Lost Symbol

Y

Y

Y

PD

F T ra n sf o

rm

Y

PD

F T ra n sf o

rm

er

er

ABB

ABB

y

bu

bu C lic k he re to
w

y
w.
A B B Y Y.c

2.0

2.0

C

lic

k

he

re
om

to

w

w.

A B B Y Y.c

om

w

w

[Book Jacket and cover text] [Version History]

Bitten Women of the Otherworld—Book 1

by Kelley Armstrong

To Jeff—For always believing I could

Prologue

I have to. I've been fighting it all night. I'm going to lose. My battle is as futile as a woman feeling the first pangs of labor and deciding it's an inconvenient time to give birth. Nature wins out. It always does. It's nearly two a.m., too late for this foolishness and I need my sleep. Four nights spent cramming to meet a deadline have left me exhausted. It doesn't matter. Patches of skin behind my knees and elbows have been tingling and now begin to burn. My heart beats so fast I have to gulp air. I clench my eyes shut, willing the sensations to stop but they don't. Philip is sleeping beside me. He's another reason why I shouldn't leave, sneaking out in the middle of the night again and returning with a torrent of lame excuses. He's working late tomorrow. If I can just wait one more day. My temples begin to throb. The burning sensation in my skin spreads down my arms and legs. The rage forms a tight ball in my gut and threatens to explode.

Y

Y

Y

PD

F T ra n sf o

rm

Y

PD

F T ra n sf o

rm

er

er

ABB

ABB

y

bu

bu C lic k he re to
w

y
w.
A B B Y Y.c

2.0

2.0

C

lic

k

he

re
om

to

w

w.

A B B Y Y.c

om

w

w

I've got to get out of here—I don't have a lot of time left. Philip doesn't stir when I slip from the bed. There's a pile of clothing tucked underneath my dresser so I won't risk the squeaks and groans of opening drawers and closets. I pick up my keys, clasping my fist around them so they don't jangle, ease open the door, and creep into the hallway.... [continues]

Read full essay