ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The end.…

I cannot believe the Gilded Wolves trilogy is officially finished. This story has lived in my heart for so long that I feel a bit hollow and extremely weepy to know that this story has concluded.

Even more overwhelming than this cathartic sadness is the debt of gratitude I owe to everyone who has helped bring this story to life. My biggest thanks go to my readers, who have shouted about this trilogy from every corner of the internet. Thank you for your art, your playlists, your memes, your messages, your bookstagrams, and your enthusiasm. My thanks, especially, to the members of the indomitable Gilded Wolves street team! I cannot tell you how much your support and gorgeous (and oftentimes hilarious) photo edits have picked me up and inspired me. A special thanks to Mana, one of the first readers and champions of this trilogy who has kindly lent her impeccable humor and creative flair to sharing this story with even more readers.

I am, as always, indebted to the various teams who oversaw the sales, editorial aspects, audio recording, book production—TRULY LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE HUMAN—at Wednesday Books. Eileen, thank you for always supporting me and for all the “romantic punching up.” DJ, thank you for celebrating the magic in the story. Mary, thank you for giving it extra shiny publicity placement! Thank you to Christa Desir for the thoughtful copy edit and gently taming my Penchant To Capitalize Things For No Reason.

To my family at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, thank you! To Thao, agent extraordinaire, who is the fiercest champion around. To Andrea, for all the book passports and careful documentation of elaborate Halloween setups. To my assistant, Sarah, who makes sure that I am alive and functioning.

The friends I have made in the writing community are my favorite coven of witches. Renee, JJ, Lemon, your friendship is a magic I deeply cherish. Lyra, thank you for turning your Dread Eye upon my drafts. Ryan, for the uplifting string of meep meeps. Jennifer, who lifts me up when I have been stampeded by bad writing days.

To the friends who remind me of the world outside my head, thank you. Niv, best of friends and best of dreamers. Bismah, enigmatic and wise as a cat. Marta, the warmest of human sweaters. Cali, for convos in Stitch character. Ali, for evenings as dancing potatoes. McKenzie, for tipsy graveyard walks. Cara-Joy, the most fashionable and intimidating of cheerleaders. The entirety of the Golden Hores (Kaitlin, MeiLin, Nico, Hailey, Katie, Natasha)—I’m indebted to your good humor, company, and your kindness in indulging my historical tangents. I must also thank the abundance of Erics in my life. Eric Lieu, who let me borrow his name, and Eric Lawson, for titling the end of this trilogy (sorry, McKenzie, I know what I’ve done).

I am blessed with a family who inspires and uplifts and, critically, keeps me fed. Momo, Dodo, Mocha, Puggy, Cookie, Poggle, and Rat—I love you. For Ba and Dadda, who told me stories and took me to bookstores at every hour of the day, thank you. For Lalani and Daddy Boon, I wish we’d had more time for stories, but your memory guides me nonetheless. To sweet Panda bear, who guarded the start of this trilogy, and for Teddy, who protected the end.