Jesse Madding wakes up one morning to discover everything has changed and he is completely alone, both Emma and Gideon gone. Betrayed by the last person he’d expect, the life he once had is over, and a new existence must somehow be forged.<br><br>Aching with the loss, Jesse vows to do everything he can to overcome the lies, return home, and find the vampire that makes his life worth living.

A Renaissance in Blood

He was there. Jesse could sense him through the layers and layers of pain. He wanted to open his eyes, but nothing responded. His eyes didn’t move. His toes didn’t move. His hand wouldn’t move. His brain had been removed and set aside and now he was just a shell. He knew it.


If he didn’t concentrate on moving, he could swim to the surface of the black pool and hear Gideon’s voice. So he didn’t concentrate on anything at all.


Gideon was there. That was fine then. He didn’t know where therewas, but he wasn’t alone in the dark. Gideon wouldn’t leave him alone in the dark. He knew how much Jesse hated that. How the fear, like an old friend, would sidle up close to him and begin whispering all sorts of lies that Jesse couldn’t ignore.


“I’m here, Jess. I’m here if you can hear me.”


He could hear Gideon because he’d always listen for Gideon.


Chapter 59