Frozen

“I understand,” he said softly, and stepped back toward the beach.

She put a hand on his arm and turned him toward her, just as he had done to her that night on the Titan, when the traders had arrived. But before she could kiss him, he swept her off her feet and kissed her, dipping her low and holding her close.

“I’ll come back for you,” he whispered. “This isn’t the end for us. I promise.” Then Wes kissed her again. More slowly this time.

Nat watched him walk away from her, her heart breaking and healing at the same time. There is hope, she had told him once. She would believe it. The feel of his kiss lingered on her lips. She hoped it would be soon, that he would return to her soon. That they would be together one day. She would like that very much. She would trust him with all the treasures in the universe. She would trust him with her very heart.

Then Nat called for her drakon and together they flew through the doorway, into the Blue.

Acknowledgments

Mike and Mel would like to thank the awesome TEAM FROZEN: our amazing, lovely and brilliant team of editor and publisher Jennifer Besser and Don Weisberg, for believing in the book from the beginning and putting their whole hearts into it. Our super-agent and partner-in-crime, Richard Abate, and Melissa Kahn at 3 Arts, for all the support. Everyone at Penguin Young Readers Group for their dedication and enthusiasm, but especially Marisa Russell, Elyse Marshall, Shauna Fay Rossano, Emily Romero, Shanta Newlin, Erin Dempsey, Scottie Bowditch, Felicia Frazier, Courtney Wood, Erin Gallagher, and Anna Jarzab. Theresa Evangelista for the beautiful cover. Lynn Goldberg and Megan Beatie from Goldberg McDuffie for spreading the news to the world. Our film and TV agents Sally Willcox, Michelle Weiner and Tiffany Ward at CAA for navigating the crazy world of Hollywood for us. Our wonderful friends in life and letters Margie Stohl, Alyson Noel, Aaron Hartzler, Ally Carter, Rachel Cohn, Pseudonymous Bosch, Deborah Harkness and James Dashner for being comrades-in-arms. To our extended family, especially our brother-in-law and beta reader Steve Green for loving our stories. To our number one girl: Mattie, one day you’ll be in the family business as well and we look forward to that day with so much love and excitement!

Lastly, to all of our readers who have followed our books from Blue Bloods to Wolf Pact to Witches of East End, thank you for letting Nat and Wes into your hearts. We hold you in ours.

Much love to all,

Mike and Mel

PRAISE FOR MELISSA DE LA CRUZ

for BLUE BLOODS:

“De la Cruz’s Blue Bloods introduces a conception of vampires far different from traditional stake-fleeing demons, coupling sly humor . . . with the gauzier trappings of being fanged and fabulous . . . teens will savor the thrilling sense of being initiated into an exclusive secret society.”

—Booklist (starred review)

“De la Cruz combines American history, vampires and a crew of rich New York City kids, delivering a page- turning debut in Blue Bloods.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Schuyler Van Alen is #9 on the Top 25 Vampires of all time.”

—Entertainment Weekly

for WITCHES OF EAST END:

“Centuries after the practice of magic was forbidden, Freya, Ingrid, and their mom struggle to restrain their witchy ways as chaos builds in their Long Island town. A bubbling cauldron of mystery and romance, the novel shares the fanciful plotting of Blue Bloods, the author’s teen vampire series . . . [B]reezy fun.”

—People

“A magical and romantic page-turner . . . Witches of East End is certain to attract new adult readers . . . The pacing is masterful, and while the witchcraft is entertaining, it’s ultimately a love triangle that makes the story compelling. De la Cruz has created a family of empathetic women who are both magically gifted and humanly flawed.”

—Washington Post

“For anyone who was frustrated watching Samantha suppress her magic on Bewitched, Ms. de la Cruz brings some satisfaction. In her first novel for adults, the author . . . lets her repressed sorceresses rip.”

—New York Times

“What happens when a family of Long Island witches is forbidden to practice magic? This tale of powerful women, from the author of the addictive Blue Bloods series, mixes mystery, a battle of good versus evil and a dash of Norse mythology into a page-turning parable of inner strength.”

—Self

“Witches of East End has all the ingredients you’d expect from one of Melissa’s bestselling YA novels—intrigue, mystery and plenty of romance. But with the novel falling under the ‘adult’ categorization, Melissa’s able to make her love scenes even more . . . magical.”

—MTV.com

“De la Cruz has, with Witches, once again managed to enliven and embellish upon history and mythology with a clever interweaving of past and present, both real and imagined . . . [It] casts a spell.”

—Los Angeles Times

“De la Cruz is a formidable storyteller with a narrative voice strong enough to handle the fruits of her imagination. Even readers who generally avoid witches and whatnot stand to be won over by the time the cliffhanger-with-a-twist-ending hits.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Fantasy for well-read adults.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“A sexy, magical romp, sure to bring de la Cruz a legion of new fans.”

—Kelley Armstrong,