Secret Chapter Teaser [From Forthcoming Black Satin] + Cover reveal

From Black Satin, a scene that happens on December 31, during the Risorgimento:  

read and then scroll to the bottom for a link to a prize page! :)

I dropped everything I had been holding on to, feelings and all, and everything became Marcus again. Taking a deep breath, I pivoted and ran. Time seemed to slow around me. I raced across the balcony floor, down the hallway, and around the curve of the balcony railing, until I was greeted by what seemed like a thousand circular steps leading down to the main masquerade floor. I pulled the excess fabric of my dress high above my feet and clutched it in my hands at my sides, so I could navigate faster. I raced down the flight of stairs, each descent pulling me closer to saving him. I'm sure of the many eyes that were now focused on me, but I didn't have time to stop or time to think. I could only react. My feet landed on the ballroom floor, in the middle of the dancing masquerade, and the cold that had kissed them, quickly melted into warmth as my adrenaline increased. I pushed past the array of people, and laughing faces, the lights swirling around me. Everything now moved in slow motion, from my perspective. I followed the tolling of the grandfather clock, now striking eighty-nine.

In eleven more strikes, he would be gone. He would pass through to the afterlife.

I raced through the crowd of people, trying to follow the sound of the tolling. My heart beat so fast I thought I wouldn't make it. I thought I'd collapse. There would be no way to get to him. Where was he? Tears formed in my lids. I felt the burn, the ache, the sting. I'd never see him again.

I looked up, and across the room, Walter opened a door and motioned for me to enter. Without taking too much time to process what was happening, I ran to where he was, and I ran through the entrance. It led me to a walkway, and a white constant stream of light, clouded my vision entirely.

The grandfather clock tolled ninety-five. It only took me five seconds to process where I was. I was inside the tunnel that led to the afterlife, and Marcus was miles ahead of me.

I'd never make it. On the one-hundredth hour, he would be gone.

I screamed his name. "Marcus! Stop! Don't!"

But that wasn't enough. I ran after him, nearly out of breath. My heart could take no more. But if I lost him, I lost everything.

The clock tolled ninety-nine. 

And Now, Here is the cover reveal for Raven in The Grave, book three in the Pretty in Black series, plus it's release date.

Release Date: December 31, 2012

I know, I know, the release date on Goodreads says 2013, but December 31, 2012 is only one day before 2013, so there! 

If you think you might be interested in taking a look at the Pretty in Black Journals, and the story behind it, click HERE