I'm Sara B. Larson ------>
Below, you'll notice that somewhere in this post is my favorite number (in blue!). Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
I'm also hosting a personal giveaway at the bottom of this post where you could win a signed copy of DEFY, plus an awesome swag pack (and an extra little treat)! So make sure to stick it through to the end!
I just love Jessica--she's one of the nicest, most giving authors I've ever met. (Even though we've only "met" online...so far. Hopefully someday in person!) And now, for your bonus content!!
"Miss Catherine Cahill," Brother Ishida booms. "Come forward to declare your intention before the Lord."
Cate rises from her spot in the Cahill family pew and approaches the dais. Whispers slither through the church; she's not due to declare an intention just yet, and the suddenness of the announcement has caught our neighbors by surprise. I catch the name McLeod and clench my fists. Of course they'd think it's him. He made his own intentions clear enough; he's come back to Chatham to court her.
But she doesn't want McLeod, I remind myself. Perhaps he could give her more in the way of money, prestige, protection--
I cut off those thoughts. Stare down at my new black cloak and the silver ring of the Brotherhood on my finger. Not anymore, he can't. And he couldn't love her more.
Ishida drones on about the seriousness of declaring her intention while I shift impatiently on the hard wooden pew. Sitting in the front row with all the other Brothers will take some getting used to. They all grinned at me and shook my hand this morning. Welcomed me as one of them. Brother Winfield commended me on taking my mother in hand. It looks good, closing the bookshop. The sort of thing a devout man would do. The men around me think I've finally seen wisdom and fallen in line.
Self-loathing crackles through me. But Cate's worth it and more.
She steps up onto the dais, beautiful as ever, and I flush with heat, remembering her slim body pressed against mine. It still seems incredible. A few weeks ago, I thought her proud and prim and standoffish. Now I can't imagine my future without her.
She holds herself tall, but her face is pale and drawn, and there are blue shadows beneath her eyes. Did her sisters raise a fuss about her marrying me? They'll come around. I'll show them how much she means to me. Marrying me, she'll stay here in town; I won't take her away from them like McLeod would. And I'll share the heavy burden that's plagued her since her mother died. Keep her safe. Make her laugh. I'd never judge her for what she is. I know she thinks I love her despite it, but her magic is part and parcel of her, just like her blond hair and pointy chin.
"Catherine Cahill, what is your intention?" Ishida asks, and I prepare myself for a swarm of congratulations and back-slapping.
She does not hesitate. "In the hearing of the Lord and all those who witness my words, I offer myself to the Sisterhood," she says, her voice clear and unwavering.
The Sisterhood?
No, I must have misheard - misunderstood. But no one's offering congratulations. And Cate - she isn't smiling. She's staring out over the congregation with her mouth set like a straight pin. I gape at her, willing her to meet my eyes.
After what seems an eternity, she does - and her hand flies to a small cut on her cheek.
Someone hurt her. They're forcing her - the Brotherhood - no, that doesn't make any sense. That manipulative governess of hers, then. She must have tricked her into it. Threatened to expose her as a witch - or her sisters. I reach for the pistol tucked into my boot. I won't let her throw her life away like this. She's already sacrificed too much. I've sacrificed too much.
I don't think of the Brothers' guards standing at the back of the church or the hundreds of our neighbors between us and the doors. I don't think, period. I only know I've got to get her out of here -- but Cate shakes her head as if she can sense what I'm thinking. Her eyes - the gray blue of a summer thunderstorm - are still fixed on me, and she looks - defeated.
"Catherine Cahill, the blessings of the Brotherhood are upon you," Ishida says. "You may go in peace to serve the Lord."
She bows her head. "Thanks be."
The congregation echoes her and then everyone is standing, stretching, gossiping, greeting one another. I shove past the Brothers around me. That governess of hers has already snaked through the crowd to Cate's side. Is leading her down the side aisle. I dart through an empty pew just in time to hear, "The carriage is waiting."
Good Lord. They can't mean to take her away now, today, without so much as--
Cate looks over her shoulder at me, then back at the governess. "Could I have five minutes? To say goodbye?" she pleads.
My jaw clenches. This isn't her own choice. It can't be. Less than twenty-four hours ago, I asked her to be my wife. Gave her my mother's ring. She said yes. What's changed?
"I don't think that's wise, do you? Why prolong the inevitable?" the governess asks, with a tiny, insufferable smile. I've never done violence to a woman, but Lord help me--
"May I go home to gather some of my things, at least?" Cate begs, and it is begging. I can read the shame of it on her face. This woman is in charge, controlling the situation, controlling Cate. But how? Why? We had a plan. She could - should have -- come to me; we could have figured this out together.
"Your sisters and I can take care of that for you," the governess says. "We'll send them soon. Come, Cate. No stalling."
I reach out, catching at Cate's wrist. It's not proper, but the hell with proper. She was meant to be my wife.
I feel her tremor at my touch. "Goodbye," she chokes out, but she won't meet my eyes. Hers are fixed on the wooden floor as she fumbles in her pocket and then grabs my hand. Presses something cold into my palm. Closes my fist around it. Her hands, ice-cold, linger on mine, but only for a second. Then she steps away.
I glance down at the object in my palm. My mother's ruby ring. She's given it back. She's given it back, and now she's leaving. Going to New London to lock herself up in the guise of a nun and study the magic she hates. To become a weapon for people she doesn't trust.
I don't understand it. I loved her enough to forswear myself to the Brotherhood. Enough to let my mother close the bookshop that was my father's dream. I went through with my end of the bargain, and now--
Could she have changed her mind? I don't want to think it. It's a good deal easier on my pride to imagine that they're forcing her, that they've threatened her sisters. But Cate's a witch, and a powerful one at that. She can erase people's memories. Why isn't she fighting back?
"Cate," I say, my voice hoarse. "Why?"
She doesn't answer. Doesn't even acknowledge the question. Simply stands there, frozen, her eyes still trained on the wooden floor.
"Come along," that hateful governess says, taking her arm and leading her down the aisle.
Cate's sister Maura comes running up. "Let me go instead. Please, Cate, don't leave me here with her."
With who? The governess? Cate looks at her sisters, and it's then that I know it for certain. This isn't what she wants. She might leave me, but she'd never choose to leave Maura and Tess.
"You'll have Tess," she tells Maura, and the way she holds herself, so tall and straight and determined - it's brave. Brave and misguided. There's got to be some way around this. "Look after each other."
Then she walks down the aisle and out the door and out of my life.
Only - no. I watch as Maura sobs, heedless of our neighbors' gawping. As Tess wraps a comforting arm around her. As Cate disappears into a carriage out front.
This isn't a permanent goodbye. Cate might be too frightened to fight back, but I'm not.
I'm the author of the YA Fantasy DEFY! 
