Free Ruined by Rena Grace

 
    The Lunar Mage Chronicles
     
     
    Ruined
     
     
    Rena Grace
     
    ~
     
    Published by Rena Grace at Smashwords
    Copyright 2014
     
    ~
     
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author.
     
    ~
     
     
    Ruined
     
    Saribella had been listening to the howling
every night for weeks now. The sound was so familiar it was almost
a comfort to her, even though she knew it would mean another life
lost. The werewolves always found their mark. Yet, tonight was
different, it was laced with hope, for her parents as well as the
village elders had found their salvation. His name was Roderick
Grey and he was a werewolf hunter.
    She watched from her chamber, high in the
stone fortress that she called home. The castle's high stonewalls
kept the werewolves out, keeping their people safe. She was wrapped
in blankets, the cold air slipping in through the narrow slit that
served as a window, as she waited for their savior to ride through
the gates. Her breath caught in her chest when she finally saw him,
the moon casting light on a hooded man riding up the rampart on
horseback, stiff and erect in the saddle.
    Despite the fact that he was covered in a
thick, hooded leather jerkin, she could still make out his
well-defined muscles, but it was more than his physique that made
her breath catch. She had seen this man in her dreams. As if he
knew she was there, he suddenly looked up toward her window and
seemed to lock his gaze with hers. That was impossible, she knew he
could not possibly be staring up at her. No man's sight was that
sharp, and the window slit was simply too small. Still, she felt a
thrill go through her, chilling her skin. Go to him her soul
seemed to whisper to her.
    She stood quickly, dumping the blankets to
the seat in front of the window, trading them for her heavy cloak.
She exited her room, hurrying down the hallway, so she could join
her parents in greeting him.
    Her parents and three sisters were waiting
for her in the great hall, along with half the village. She pushed
her way through the crowd, making her way to the side of her
youngest sister, Anna. Her father scowled at her, frustrated with
her lateness, but he was sooon distracted by the guards opening the
front doors. As everyone’s attention turned toward the front Anna
leaned in and whispered in Saribella’s ear, “Sari, why are you so
late? Nearly the entire village has shown up to see this mysterious
Grey."
    Saribella attempted to keep her voice from
quivering in her excitement. “I was watching from my window. Anna,
it's him. The man from my dreams."
    Her little sister turned to her in surprise
and asked, "How can you possibly be sure that this Grey is the one
from your dreams?"
    Saribella shook her head and was about to
answer when she caught sight of him. Her body started to hum, and
again she seemed to hear Go to him. He had an affect on her
that she could not explain, a pull that was almost magical, and she
felt a flush creep up from her chest to her cheeks as she
remembered her dreams. He walked down the center, two guards
trailing behind him as he approached the Lord and the Lady of the
castle, the village elders behind them. Saribella gripped her hands
behind her, her fingernails biting into her palm, trying to keep
herself focused, anything to distract herself from the dreams.
    He was tall, his cloak doing little to hide
his broad shoulders and chest. He strode through the villagers, the
guards following behind him as he approached the castle's Lord and
the Lady.
    Her father gave a short bow and said in a
loud voice, “Welcome to Castle Greenley, Master