To Amanda Wright: Thank you for believing in my story. Your support was the reason From Gods was written. Most of all, thank you for being my friend.
To Mary's Angels, my street team: Your eagerness to get my books out there is amazing. Your dedication, time, and friendship are much appreciated. I would be lost without you all. Extra thanks times a million to Elliot McMahon and Janie Iturralde for all you do. Angel hugs!!!
For my beta readers: Jane Soohoo, Elliot McMahon, Janie Iturralde, Michele Luker, and Mindy Janicke. You are the best! I appreciate your honesty and your friendship. Love!!!
To Vanessa Strickler for running the From Gods fan page: I'm so honored! You rock!
Ginormous thanks and hugs to my blog friends. I can't thank you enough for all your support and for loving From Gods. Thank you to all my old and new friends I've met through Facebook. Thank you for reading my books and for all your support. I am speechless and forever grateful.
"A fast paced adventure full of mystery, action, magic and romance! Readers won't be able to put this book down!" -InD'tale Magazine
"A story that is Electrifying with love. Get ready to be shocked!" -Janie, Crossangels
"From Gods takes mythology to a whole new level of imagination with its incredible plot and amazing characters. It's full of hotness that you never want to end!" -Michele, Insane About Books
"From Gods by the AMAZING AUTHOR Mary Ting is OMGods good!! If you even LIKE Greek Mythology, set aside some time because you will DEVOUR Mary Ting's Demi Gods and Vultures!!!" -Mindy, Books Complete Me
"This book is ‘electric' as it blends paranormal romance, mythology (which I love), action and suspense together for an amazing read. Mary Ting, you've done it again! This book exceeded my expectations and I was literally blown away as if I were struck by lightning!" -Vanessa, Fairiechick's Fantasy Book Reader
"Get ready for an action packed suspenseful ride through this story. Mythology at its best and electric characters. This one will leave you begging for more!" -Brittany, Spare Time Book Blog
"This was just the jolt I needed! Mary Ting offers us mythology fans her own electrifying spin on Demi-God Greatness filled with suspense, comedy, romance, & mystery! I am officially a From Gods Fan! Can. Not. Wait. For. More." -Jeni's Bookshelf
"One of those books you can't stop reading. Amazing, magical, tender and at the same time incredibly sexy. A must read!" -Anncleire, Please Another Book
"With his stunning good looks, dark mysterious nature and his knack for saving her life, how could Skylar not fall for Mason. The question is, can she break through the wall surrounding his heart while her life is at risk again and again." -Ellie, EllieSewSweet
She remembered it clearly, as if it happened yesterday . . . the day her dad left and never came home. Skylar was only eight years old at the time, but she never forget how it felt like her whole world had been taken from her.
"Mommy, where's Daddy? Why isn't he home?" Skylar asked as they cuddled in bed.
"Skylar, I'm going to tell you something, and I want you to be a brave big girl," she said nervously, lacing her fingers through Skylar's hair.
"Did something happen to Daddy?" Skylar asked, feeling her heart pound faster.
"Daddy can't come home. He had to go away."
Skylar knew what her mom meant, but she needed to be sure. Needing to go away meant he would come back home, eventually. "What do you mean? Will he be home for Christmas?"
"Sky-" Mom started to say, but she was unable to finish as Skylar started to throw a tantrum. Skylar didn't mean to, but a feeling in the pit of her stomach alerted her that something was terribly wrong.
"Don't call me Sky." She jumped out of bed, knowing at that moment that her fears had come true. "Only Daddy calls me Sky." She looked out the window and recalled how her dad had told her that she was beautiful, like the sky. It was the reason why they had named her Skylar. Her dad had given her that name.
Skylar started to calm down after seeing the beauty of the night and took in a deep breath. "Is he . . . dead?" Her fists were tight as she prepared for the news.
"No, honey. Daddy isn't dead. It's just that he's never coming back. I don't have a reason to give you."
Never coming back. Though she understood those words clearly, she refused to believe them. "No. He has to come back. I need Daddy. He's supposed to tuck me into bed and read me bedtime stories." Skylar hugged her arms tightly to her chest, trying not to break apart. She thought her body was going to shut down to stop the emotions that she couldn't handle.
"Sky," her mom whispered softly, standing in front of her.
"No. Don't call me Sky. It reminds me of Daddy." Tears welled up in her eyes. "Why can't he come home? I don't understand. Doesn't he love us anymore?" As her lips trembled, tears poured down her face. Mom's words had shattered her heart into a thousand pieces. It was the first time she had ever felt like that, sobbing as if her dad had actually died.
"Of course he loves you," Mom reassured her, stroking her hair. Skylar could see tears glistening in her mom's eyes.
"He doesn't." Skylar sobbed. "Daddy doesn't love me anymore." The sobbing became uncontrollable, and she gasped for air. Her throat was dry and her eyes hurt, but she didn't care.
Mom embraced her, trying to give her comfort, but nothing could have eased the pain at that point. Skylar wanted her dad to be home. She wanted the security and the daily routine. She wanted everything to be how it was. From that day on, no one called her Sky, and eventually, it felt as if her dad was really dead.
Skylar's eyes quickly swept the lanes, looking for a police car. Driving down the highway at night at seventy-five miles per hour made it difficult to spot one, but she didn't want to get caught texting. When the coast was clear, she reached her hand into her purse to pull out her cell phone, becoming frustrated when she couldn't find it. She frantically felt around every inch of her purse. Why can't I find my phone? Oh my God! I hope I didn't forget it. After grabbing every object her fingers touched, she finally pulled out the phone. With a sigh of relief, her muscles relaxed.
She knew texting while driving was illegal in her state, but since no cops were around, she wanted to text her cousin to let her know she was almost there. Holding the wheel with her forearm and placing her phone right in front of her, her eyes shifted back and forth from the road to the keys as she typed a few letters at a time.
Skylar and her cousin were best friends, and every year in late August, Skylar visited her for a few weeks. This was the first time she had driven to her aunt's house by herself. They lived in a very small town and it took about an hour and a half to get there from Skylar's home.
Almost there. Can't wait to C U.
After she pressed send, she shoved the phone back inside her purse. Hearing her favorite song on the radio, she cranked up the volume a bit and sang along. Shortly after, she heard a high-pitched sound. She quickly turned the volume down since she was unsure of where the noise was coming from. Shocked, she felt as if the dreadful sound was rushing to every nerve in her body, awakening her, terrifying her, and making her heart thump so fast she thought her chest would split open.
Surely I'm overreacting. After all, there are loads of cars speeding. But when she heard the chirp of the siren signaling her to get off the freeway, she looked in the rearview mirror and saw the reds and blues flashing and twirling-for her. In that instant she felt her heart start pounding like crazy. How in the world? Where did that come from? I was so careful. Darn it.
Exiting the freeway, she drove into the first place that looked safe. A gas station. The only person pumping gas replaced the nozzle, got into his car, and drove off, leaving her alone in the lot with the cop. She wished she could follow the other car and drive away, but instead, she parked away from the gas pumps.
No other stores were adjacent to the station. In fact, it was pretty much a stand-alone building in complete darkness. Who knew what could be lurking? What did I expect? I'm in East Nowhere, USA! Inside the station's mini-mart the light was on, indicating it was open, but from what she could see, there was nobody there besides the cashier. At least that made her feel safe-somewhat.
Glancing at the side-view mirror, she realized that the officer was obviously taking his or her time getting out of the vehicle, since she saw no one approaching. After she had turned off the ignition, Skylar waited anxiously, biting her lip and thinking of ways to convince the cop not to give her a ticket. Tapping her foot and picking at her nails, she imagined her situation was like waiting for a courtroom verdict.