Athena knew something was wrong when her pen refused to write. It was no ordinary pen but a fountain pen lined with a sliver of bark from the oldest oak tree in existence. She had no memory of how it came

Adunni yelped, palm resting on her chest where pearl necklace had been only a moment ago. The necklace her father gifted her on the day she was born. In all her eighteen years, she only took it off for

Sara alighted from her horse and ran like her life depended on it from the ramshackled house she shared with her mother to the local morgue. Chaotic were her thoughts that she didn't think her horse would

My chest and biceps screamed for relief but I turned a deaf ear. Just one more. I brought the axe down and split another log, increasing the mound of chopped pieces beside me. Just one m—. I paused, slowly

BEFORE….. Nadaya, my sister, had always been afraid of failing the kingdom since she was little. I had given her the throne because I believed the people would accept her. She inherited the magic in our

I cocked my head at the mournful whistle of the wind through the thick, tall trees overhead my cabin deep within the forest. Everything in nature had a voice and I'd learned to listen. This particular

When the shark exploded out of the water, Kevin was certain their end had come. “Row faster!” he yelled, coughing as water and saliva drooled from the side of his mouth. His wide eyes darted between his

Beneath the easy smiles And laughs that make the eyes sparkle Warmth nearly wraps me in them Until the fangs appear. The smiles and laughs stay for a long moment I almost believed It was real, a gem In

I had nightmares on nights when mum didn't read or sang to me before bed. That night, she was too tired so I helped her into bed and kissed her forehead, just as she did to me most nights. She chuckled

Thunder rolled low and menacing in the sky, kind of mimicking the storm brewing in Claudia's mind that night. It was 12.40am and her husband, Steve, had not returned home from work. Standing barefoot in

“Young lady, get off your tablet and wash these dishes. Now,” Kate Buttons said, distracted herself, watching the stock market on her phone while pouring coffee into a mug from the machine. “Why?” her

“WHERE IS IT?!” The voice was loud and especially angry, a kind of rage that made me quiver with fear, heart pounding as I raced up the stairs two by two till I crashed into Papa's study. The scene before

If Claus Marley had known that a night out with the boys at a high-end quarterly party hosted by Penelope Xyon, founder of Xyon Aeronautics, Dubai's most successful aerotech company, would disrupt his

BEFORE.... A cold smile touched Princess Imogen's beautiful face, icy enough to freeze the warmest spring as she took two steps back and began circling Prince Kaelor like a predator sizing up its prey.

BEFORE..... As the bells of IIrywn rang at dawn, the people couldn't say whether it was for triumph or mourning. They waited with bated breaths, many praying to the goddess that Princess Imogen would win

The darkness in the skies thickened over the kingdom of IIrywn for the Blood Tournament was a night away. Icy winds howled as it blew through the forests hedging the kingdom about, the cries growing louder

BEFORE.... Smoke curled up from stone chimneys as Yamini took me through the village to a modest cottage surrounded by herbs and climbing vines. The houses in the village all looked the same—modest with

When he found me, I was neck-deep in a swamp, slimy greenish scum flowed across the surface of the water. Clumps of it stuck fast to my neck and cheeks. I had no control over my descent though I wished

The sky just barely broke with the first hues of daylight as Alex dusted his palms with flour and began kneading the proofed dough. Thoughts of his recently deceased father weighed on his mind. His lips

BEFORE..... The sight of Marcus tied to a heavy wooden chair beneath a single hanging light, his Armani suit torn by the shoulders and chest, one eye swollen shut, and dried blood along his temple down