The Coldest Touch

Vampires going to high school, but make it queer. Sterling delivers a fresh, thoughtful take on beloved paranormal tropes with a delightfully bloody romance. Mara Fitzgerald, author of Beyond the Ruby Veil

From the author of These Witches Don't Burn comes another paranormal romance for fans of Richelle Mead and Stephenie Meyer.

Elise Beaumont is cursed. With every touch, she experiences exactly how her loved ones will die. And after her brother's death a death she predicted but was unable to prevent Elise is desperate to get rid of her terrible gift, no matter the cost.

Claire Montgomery also has a unique relationship with death, mostly because she s already dead. Technically, anyway. Claire is a vampire, and she's been assigned by the Veil to help Elise master her rare Death Oracle powers.

At first, Elise is reluctant to work with a vampire, but when she predicts a teacher s imminent murder, she's determined to stop the violent death, even if it means sacrificing her own future to secure Claire's help.

The trouble is, Claire and Elise aren't the only paranormals in town a killer is stalking the streets, and Claire can't seem to shake the pull she feels toward Elise, a romance that could upend the Veil s mission. But as Elise and Claire grow closer, Elise begins to wonder can she really trust someone tasked with securing her loyalty? Someone who could so easily kill her? Someone who might hold the key to unraveling her brother's mysterious death?

"A haunting LGBTQ+ paranormal romance that is sure to keep readers emotionally invested." —Booklist

"Exciting and endearing." ***—Kirkus Reviews

"This cleverly subverts genre expectations with sardonic humor and quippy snark. Those craving more vampire fiction in high school settings with a romantic twist have found their next read." —BCCB**

• "The characters’ rich backstories and authentic teen voices make this book an enjoyable ride through the genre." —SLJ

  "Sterling’s world will appeal to readers who appreciate atmospheric and emotional paranormal romance; through alternating dual voices, she offers a gentle, sapphic romance and a nuanced exploration of identity, power, and consent." *—Publishers Weekly

• "Sterling raises the bar with this wonderfully sapphic paranormal romance! Both thrilling and heartfelt, The Coldest Touch is a brilliant addition to the world of vampire lit, sure to leave readers thirsty for more." —Jennifer Dugan, author of Hot Dog Girl and Some Girls Do

  “Vampires going to high school, but make it queer. Sterling delivers a fresh, thoughtful take on beloved paranormal tropes with a delightfully bloody romance.” —Mara Fitzgerald, author of *Beyond the Ruby Veil

• Autorentext

  Isabel Sterling

  Klappentext

  From the author of These Witches Don't Burn comes another paranormal romance for fans of Richelle Mead and Stephenie Meyer.

  Elise Beaumont is cursed. With every touch, she experiences exactly how her loved ones will die. And after her brother's death-a death she predicted but was unable to prevent-Elise is desperate to get rid of her terrible gift, no matter the cost.

  Claire Montgomery also has a unique relationship with death, mostly because she's already dead. Technically, anyway. Claire is a vampire, and she's been assigned by the Veil to help Elise master her rare Death Oracle powers.

  At first, Elise is reluctant to work with a vampire, but when she predicts a teacher's imminent murder, she's determined to stop the violent death, even if it means sacrificing her own future to secure Claire's help.

  The trouble is, Claire and Elise aren't the only paranormals in town-a killer is stalking the streets, and Claire can't seem to shake the pull she feels toward Elise, a romance that could upend the Veil's mission. But as Elise and Claire grow closer, Elise begins to wonder-can she really trust someone tasked with securing her loyalty? Someone who could so easily kill her? Someone who might hold the key to unraveling her brother's mysterious death?

  Leseprobe

 

          Prologue

A girl made of stone and masks and broken glass sits alone at her desk. In her new apartment. In a town far from home. The girl is used to being alone. Used to wanting things she cannot have. A family. Friends who care about her more than the favors they request.

Love.

But she doesn’t have those things, doesn’t remember if she ever did. She’s been lonely longer than she’s been seventeen.

And she’s been seventeen for so many years she’s lost count.

The girl ignores her silent heart and focuses on the task at hand. On her laptop, she opens a secure link and flips through the file of a girl who has everything. Photo Girl stands among herfamily with a bright smile and laughter in her eyes. She’s victoriousatop a podium with wet hair and a gold medal around her neck. She kisses a boy on the cheek while his arms wrap tight around her. Comments under the post declare them #RelationshipGoals. She’s with him again, glittering crowns on their heads and a flower pinned to his suit. Photo Girl’s life is everything the lonely girl wants for herself.

But then the family photos and smiling selfies cease, and a series of newspaper clippings follows.

Sudden Storm Sends Local Man Over Bridge

Car Pulled from River, Body Still Missing

Memorial Service for Nicholas Beaumont, 21

The next images make her recoil, but she carefully commits each one to memory. A grieving family greets mourners beside a closed casket. A twisted, broken guardrail and muddy tire tracks. Photo Girl on her knees beside the river, hair stuck to her face as she screams.

The smiling portrait of a young man no longer among the living.

She didn’t know about the dead brother, not until she’d already accepted the case. The death doesn’t change her mission. Even so, seeing the stories in black and white makes something un­comfortable shift and knot inside her.

But there isn’t time to care about the people in these photographs. She has a job to do.

So, she tries on an array of personalities. Becomes a dozen funhouse versions of herself until she forgets who she is inside. She’ll wield her charm as a weapon and her smile as her shield.

And when she meets Photo Girl, when she sets eyes on this creature with hair the color of sunlight and eyes like the ocean, she will be ready. 

 

1

Elise

I don’t belong here.

Though I’ve visited three times in as many days, I still feel like an intruder as I maneuver through the tiny shop’s narrow aisles. Heart & Stone Metaphysical is located in downtown Elmsbrook, where stores shorten their hours and sit mostly vacant while the local university is closed for the summer. I wish I’d known about this place then. Now, in the early days of September, the shop is full. The new college students are only two years older than me, but it feels like a lifetime.

Their gazes linger as I pass shelves of carefully wrapped lies and impossible promises, like they know I’m trespassing in their world of magic and make-­believe. The two white men who work here seem nice enough. Over the course of a few visits, I’ve overheard enough conversations—­and asked enough questions—­to know they believe in the hope they’re peddling.

So far, I’ve avoided knowing their deaths.

In the center of the long, rectangular store, one of the men offers advice to a young woman looking for the best stones to banish unwanted attention at work. He rattles off a list of black rocks:tourmaline, onyx, and smoky quartz. He seem…