Gena Showalter - Beauty Awakened

First, to my amazing new editor, Emily Ohanjanians, for taking me on and not vomiting when I explained my process.

To Marie, who takes care of me in so many ways!

To my mom and dad, for answering every single one of my book-related calls and never saying, This again? But we went over it yesterdayfor an hour.

To my agent Deidre Knight, for always having my back. Even when I say things like Soheres what I want to do next.

To Jia Gayles, for always being willing to help with promos.

And to Jill Monroe, for too many reasons to list.

God is good. All the time, God is good.

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD KOLDO sat as quietly as possible in the corner of the bedroom. His mother was brushing her hair, lovely dark ringlets spun with threads of the purest gold. She perched in front of the vanity, humming softly but excitedly, her smiling, freckled image reflected in an oval mirror. He couldnt help but watch her, fascinated.

Cornelia was one of the most beautiful creatures ever created. Everyone always said so. Her eyes were the palest violet, edged by lashes the same brown-and-gold mix as her hair. Her lips were heart-shaped, and her pale skin glowed as brightly as the sun.

With Koldos inky hair, dark eyes and deeply bronzed skin, he looked nothing like her. The only thing they had in common was their wings, and perhaps that was why he was so proud of the glittering white feathers cushioned by plush, amber down. They were his one redeeming feature.

Her humming suddenly ceased.

Koldo gulped.

Youre staring at me, she snapped, all hint of her smile gone.

He cast his gaze to the floor, as she preferred. Sorry, Momma.

I told you not to call me that. She slammed the brush onto the marble counter. Are you so foolish that youve already forgotten?

No, he replied softly. Everyone lauded her sweetness and gentleness as much as her beauty, and they were right to do so. She was generous with her praise and kind to everyone who approached hereveryone but Koldo. Hed always experienced a very different side of her. No matter what he did or said, she found fault. And yet, still he loved her with all of his heart. Hed only ever wanted to please her.

Hideous little creature, she mumbled as she stood, the scent of jasmine and honeysuckle drifting from her. The purple fabric of her robe danced at her ankles, the jewels sewn into the hem sparkling in the light. Just like your father.

Koldo had never met his father, had only ever heard about the man.

Evil.

Disgusting.

Repulsive.

Im having friends over, she said, flicking her hair over one shoulder. Youre to stay up here. Do you understand?

Yes. Oh, yes. He understood. If anyone caught sight of him, she would be embarrassed by his ugliness. She would rage. He would suffer.

She peered at him for a long while. Finally she growled, I should have drowned you in the bathtub when you were too young to fight back, and stomped from the room, the door slamming shut behind her.

The rejection cut bone deep, and he wasnt sure why. Shed said far worse countless times before.

Just love me, Momma. Please.

Maybe...maybe she couldnt. Not yet. Hope unfurled in his chest, and he raised his chin. Maybe he hadnt done enough to prove himself. Maybe if he did something special for her, she would finally realize he was nothing like his father. Maybe if he cleaned her room...and had a bouquet of fresh flowers waiting for her...and sang a song as she drifted to sleep... Yes! She would hug and kiss him in thanks, the way she often hugged and kissed the servants children.

Excited, Koldo folded the blankets he used for his pallet on the floor and jumped to his feet. He darted through the room, picking up the discarded robes and sandals, then fluffed the pillows strewn around the center rug, where Cornelia liked to relax and read.

He ignored the wall of weaponsthe whip, the daggers and the swordsand straightened the items on the vanity: the brush, the bottles of perfume, the creams for his mothers skin and the pungent-smelling liquid she liked to drink. He polished every necklace, bracelet and ring in her jewelry box.

By the time he finished, the room and everything in it glistened as though brand-new. He grinned, pleased with his efforts. She would appreciate all that hed donehe just knew it.

Now for the flowers.

Cornelia wanted him to stay here, and had he promised to obey her, he would have. But he hadnt promised. Hed told her only that he understood her desires. Besides, this was for her, all for her, and no one would see him. He would make sure of it.

He strode to the balcony, pushed open the double doors. Cool night air wafted over him. The palace was situated in a far realm of the lower heavens, neighbored by thousands of stars twinkling from an infinite expanse of black velvet. The moon was bright and high, a mere sliver curved into two upward points.

The moon was smiling at him.

Encouraged, Koldo stepped to the balconys ledge. There was no railing, allowing his toes to curl over the side. He flared his wings to their full length, the action bringing a cascade of joy. He loved flying through the sky, soaring up and zipping down, rolling through the clouds, chasing birds.

His mother knew nothing of this. You are never to use your wings, shed announced the day theyd begun to sprout from his back. Hed planned to heed the command, he had, but then, one day, shed been screaming about how much she despised him, and hed climbed to the roof so that she wouldnt have to gaze upon his ugly face. His misery had distracted him and hed fallen down, down, dooown.

Just before landing, hed flared the previously unused appendages and managed to slow his momentum. Hed crawled away with a shattered arm and leg, broken ribs, a punctured lung and a fractured ankle. Eventually, hed healedand hed next jumped on purpose. Hed been addicted to the feel of the breeze on his skin, in his hair, and had craved more.

Now, in the present, he dived headfirst. The air slapped at him, and he had to swallow his whoop of satisfaction. The freedom...the slight edge of danger...the rush of warmth and strength... He would never get enough. Just before impact, he straightened and leveled out, his wings catching the current. He landed softly, his feet already in motion.

One step, two, three, annnd he was a mile into the forest. Not because he was fastthough he wasbut because he could do something his mother and the other Sent Ones hed seen could not. He could move from one place to another with only a thought.

Hed discovered the ability a few months ago. At first, hed only been able to whisk a yard, then two, but every day he managed to go a little farther than before. All he had to do was calm his emotions and concentrate.

At last he reached the stretch of wildflowers hed found the last time hed broken the rules and left the palace. He plucked the prettiest from the ground, the petals the perfect shade of lavender, reminding him of his mothers eyes. He brought them to his nose, sniffed. The mouthwatering aroma of coconut clung to him, and his grin returned.

If Cornelia asked where hed gotten the bouquet, well, he would tell her the truth. He refused to lie, even to save himself from a punishment. Not only because other Sent Ones could taste when another being liedunlike himbut also because lies were the language of the demons, and demons were almost as evil as his father.

His mother would appreciate Koldos honesty. Surely.

Hands full of moist green stalks, he sprinted out of the forest and leaped into the atmosphere, going higher and higher, his feathers ruffling in the wind, the muscles in his back straining in the most delightful way. Up and down his wings glided. His heart thundered in his chest as he landed on the balcony and peeked through the doorway. There was no sign of his mother.