13 Dec Incarnate: Teaser Time!

Hi lovelies,

As most of you already know from my Facebook post, the release date for Incarnate has been pushed to January 1st, 2020 (after the holidays!). In the meantime, I’ve been sharing some teasers on social media and figured I should update my blog for those of you who don’t follow my Facebook or Instagram. Not to mention this is a long one and doesn’t quite fit on an Instagram post lol.

Hope you enjoy the teaser! Don’t forget to preorder if you haven’t already 😉

***

The heavy hand of sorrow pressed itself against my heart once again. So many lives had been lost that night. So many families ruined. My focus drifted to the center of the room—to the spot on the ground where Trace had taken his last breath. To the spot where Taylor’s lifeless body had been thrown. To the places that had haunted my memories for months since that terrible night. If I focused hard enough, I could almost see them laying on the ground again as though it had just happened yesterday…

My throat thickened with grief as I suppressed the tears that were aching to fall free. I hadn’t exactly had a chance to process the pain of being back in this place when I’d stormed in here the other night. I was too busy looking for Nikki. Too shocked from seeing Trace back from the dead.

But now, I had nothing but space and time to let the horror sink in all over again.

“Bottom’s up, Blackburn.” Caleb’s voice was low and grim. He knew exactly what I was thinking about and he wanted to erase it from both of our memories as quickly as possible.

I happily obliged, bringing the shot glass to my mouth and then tossing it back. And then another one.

And another one.

It wasn’t long before I’d lost complete count of how many shots Caleb and I had done together, but by the time the food made its way out of the kitchen, I was way too sloshed to even think about trying to eat. I did however venture back to the table–using Caleb’s shoulder for support–as to not completely segregate myself (and Caleb) from his own birthday party.

“Hey, Jemma! I saved you a seat,” called Morgan, pointing to the chair beside her.

My eyebrows shot all the way up into my forehead as Nikki threw daggers at her from across the table.

“That’s new,” noted Caleb, whispering in my ear so that only the two of us could hear. “When did you two start being friends?”

Good question. “Just now I guess,” I said with a shrug and then shuffled off to my reserved seat next to my brand-new friend.

“Wow, lady!” Morgan waved her arm back and forth as though trying to disperse some invisible fumes. “Did you drink the whole refinery back there?”

I threw my head back and burst out laughing. I wasn’t sure why, but it sounded completely hilarious to me. “You are so damn funny, Morgan.”

“Am I now?” she asked, her eyes smiling at me as though she were being entertained by a three-year-old.

“Oh, yeah. Like super funny.”

She chuckled. “I think you’re super drunk, Jemma.”

“I know.” I grabbed a glass from the table and took a sip of it. I was relieved to find that it was just plain water. My mouth had started to feel numb with how much alcohol I had coursing through my system. I turned back to my new friend and beamed. “You know, you’re pretty alright, Morgan.”

“Thanks.” She laughed. “You’re alright, too.”

I nodded my agreement because I totes was. “I have to say, I don’t know why you were ever friends with Nikki,” I announced to her in full ear shot of everyone else at the table. “She really sucks an egg.”

Somebody spit something out of their mouth, though I didn’t bother turning around to see who it was. Frankly, I was far too unstable, physically speaking, to try to accomplish a feat like that.

“You should be friends with people who don’t suck. We all should,” I bellowed, swinging my glass of water around the table, gesturing to everyone as though I were giving a toast. “Life is hard enough for people like us without having to deal with people who suck. You know? Is that wine?” I asked Carly, reaching across the table to take her glass.

“Why don’t you let me have that, Blackburn,” said Caleb as he reached out and intercepted the glass from me. “Have a little more of that water. Or how about some coffee instead? Can I get some coffee over here?” he shouted to someone over his shoulder. Probably the waitress.

“I don’t want any boring coffee, Cale. I want to have fun. No one ever has fun anymore.”

“Were having fun,” answered Caleb, nodding into it as though trying to convince me of the fact.

“Oh, pleash. Don’t give me that crap,” I said, waving him off. “Everyone is miserable, and you know it. When did you all become so boring, huh?” I asked, glancing around the table now. Everyone stared back at me with blank faces. “Come on! You’re not dead, people. Well, you know, not anymore anyway…thanks to Nikki,” I added and then broke out into a completely inappropriate fit of laughter. “Get it? Not dead anymore.”

Radio. Silence.

“Are you done?” barked Nikki, her lips twisted into a nasty scowl.

My smile dropped from my face as I glared back at her. “I’ll be done when I’m good and ready to be done. I don’t take orders from you, Nikki Suck-An-Egg Parker. You got that?” I jabbed my finger in her general direction and nearly tumbled over the table in the process.

Caleb quickly swooped in and caught my waist, holding me upright before I could face-plant onto the table as Trace shot up from his chair like he was about to, I don’t know, jump across the table and catch me.

My eyes snapped to his, possibly for the first time all night, and my heart pummeled against my chest as though it were trying to beat its way out of my body. His forehead was creased, and his eyes were swirling with anger and worry and with something else. Something I couldn’t decipher even on my best day.

“It’s cool, I got this,” said Caleb to Trace, but Trace never relaxed a muscle. His fists were clenched at his sides as though he were working hard to keep himself from doing something. Though I had no idea what that something was.

“What are you looking at, Blue Eyes?” I meant for it to come out hard and biting, but it came out small and sad.

“Use the employee’s washroom,” ordered Trace, his jaw muscle ticking furiously. He was talking to Caleb, but his turbulent eyes were still fixed on mine.

“Oh, how kind of you,” I said, refusing to back down from the staring contest we were apparently in.

“Alright. Come on, Blackburn. Let’s get you sobered up,” said Caleb as he led me away from the table.

I followed willingly, though my drunken gaze remained transfixed on Trace, and his on mine, right up until I’d turned the corner and lost sight of him.

***

Season two is going to be epic, you guys. Get reader for another rollercoaster <3
-Bianca