By JA Huss
JA Huss
Series: I AM JUST JUNCO
Published on 2012
Genres: Dark, Dystopia, New Adult, Science Fiction, urban fantasy
Picture yourself standing at the edge of a dock.
Now picture being lost in your own head, utterly unsure of yourself, surrounded by people who want to use you, take you away, or simply kill you.
This is Junco Coot, aged 19, year 2152, daughter of the Rural Republic’s ranking commander. Assassin, semi-famous athlete, and on the run.
In front of you is your future...
A future filled with secrets so heinous and truths so outrageous, it will push you past the edge of sanity.
…and behind you is a life of lies.
Lies that will rip apart the threads of reality barely holding you together.
Congratulations, soldier. Your life is over, but your mission has only just begun.
Welcome to my twisted, messed-up life. No one’s getting out alive, so we might as well kick some ass on the way down.
I Am Just Junco is a dark, epic SF/fantasy that spans five full-length novels and one novella. It is NOT young adult.
The final book in the series, RETURN, will be released on December 2, 2013.
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT OF BOOK FIVE – RETURN
Expected publication date: December 2, 2013
“Junco?” Tier’s voice whispers next to my ear. “Junco? Ya awake, darlin’?”
I tuck my head into my chest and whisper, “No,” so softly, even I barely hear it.
His arm slides underneath me and then pulls me towards him. He lets out the longest sigh I’ve ever heard and then kisses me on the back of the head. “I love you, Junco.”
My chest hitches as the tears build. “No, you don’t. You’re going to leave me.”
He stays silent and this is when it all becomes real for me. He’s leaving. I’m not sure where he’s going or how it will happen, but he’s leaving. He’s not staying, there’s no happy ending for me.
“Junco, listen—”
“No,” I say back quickly. “I’m tired of listening to all the bad things people want to tell me. I’m done listening. I wish I’d never come out of the Pillar. I wish I was dead. I wish someone would slice me into little bits and make it all go away. I wish my parents would’ve killed me as a child. I wish I would’ve just let Matthew do it on the sniper range. I wish—”
“I wish I could stay, Junco.”
I say nothing. It’s the final straw for me, to have Tier admit that he’s leaving and there’s no way to stop him is the end of my sanity. I pull away from him and slide over to the wall.
“When I was a boy I lived in the clutch with Ashur.”
My interest picks up with this sentence.
“It was a small clutch, just us.” His chest shakes a little with a laugh. “We’re twins, did ya know that?”
“I could sorta tell. You know, since you actually look almost identical.”
“Yeah, but not enough to be mistaken for one another, though, right? Not twins like that. We’re twins in that we’re Lucan’s made sons.”
“What’s that mean?” I ask with a sniffle to try and get my nose under control.
“We were engineered by Gib. One of many warriors who are made special. But I was the one picked out of the womb. Me. Ashur was chosen for something else, I’m not sure what. He has no idea what I’m doing here, I have no idea what he’s doing. Lucan makes it that way on purpose, just in case the High Order comes and tries to see our minds.”
He stops to let me think about this for a few seconds.
“But I’ve always known, Junco. I was never lied to, or forced, or asked to give more than I was willing. I’ve always been willing. This is my one true purpose, to save Lucan’s life, to end his punishment cycle, and to give this world a second chance once it’s all said and done. And I never knew that you’d be so…so… well, lovable. I’ve had—” he stops to think of a word, “—girls. I’ve had that, but I’ve never had anything like you. I never even knew these feelings were possible. I love my brothers, and I miss Braun so much it hurts me inside to think about him. So I suppose that’s the closest I’ve come. But when you walked away from me out there in the mountains, I thought I died Junco. That’s how much it hurt to watch you disappear. And then I had this little spark of hope, for the briefest of moments when Arel said you dissipated Inanna. I thought, she’s coming back, it’ll be OK.”
I swallow and then turn to face him. His eyes are a little bit watery and his mouth is just one long frown. I reach out and touch his lips and then lift my eyes to meet his. “I’m sorry,” I whisper softly.
“I know how you feel, Junco. Because that’s how I felt when you left. I understand that it hurts so much you just want to lie down and die.” He stops again and his eyes dart back and forth between mine. “But you just have to trust that Lucan knows what’s best.”
I turn away angry. “Fuck Lucan. He’s only out for himself. He used me, he’s using you!” I turn back. “He’s using us, Tier.”
Tier nods. “Yes, Junco. He is.”
I whimper a little as the tears build up to fast they are rolling down my cheeks before I can stop them. “Then why are we doing this?”
“Because I gave him permission, Junco. He’s planned for this day for thousands of years. He’s got an end beyond the ending in mind and you just have to have faith.”
“But that end beyond doesn’t include you?”
He shakes his head. “No, darlin’. It doesn’t.”
“Why?” I whine. “Why do you do it then?”
“Because Junco, there are more important things in this universe than me.”
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About JA Huss
JA Huss is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.
You can chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorJAHuss), Twitter (@jahuss), and her kick-ass romance blog, New Adult Addiction (www.newadultaddiction.com).
If you’re interested in getting your hands on an advanced release copy of her upcoming books, sneak peek teasers, or information on her upcoming personal appearances, you can join her newsletter list (http://eepurl.com/JVhAr) and get those details delivered right to your inbox.
Marcy Meyer
I believe in good and evil. I think there are forces for both sides out there, working against each other. It’s hard not to see it in today’s violent society.
Angie F.
I do indeed believe in good and evil, but no one is born that way. It’s based on their choices.
Angie F. recently posted…Review: Hot Knight in Paradise by Sofia Harper
Kim
Yes I do believe in good and evil.
Thank you for the giveaway.
Isis
I believe in good and evil, but I am not sure that they are polar opposites as most would claim they are. . . just a little thought for consideration.
Blacky
Yes I do, you can’t have one without the other
Shavana (BeanieBrain) Merrick
Yes, I believe
Dora Balfour-Lyda
Both!
sally
sure do
Diana Doan
I do believe in good and evil, but I don’t think it’s so black and white.
Melinda Dartmann
Ohhhhh this sounds so good! I love love love her books!
Melinda Dartmann
I forgot to answer the question LOL I do believe there is good and evil in the world. I believe people can be good and I believe people can be evil.
Mary Preston
I absolutely believe in good & evil.
Perava
Yes I believe in both.
Valerie R
I believe in both.. and I believe a lot of it is hereditary ..
carly
yes I do
Carolyn J
absolutely
Christina A.
Yes I do. How can you not with all the bad that happens in this world
Ileana Agüero
Thanks for this giveaway!!
Kamla L.
I believe that everyone is capable of both good and evil but which side of the fence they land on all comes down to the choices that they make.