They came for me an hour before sunset.I'd been sitting on that bed, running through escape plans in my head, when I heard the locks turn.Two different guards this time—not the ones who'd threatened me earlier. These ones looked nervous, like they'd drawn the short straw."Time to prepare for the Hunt," one said, not meeting my eyes."Prepare?" I asked, standing slowly despite the protest from my bruised ribs. "Prepare how?"Instead of answering, one of them tossed something onto the bed. Clothes. A rough leather jacket—worn and stiff, smelling like smoke and old blood—and a pair of dark jeans that had seen better days."Change," he said flatly. “Why?” I frowned and asked knowing something good won't come out of it."The dress won't last five minutes in the forest."I looked down at the thin cotton dress I was wearing. He wasn't wrong."Turn around," I said, grabbing the clothes.They exchanged glances but complied, facing the door.I changed quickly, hissing in pain as I pulled th
Last Updated : 2026-08-07 Read more