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
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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
After a short break for lunch, Izzy found herself sitting in the back of the wagon, gazing out at the scenery, book in her lap, coffee cup in hand. Since he had found out that Izzy ran on coffee, Nate had kept her stocked with her favorite beverage. The caravan was driving along the edge of the Forest of Whitaker, following it to their new home in Kreil. Kreil sat on the edge of the forest between the trees and the mountain range. It was beautiful part of the country with rolling hills, waterfalls, mountain scenery and wildlife. The forest was fabled to be magical and there were some places that did look the part with mossy grass and jewel toned pools. The caravan would follow the edge of the forest until they reached Kreil. Izzy was looking out over the flat plain to the north when she heard horses galloping toward them at high speed. She set her coffee aside and squinted in the distance behind the wagon. She could see a cluster of horses speeding toward them, dust
Amelia reached the village of Thieves in the tribe of Brumward after twilight had descended. Daisy was still in good shape, the little mare was hearty and could go long distances without much trouble. Amelia patted her neck lovingly as they trotted into the town centre. Seeing a pub, Amelia tied Daisy to the post and walked into the pub, looking for something to eat and a room for the night. She opened the door and heard the brawdy words of the men inside. She blushed at some of the songs they sang. She walked to the bar and waved at the barmaid, hoping to catch her eye. The barmaid walked toward her. “What can I get for ye?” she asked kindly. She looked Amelia up and down with a suspicious look before she set her elbows on the bar and leaned forward, waiting for her to name her needs. “I’m looking for a stable for my horse, a room for the night, and dinner?” Amelia asked, pulling out some coins and setting them on the bar. The girl’s eyes glanced at
Hello and Happy Summer to Everyone!! The sequel to "The Hunt" is called "The Dragon's Treasure" and it is being posted one chapter at a time on the web app here on Good Novel! (The first chapter will post this afternoon - June 14, 2022) You won't be able to find the book on the mobile version for a few months yet (it has to go through approval and I don't want to make it pay to read quite yet as I work through the story development and editing phases). The web app version is FREE! It will remain free for the foreseeable future as a thank you for reading this far! You'll want to click on my name to find my other works in progress on the web app and if you click "follow" on the book title you will get notifications when new chapters come online! I'd love to see your comments for anyone following along with the sequel. I enjoy reading them all!! Let me know what you think as the sequel gets posted. Sending lots of love and thanks - M
Thank you so much for taking a journey with me through a magical world where dreams and nightmares both really do come true. I hope you've enjoyed the story. It's not the end! There will be a sequel, I’m writing it now! We will take a trip through the other kingdoms and follow Amelia as she tries to solve the mystery of Izzy and Cliff while evading the Dragon King. Will she succeed? Will Cliff continue to haunt so many? Only time will tell... stay tuned and follow me for updates! You can find me on Tw*tter at @michell76640823 I have a few other books in progress, I hope you'll take the time to check those out, too. The Praelia Chronicles: Hope's Despair is set in a dystopian fantasy world. Magical creatures were wiped out in a great war hundreds of years ago. Society has been structured into the upper, middle, and lower classes to keep the citizens in order. Every year, those of the lower classes wait in desperate anticipation hoping to be chosen during the rea
Amelia looked around the kitchens as she loaded her pack quickly. She knew she would need to make good time to reach the Fae Kingdom before the king was alerted to her absence, if he didn’t already know. She could have sworn he could read her mind when she saw him out the window just minutes before.She had left a letter in her room, she hoped it would be enough to keep the shifters from following her. She needed to escape. This was no life, living in the shadow of an abusive mate. She couldn't endure another overpowering; overwhelming mate and the king would prove to be just such a man.How could she live in the shadow of a man as powerful as the king? She couldn't, and she wouldn't. She would never be weak and helpless again. He gave up the right to a life with her when he left her at The Hunt seven years ago, his chance was gone.She hurried through the halls toward the front doors and jumped when she heard a loud trumpet blast. The army was off,
Izzy looked up into the kind eyes of her mate. How had she ever feared him? He was gazing at her lovingly as she moved back into their room. She turned to face him, aware that it was broad daylight and not caring one bit that the sun shone brightly around the room.She started to unbutton her dress and let it fall gracefully to her feet. Her chest rose and fell with each beat of her heart, her nerves getting the best of her. She stood in her shift and undergarments as she kept her eyes on Nate. He licked his lips, straining to stay in control. She smiled softly as she pulled the shift over her head and walked toward him. Her stomach twisted with nerves, but she kept her resolve. She was not helpless; she would not allow herself to be helpless again."I think it's time," she whispered to her mate. He looked down at her with confused eyes, unsure whether he should grab her and kiss her senselessly or put her clothes back on her. It hadn't been that long ago that sh
Cliff found his release and sighed with the temporary relief he felt as he pulled out of the petite barmaid. She trembled as she rolled over onto the bed. The next shifter mounted her, ready to fulfill his darkest need before they had to leave. She froze on the bed and let him push his way into her. His groan filled the air and she pushed the pain away as she felt him fill her.“The shifters should be at the border by now, the Daikon will ride to meet them. They will have no reason to fight once they learn the truth of Izabelle but if all goes as planned, she will be left behind in Daikon. We will find her within the week,” Cliff said as he pulled his pants back on. He was not sated but it was enough to take the edge off and he would be able to ride to Daikon and find Izzy.“You think we will have her by week’s end?” Rikkard asked as he thrust into the barmaid, his hand wrapping around her neck as he held her firm against his brutal assaul
Izzy stared after the king, her gaze flickering to Amelia's room in concern."Do you think we should check on her?" Kate asked nervously.Izzy nodded firmly and took a step forward, knocking lightly on the door before opening it. She called out as she stuck her head around the large wooden slab, "Amelia? Are you alright?"Izzy heard a rustling in the room but didn't hear anything else. She could tell someone was moving around quickly in the room."Amelia?" Izzy called out as she walked into the room."Izzy?" Amelia looked up in surprise, her eyes wide as she glanced around at the other shifters that were walking toward her. She was moving about the room, putting things in her pack. It was obvious she intended to go somewhere. She had been muttering to herself as she worked and Izzy sat on the bed, watching Amelia walk around."What are you doing?" Kate asked. Izzy shot her a look."I'm pretty sure that's obvious," Izzy sai
The king walked through the soldiers. They were lined up to march south. The shifters were making better time than he could have predicted so they were marching out that night. He didn’t want the shifters to get so close to their women and children, they would fight to keep them back.Most of the warriors were men, but several women stood among the ranks. Daikon didn't care so long as you could fight. He came upon Matthias surveying the troops."How are we looking?" the king asked, glancing at Matthias, his brows drawn in question."Not as good as I would like, but we are prepared for battle," Matthias said as he nodded as if to reassure himself, they were sufficient."Make sure we have provisions, we leave as soon as we are ready," the king said as he walked off to talk with Theo.Matthias nodded in submission and walked away to check on the supplies they would bring with them on the march to the mountain pass.The king walked through
Firam was determined to have Emilie. He couldn’t march to war and potential death without letting her know that she was his. She would be his until his dying breath, no matter how long or short his life may be, no matter how desperate she was to leave him. She was his.He stormed up the stairs toward her room. They marched out at dawn and he had no idea what fate lay ahead of him with war looming. He knocked on her door and waited. His heart was racing, he didn’t want to mess this up but he needed her to know. He needed her to understand.The door opened slowly, a small crack. There was just enough room for him to see her wide, terrified eyes looking out at him.“Can I come in?” he asked gently, his heart was in his throat but he somehow managed to keep his voice calm. It was a miracle that she nodded and opened the door, retreating back to the bench in front of the fireplace.Firam opened the door wide and stepped inside, closing
Amelia could feel the tension in the air. Something was going on, something that she wasn’t privy to. It was an odd feeling not to be in the inner circle, to know firsthand what was happening.The generals had rung the war bell an hour earlier and dragons had descended on the courtyard from all over the kingdom. Word had spread and warriors were accumulating in droves. There were easily a thousand men and women being organized into groups, waiting for orders.Amelia knew something big was happening. The murmurs and dark looks being sent their way made her shift uncomfortably on her seat. She could feel the fury from the dragons. She could feel the lack of welcome. She decided the only option to get information was to seek out those who could tell her. She saw a dark-haired woman walking toward Susanna and Logan. Amelia decided she would listen in on the conversation.“We need shifters to go with us to the border, to stop the war before it even starts