Julie Hall - Stealing Embers

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Packed to the brim with action, snark, angel lore, and characters you immediately fall in love with, STEALING EMBERS will enthrall fans of Cassandra Clare and Sarah J. Maas, or anyone who loves beautifully written urban fantasy with a sizzling-hot dose of romantic tension. Prepare to become addicted!

Audrey Grey

USA Today bestselling author of the Kingdom of Runes series

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This delightful read was everything I wanted in a book and more. Author Julie Hall kept me turning pages far into the night, and I wanted the next book in the series the moment this one was over. Stealing Embers just may be one of the best books I've ever read. Well done!

Michele Israel Harper

award-winning editor and author of the Beast Hunter series

And when the ones who thought to overthrow the Creator were defeated, they were thrown out of Heaven and cursed to an existence they loathed.

Book of SeraphChapter 3, verse 2

The Nephilim were on the earth in those daysand also afterwardwhen the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

Book of GenesisChapter 6, verse 4

Chapter One

A crash breaks the silence of the early morning. With a jolt, my eyes pop open and Im on my feet, bag slung over my shoulder before Im fully awake. My shoes slap the pavement beneath me as I sprint for the open end of the alley. Sparks of light flicker around the periphery of my vision.

Real or imaginary?

Casting a glance over my shoulder, I catch a garbage truck depositing a dumpster on the ground. The lid bangs against the metal side and echoes off the buildings lining the alley. The lights pulsate with each loud hit, then fade when the noise settles.

The shot of adrenaline coursing through my system leaves my heart racing, even as my mind dismisses any real threat of danger.

Slowing to a stop, I lean against the side of the building and press a hand to my chest, willing the beats to slow. Im safe. Im safe. Im safe, I chant while practicing deep breathing.

The air nips at my heated cheeks and cools the moisture already collecting around my hairline. Closing my eyes, I focus on the sensations that ground me in reality.

The stale smell of rotten food and garbage.

Rough brick beneath my fingertips.

The fuzzy build-up and bitter tang on my teeth from my short nights sleep.

I am here, and I am awakeat least, I hope so. Opening my eyes with painstaking slowness, I silently pray the spectrum world wont fill my view.

I let out a loud sigh of relief at the graffiti-spattered wall across the alley. The ground is littered with trash and random detritus: a shoe, a discarded bike tire, the carcass of a dead rat.

This may be the first time Im excited to see a rat in any form. Rats dont exist in the spectrum world, so the furry corpse is further confirmation I still exist in reality.

One. Two. Three. Four.

Counting my heartbeats is one way I calm myself downa strategy for slowing the release of adrenaline into my system.

I live in fear of adrenaline rushes.

They are my main trigger to seeing the world Ive been told doesnt exist. I do whatever I can to avoid themincluding isolating myself, which isnt usually an issue since people are naturally uncomfortable around me. Over the years, Ive honed my senses to be aware of the world around me, but Im screwed during the few hours my body demands sleep.