Cole’s Ultimate Playlist

Max on second guitar, his black hair longer than I remembered. Oliver on bass. Gavin on drums. And there was Cole. Fierce and beautiful and seizing all the attention in the room with one sure strum of his guitar.

Cole, the smoldering immortal from Brodi Ashton’s Everneath series, presents his ultimate playlist:

The Civil Wars, “Barton Hollow” Because I’m a dead man walking. . . . Can’t no preacher man save my soul.

The English Beat, “Mirror in the Bathroom” Punk rock in the ’80s was a beautiful place to be, especially in London. I should know. I was there.

Lacuna Coil, “Trip the Darkness” Follow me. Follow me as I trip the darkness one more time.

Blur, “Song 2” Sometimes, when I’m trying to figure out why I need Nikki so much, the band says I should get my head checked.

New Order, “Blue Monday” Tell me, how does it feel when your heart grows cold? Nikki asks me this all the time. I tell her it feels fine.

Johnny Cash, “Ring of Fire” Johnny compares love to a burning ring of fire. Ironically, I took my love to an actual ring of fire. And I can attest to the fact that it does indeed burn, burn, burn.

The Black Keys, “She Said, She Said” She said, “I know what it’s like to be dead.”

Trent Reznor, Karen O, and Atticus Ross, “Immigrant Song” This song speaks to me because I, too, come from the land of ice and snow and midnight sun.

Muse, “Madness” I originally thought my obsession with Nikki was some kind of madness. But now I wonder: Is it love?

Damien Rice, “The Blower’s Daughter” Most days I can control the memories of Nikki. But sometimes I drown in them. This song is the soundtrack for those moments.

The Fray, “Ungodly Hour” For the good-bye I know is coming.