All Chapters of Unwanted Mate: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

IslaThe mornings were still chilly in the spring; small patches of snow remained in the dark shadows of the woods. I dug through a patch of the snow in the Black Woods to get to the cold root of the black tree. As the snow melted and the ground warmed up, I will have to dig deeper to get what I need.I feel the cold prick of the spike that only occurred when the roots were cold. Holding the root, I recite the blessing and thank the tree for its sacrifice. Grabbing the knife out of the sheath on my belt, I cut off a spike and then covered the root back up with the dirt and snow.After slicing off a thin strip of the root to chew on, I put the rest of the root in my pouch and sheathed my blade. Standing up, I brush off my kirtle and head back to the house. I stop a few times to get some wild herbs, placing them in the basket that I brought. Once back at the house, I go into the small chicken yard next to the barn.Opening the two small doors, I hear the chickens inside moving around. I

IslaSomething wakes me.False dawn has not even broken, but something is prodding me awake. I have felt this before. A burning pain is radiating from the mark on my arm. Reaching for the salve, I feel the other sensation.There is no other way to describe it. Claws are poking around at my mind. This is worse than the burning of my mark.I use my knife and cut a thin slice of the cold root. As I chew on it, I pull the sleeve of my underdress down my arm. The mark is pulsing and I can see it rippling as if it’s calling out to someone. Or something. I get some salve on my fingers and start to rub it onto my arm.Hissing at the pain that radiates out from the mark, I pull my hand back. It’s never hurt so bad before, not even when I was marked in Londinium. Even touching it makes my fingers burn.Quickly, I smear the salve over the mark on my arm, ignoring the pain, and cut off a larger piece of the cold root. Grandmother told me that when this happens, I’m going to need to get more roots

IslaI remember the last time that I was in Londinium. Grandmother had taken me to the Dragon Temple. It was required for all girls to be presented to the Priestess before their ninth winter solstice.Since I was born on the morning of the Solstice, I had to go early. The priestess pricked my finger, and the blood was forced to drip into the fire. I don’t know what the Priestess saw, but it scared Grandmother.When the weather warmed up, we went north, just below the wall. That’s when she started teaching me about the black trees. Around Londinium, the trees had been outlawed by the previous jarl. When I was forced to go live with my father and his family, I took roots from the trees and planted them in the apple orchard.I gave the trees daily blessings and prayers. The black trees grew with their gnarled limbs and rough bark. The white trees grew with smooth bark and wispy limbs. Both grew to only half the height of the apple trees.As we make our way through the city, I’m assaulted