I stared at the pendants. Maybe it was my imagination, but for a moment, they seemed to gleam even brighter than before, as if the metal shared my hopeful thoughts. I reached out and traced over the runes with my finger, just as I’d done countless times before as a child. Owen had found them and brought them back to me. I couldn’t quite believe it. That the runes were whole and with me once again. He’d given me such a lovely, thoughtful gift, such an important gift. Despite everything that had passed between us, my heart swelled with love for him—and also with hope for our future.

Smiling, I grabbed the runes, slid out of the booth, and went over to the counter to show Bria the gift that Owen had given to both of us.

One of friendship, family—and love.

‘Heart of Venom’ Excerpt

Turn the page for a sneak peek at the next book in the Elemental Assassin series

HEART OF VENOM

by Jennifer Estep

Coming soon from Pocket Books

1

“What do you mean, I can’t come?”

I jerked my head down at the heavy weight swinging between us. “Do you really want to talk about this right now?”

“I can’t think of a better time,” he replied, then dropped his half of the load onto the ground.

I let go of my half of the weight, put my hands on my hips, and rolled my eyes at the whiny, petulant tone in my foster brother’s voice. “You can’t come because it’s a girls’ day at the salon. No guys allowed. That includes you.”

Finnegan Lane sniffed, straightened up to his full height, and carefully adjusted the expensive silk tie knotted around his neck. “Yes, but I am not just any guy.”

More eye rolling on my part, but Finn ignored me. His ego was pretty much bulletproof, and my derisive looks wouldn’t so much as scratch his own highfalutin opinion of himself.

“Besides,” he continued, “I’d get more enjoyment out of a spa day than you would.”

“True,” I agreed. “I don’t particularly care how shiny my nails are or how well conditioned my hair is.”

Finn held out his manicured nails, studying them with a critical eye, before reaching up and gently patting his coif of walnut-colored hair. “My nails are good, but I could use a trim. Wouldn’t want to get any split ends.”

“Oh no,” I muttered. “We wouldn’t want such a horror as that.”