Cliff rolled back onto his side of the bed, away from Amelia. He let out a small sigh of relief. The release had relaxed him enough that he could think clearly once more.
“I’m heading down to the lounge to have a drink with the council members, don’t wait up for me,” he said as he rose from the bed and put his clothes back on. He looked down at his mate, she had a streak of blood on her inner thigh.
“Are you on your period?” he asked roughly, reaching down to touch the blood. Amelia recoiled and shook her head.
“No, it’s just from the sex, it will go away in an hour,” she said as she scooted up on the bed away from him and his touch. She didn’t want to feel his hands on her body after the rough sex she had just suffered through. She was relieved he was going down to drink with his friends, she didn’t want to be around him any longer. She needed rest, away from his pawing hands.
She stood from the bed and pulled her robe around her body, walking toward
Izzy woke with a scream again, calling out for Kate in her terror. Susanna and Kate awoke with a start and held her, whispering soothing words. Nate heard Izzy's yells and sat conflicted in the hall. He wanted to rush to his mate and hold her, but he knew she was too scared of him. It wouldn't work if he forced his presence on her, he would only be adding to the problem. So instead, he paced the hall in front of the door listening as Kate and Susanna talked to Izzy, giving her the comfort she needed to go back to sleep. Nate paced as he listened to Izzy drift back to sleep, listening closely to her breathing through the door, noting when she finally eased into a fitful slumber. Seth came down the hall to watch the door and saw Nate pacing. "Everything ok?" Seth asked one of his two oldest friends. "Izzy woke up screaming," Nate said, staring at the floor in contemplation as he paced back and forth. "Is she ok now?" Seth asked as he listened at
The girls finished their breakfast and Izzy excused herself to take a shower. The bath had soothed her muscles but she needed to wash her hair again. She was convinced she would never get the leaves and twigs completely out. She still had tangles where her braid had matted underneath the top layer of hair. It was a rat’s nest. Having no brush for her hair over the past week had created a mess that was tough to undo. She had styled the top outer layer for the feast last night to look presentable, but underneath the top layer was a nest of matted and knotted tangles. There were still small pieces of leaves and twigs hiding where she had been unable to see the prior day. To be fair, she really hadn’t cared what she looked like beneath the surface for the feast. When Izzy was finished with her shower she dressed quickly, not wanting anyone to see the fading yellow bruises that still marked her stomach. They were faint, but still visible. They were a yellowish-green hue
Kate sat in the chair by the fire, reading her book. Her feet were curled up under her skirt and she was leaning against the cushion, one hand playing with her hair while the other held the book open. Izzy was lying on the bed, sleeping. She was at peace for the moment and Izzy was grateful she was able to sleep. The door opened softly and Susanna walked in with Logan and Seth. Nate was still out gathering supplies. Kate looked up expectantly and put her finger to her lips before gesturing toward Izzy. Susanna, Logan and Seth all nodded before they moved quietly to the chairs by the fire, away from Izzy. No one wanted to be responsible for waking her from a peaceful sleep. “What did you find?” Kate asked in a soft whisper when she saw the bag that Susanna carried. It was filled to the brim and Susanna was smiling softly. “I bought Izzy a dress,” Susanna said with a wry grin, her voice lowered to match Kate’s. “And you and I one as well.” “You
Izzy’s eyes were wide as she tasted the fluffy, sugary confection. She had never tasted anything as sweet as powdered clouds. It was like a sweet caress on her tongue. The delicacy looked like a large, powdered lollipop. The one that Nate offered her was rainbow colored, the many colors swirling in a circle around the stick in the center. Nate took a piece off his and ate it, looking at Izzy as she did the same. After that first bite, she would never be the same. She forgot her troubles for a moment, the pure bliss that came with that bite sent her into an oblivion of pleasure. She closed her eyes and savored the taste. “Oh my goddess,” she whispered as she opened her eyes and looked at Nate. His eyes twinkled in amusement. “You like it then?” he asked with a grin. She laughed lightly and nodded. “I more than like it, I could eat this until I die, quite literally.” Nate’s brows rose. Kate came to stand by them with her own stick of powdered cl
Izzy looked at her dress, it was exquisite. The scene painted on the skirt was one of her favorites and the bodice fit like a glove. She sunset falling behind the bridge, the water flowing along the riverbank, the flowers growing in the field nearby, it was a scene that brought her comfort and joy. She didn’t know how Susanna managed to pull it off, but it was perfect. She felt pretty, almost as if she hadn’t been attacked and defiled before the Hunt. She almost felt, dare she think it, normal. “You look gorgeous,” Susanna said, walking up behind Izzy and smiling at her reflection in the mirror. “You would choose Odessa, wouldn’t you?” Izzy said with a smile. “You always loved when daddy told her story.” Susanna smiled without shame. “I did, rather.” “You are most like her of the three of us. Kate’s dress is fitting, she would rather kill everyone that stands in her way. I would rather avoid conflict altogether and you would rather conspire behind the
Izzy couldn't tell you anything about the final days of the festivities for The Hunt. She walked around in a daze of fear and panic, worried that someone would find her and take advantage of her again. After two attacks, she had lost all hope that this was the end. She was walking in a daze, waiting for the next shoe to drop. She took the time to consider what her father and Marcus had said to her when they had told the girls they had to go to Kreil. The words kept replaying over and over in her head. She didn’t understand them fully but they seemed important. 'There are repercussions to having sex with an alpha'. She wished they were more forthcoming about what they meant, though she had a suspicion. They packed their things and loaded wagons for the long road south to Kreil, it would take five days, possibly six depending on how fast the wagons navigated the terrain. Kate and Susanna were more protective than normal of Izzy, never letting her out of their sight. Na
Izzy slept fitfully, her dreams were filled with small children dancing around her, taunting her with their cries, calling out to her with outstretched arms as she tried to run away. She was terrified that she was carrying Cliff's child. She should have known there was a possibility that she could be pregnant, but in her grief, it hadn't crossed her mind. She woke several times that night, a gasp on her lips, but she fell back to sleep without waking Kate and Susanna. Kate instinctively curled closer to Izzy, trying to protect her from the unfairness of life even as she slept on. When Izzy woke the next morning, she once again had a headache, the pounding behind her eyes causing her to squint as she walked out of the tent. Kate and Susanna had already woken up and sat by the fire outside the tent watching Izzy as she slowly climbed out. "Are you ok, Iz?" Kate stood up and walked to her sister, her protective nature propelling her forward to fix whatever was wrong. Ka
Cliff looked at the men surrounding him. They were from a tribe that most people thought were extinct. They were Rangers. A second man walked up behind Cliff and whispered in his ear. The man was dressed in black, his hands covered in dark gloves, his body cloaked in long black sleeves and pants, covering his arms and legs. He had dark, black hair and olive skin. His face sported a beard, the scruff covering his square jaw. “They left the castle with the caravan, heading toward Kreil. They should be about to the Forest of Whitaker. We can intercept them there if we are fast,” he whispered the words and Cliff nodded. “My mate has been taken,” Cliff said, talking to the men in front of him. “She was stolen from me. I need her back. The men who stole her are taking her with them in a caravan toward Kreil. They will reach the Forest of Whitaker in a day’s time, I’m asking for help in retrieving her.” “Why can’t you go yourself?” a tall man asked, he was standing