These books benefit from the amazing editing of Susan Van Metre and Maggie Lehrman, who not only correct my bad grammar but encourage me to navigate down roads I would never have known to take. The books also owe greatly to the tireless efforts of Jason Wells, who sings their praises near and far (even on weekends). Thanks to everyone at Amulet/Abrams who works so hard to make such beautiful books.
I owe a great deal of thanks to my literary agent, Alison Fargis, as well as her team at Stonesong Press, and, as always, my good friend Joe Deasy, who eagerly reads and rereads each manuscript.
Much thanks to Lucie Plaisimon, Caroline Hochberg, Ayshia Levy, and Zakiya Casey for their friendly smiles. But mostly thanks to Alison, who gave me Finn, who gives my aimless life an explanation.
SABRINA STOOD AGHAST, shocked from the discovery she had just made and the wave of emotions that accompanied it. Terror, betrayal, and disgust filled her head, sending mixed signals to every part of her body. One moment she wanted to run-to put as much distance between her and the figure standing before her as possible. The next she wanted to snatch him by the collar and shake him in anger until he explained himself.
"You? You're the Master? You're the leader of the Scarlet Hand?"
"Yes," he said calmly.
"But you-" Daphne said, trembling.
"But I was your friend? Is that what you were going to say?"
"Yes! I trusted you. We all trusted you!" Sabrina cried.
"Then I'm afraid you've made a terrible mistake."