next time.) I will never forget our brainstorming session of "but what caused the apocalypse?"

I'm so lucky to have real-world friends who'll listen to me blather on about the imaginary ones in my books: Elizabeth, Glenn, Chris, Megan, Adam, Maria, Ernie, Eva, Dana, and Shannon; and a family kind enough not to laugh when I explained my premise (Luke, Brian, Ten) and willing to watch Persuasion on TV with me. (Mom and Dad-I promise, guys, good parents next time!) Thanks to Rio for being the best brainstorming-hike partner a girl could ask for, and to Eleanor for so often coming along for the ride. (I'm sorry for accidentally calling you Elliot those times.) Thanks also to my readers who have been so excited about this story during its long, long gestation. I hope it was worth the wait.

Most of all: thank you, Jane Austen. Thank you for making me fall off the couch at sixteen as I thrilled to Mr. Darcy's first, horrible proposal; for making me blush if Mr. Knightley so much as took Emma's hand; and for making me cry every single time I read Captain Wentworth's letter to Anne. Thank you for creating these characters and these situations, for giving generations of mothers and daughters endless topics of conversation, for writing strong women and true love and happy endings. Thank you for giving me the bones of this story, and forgive me for the changes I've made to its DNA.

About the Author.

DIANA PETERFREUND is the author of the killer unicorn novels RAMPANT and ASCENDANT, as well as the four-book Secret Society Girl series. A lifelong Jane Austen lover and technophile, she lives in Was.h.i.+ngton, DC, with her family, her BBC miniseries collection, and her smartphone. You can visit Diana online at www.dianapeterfreund.com.

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Also by Diana Peterfreund.

RAMPANT.

ASCENDANT.