by K.N. Lee
“Sure. I can’t blame you for not going outside. It's damn cold out there,” Aude said. “I think the Winter Winds might be coming early this year.”
Allyn chewed her bottom lip. She knew that to be a fact, but she couldn’t tell Aude that she could feel the change in the air. Though they’d been friends for the past nine months, she still wasn’t sure she could trust her with her darkest secrets.
“I need more firewood,” Allyn said, opening the closet to get her coat out. “I think we can make it to the shops and find some on sale.”
“I’m not so sure. They like to raise the prices for last minute shoppers. It might be too expensive.”
Allyn’s shoulders slumped. “I have to try. The power was cut off last week and I don’t know how I’ll survive without a fire in the middle of the winter.”
Aude took her hands. “Come stay with Khia and I. Our electricity is paid for the rest of the year. You can even sleep on our bed. We’ll make a comfy spot on the floor in the studio. It will be cozy.”
Chewing her lip, Allyn considered it. It would be nice to be somewhere warmer for a while, but she feared that as soon as she’d leave, Byron would return and wouldn’t know where she was. Even though he had hurt her numerous times, she still loved him.
“What do you say?”
Allyn shook her head and slipped on her coat. “But, what if Byron returns?”
“Come on, girl. Get over that scum. You know he’s probably sleeping in another woman’s bed right now…drunk or drugged to oblivion.”
That stung. Allyn’s cheeks turned red as she fought to disbelieve Aude’s accusations.
“And, you won’t be stuck. One of the designers Khia works for has passes to leave during the winter curfew. For once, we get to go to parties and events that only the wealthy go to. Maybe you can meet a man…a real man. With money.”
“Enough,” she said, feeling like an idiot as the words escaped her lips. She knew that Aude was right, but what would she do without Byron? Allyn crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you coming with me to get firewood or not?”
Sighing, Aude nodded, putting her hat back on. “Let’s go before it gets dark.”
Outside, the bitter cold assaulted Allyn’s face. She wrapped her red scarf across her mouth and around her head. The wind roared down the black streets, nearly knocking her over.
She braced herself as she stood on the bottom step of the front entrance, and pulled her navy wool coat tighter to her body as her hair blew around her face. She stepped onto the icy sidewalk, careful to avoid slipping.
Allyn looked down at her gloved hands, feeling heat radiate from her palms—heat that could warm her and Aude—but too afraid to chance it.
She had enough to worry about with an eviction notice stamped to the door to the flat she shared with Byron. With a witch hunt plaguing Elastria, she had to be especially careful.
“Let’s hurry before the shop closes,” she said, taking careful steps. Her black boots crunched salt that had been sprinkled along the roads and sidewalks of the inner city. No amount of salt could keep the onslaught of snow that would soon fall from the perpetually gray sky, though. Winter in the magical kingdom of Elastria was a time of darkness and frost.
“Good idea,” Aude said, as they walked down Gilded Street toward the largest indoor market in the entire kingdom.
When Allyn and Aude reached the market, the crowds were already lined up outside the golden doors, prepared to buy everything they’d need to survive the cold winter. Allyn checked her brass pocket watch that hung from her waistcoat. Like the others, she’d waited until the last minute to do her final shopping. In just a few days, all shops and centers would close, and the city would enter a form of hibernation. If she hadn’t had to wait for her last check of the season to arrive, she might have been able to avoid the long lines.
She stood there at the back of the queue, anxious to get in and get out. “This is going to be fun,” she said with a sigh.
Aude looked around, scanning the two separate lines that filed into Grand Castile Plaza.
“I don’t see anyone that we know.” Her shoulders slumped. “So much for cutting line. Could have saved us some time.”
Allyn shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m in no rush. I’ve been stuck in the house all day, cleaning, and trying to keep my mind off things.” She put her hand to her forehead as all of her worries flooded her mind. With a sigh, she forced a smile. “I’m lucky to have such an amazing friend.”
Aude hugged her. “Of course. You’re literally the nicest person I know. You hold onto good people like you.”
With a smile, Allyn pulled away and looked down at the ground. Such compliments were rare. Within such a short time, they’d become close, closer than Allyn had been with anyone back home. Back home she didn’t have friends, just painful memories. There were good ones too, up until a point. She scratched a scar on her lower back through her clothes, wishing she could forget what caused it.
While the memories she fought to repress continued to haunt her most days, Allyn was determined to look forward.
“Everything is going to get better, sweetie,” Aude said, smoothing Allyn’s hair. “You have Khia and me and we both love you like a sister. There’s no way we will let anything happen to you.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
They stood under the red awning as fat snowflakes continued to cascade from the sky.
Allyn glanced back at her house, her heart dropping when she saw a black police van pull in front of her apartment building. She clutched Aude by the arm.
“Oh, no,” she whispered and Aude followed her gaze.
“What’s wrong?” Aude asked, narrowing her eyes as she looked from the police to Allyn.
Tears burned Allyn’s eyes as she watched another truck pull up behind the police. Four big men jumped out and followed the officers inside the building. She knew what was happening and there was no longer any use shopping for supplies.
“They’ve come to put me out of my home and take my things.”
Available on Amazon
Reign of Magic Playlist
Gone- Ioanna Gika
Breath of Life- Florence and the Machine
The Downed Dragon- John Powell
Snow White- James Newton Howard
Pax Deorum- Enya
If I Had a Heart- Fever Ray
Devil and the Huntsman- King Arthur Soundtrack
The Foggy Dew- Sinead O’Conner & The Chieftans
Of This Land- Clannad
Samain Night- Loreena Mckennitt
The Misty Mountains Cold- The Hobbit
Gollum’s Song- Emiliana Torrini
Midnight- Coldplay
Canvas- Imogen Heap
The Whyle- Qntal
Sarajevo- Max Richter
Kells Opening Theme- Iona
The Maid of Culmore- Cara Dillon
World of Stone- Blackmore’s Night
About the Author
K.N. Lee is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. When she is not writing twisted tales, fantasy novels, and dark poetry, she does a great deal of traveling and promotes other authors. Wannabe rockstar, foreign language enthusiast, and anime geek, K.N. Lee also enjoys helping others reach their writing and publishing goals. She is a winner of the Elevate Lifestyle Top 30 Under 30 "Future Leaders of Charlotte" award.
She is signed with Captive Quill Press and Patchwork Press.
(Amazon Author Page)
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Also by K.N. Lee
The Dragon Born Saga:
Half-Blood Dragon
Magic-Born Dragon
Queen of the Dragons
War of the Dragons
Fate of the Dragons
Curse of the Dragons
The Chronicles of Koa Series:
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Netherworld
Dark Prophet
Blood Princess
The Eura Chronicles:
Rise of the Flame
Night of the Storm
Dawn of the Forgotten (Coming Soon)
Prophecy of the Seer (Coming Soon)
THE GRAND ELITE CASTER TRILOGY:
Silenced
Summoned (Coming Soon)
Sacrificed (Coming Soon)
THE FALLEN GODS TRILOGY:
Goddess of War
Goddess of Ruin (Coming Soon)
Queen of Chaos (Coming Soon)
STANDALONE NOVELLAS:
The Scarlett Legacy
Liquid Lust
Spell Slinger
Academia of the Beast
Lost in Laguna
