Two figures stood on the path down the mountain. His hair and his jaw were my own. Her eyes and her skin, as well. “Are you ready, darling?” The woman extended an olive hand to me, and her smile—it was as warm as I’d always dreamed it. As warm as this summer night.

“That boy is asking after you again,” the man said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Etienne.”

Butterflies erupted at the name.

Unbidden, my feet drifted toward them, my lips lifting in a smile. I couldn’t help one last look, however—at Lou, at Reid, at Coco, at Beau. They milled around the pear trees, feeling each trunk, testing the leaves. Laughing at themselves with Terrance and Liana and Manon.

If you plant them—if you care for them—they will grow.

My smile widened. Madame Sauvage had vanished, leaving them to life anew.

Taking my mother’s hand, I did too.

Acknowledgments

I owe a great debt to many people for not only the creation of this book, but also for the creation of this entire series. To cut straight to the heart of it, the most important of them is you. The reader. Thank you seems too commonplace an expression to convey my gratitude, but truly, no words can describe the emotion in my chest when I think of how kind you’ve all been, how enthusiastic. Though the pandemic struck just months after Serpent & Dove was published, each one of you went above and beyond to support these books. The beautiful photos, illustrations, cosplays, lyrics, reels—I have a lump in my throat thinking of them now. The past three years have changed my life, and readers continue to be the heart of that. From Lou and Reid, from Coco, Ansel, Beau, and me, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Jordan, I’ve told you a million times, but I’ll tell you again—I couldn’t have written this book without you. When writers ask me for guidance, I often tell them to find what they love and lean into it unapologetically. You give me permission to follow my own advice. This book—all my books—wouldn’t contain half the wit, half the kissing, half the fun without your input. Are you my muse? Probably. I love you to the moon and to Saturn.

RJ, Beau, James, and Rose, words will never be able to convey the depths of my love for you. This deadline could’ve been a burden, but it wasn’t. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your understanding. Thank you for your love and respect and support as together, we chase our crazy dreams. Zane and Kelly—and Jake, Brooke, Justin, Chelsy, and Lewie—we don’t get to choose our family, but even if we could, I would choose you anyway. Thank you for being my collective rock. I love you all more than you know.