She eased her arms forward and pressed her palms into the dirt. As soon as she lifted her back, she emitted a sound that was half-scream and half-gasp. It took a long time before she rose to her knees, and even then her body was shaking. Fresh tears rolling down her cheeks, she lifted her trembling chin and gazed at the fading stars.

              What did I do to deserve this punishment?

              Nothing. They’d found an excuse. She was a slave, destined to be used and abused at the whim of others, all because she’d lived a previous life. Or so they said. Finn didn’t believe it, though it was a bit unclear whether he didn’t think doing so merited servitude. For her own part, Lexil wondered how great her former life had been. Had she been rich? Happy? Had it been such that she now deserved this fate to balance the scales.

              Wobbly legs struggled to support her as she rose to a standing position using the fence for balance. Lacking food, her stomach expelled bile. Wiping it from her chin, she drew in slow breaths and blinked moisture from her eyes.

              Then she saw them. The glowing orbs that stalked her each time she was alone in the dark. Like beacons, they cut through the blackness around her. Though her breathing stalled, her heartbeat remained steady. Holding still, as much for prudence as a necessity, she stared back at the shining eyes.

              A paw edged forward, just reaching the sphere of her vision, large and tinged with silver, but mostly dark. The other foot appeared a second later, accompanied by a low growl.

              “Lexil!”

              She jerked and instinctively shut her eyes. By the time she recovered, the creature was gone. As if it stole her energy with its departure, her knees buckled, and she slumped forward.

              Arms slid around her. “I’ve gotcha, girlie.”

              Miller’s voice. Why was he here?

              Fear and relief collided. From her core to her exterior, she shook. The beating, the creature… all too much. As she was lifted, her lids slipped closed again, and her mind faded into blankness.

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Renew by Jenna Greene – Excerpt

Lexil sobbed, clapping her hand against her mouth to cut off the sound. As her entire body shook, she drew inward, cuddling the apron into her lap as she leaned forward and bent her knees. As she sank, she slid her arms into the mud by the shore.

Guilt combined with anguish, rattling her teeth and nipping at her neck. She was a traitor. Months prior, she’d made a promise – to rescue Kita from servitude. Though she’d never spoken it aloud, it was a pact she’d meant to keep.

Except, she hadn’t. Because keeping that promise meant giving up so much.

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Restore by Jenna Greene – Excerpt

Lexil couldn’t sleep, despite her best effort. Knowing her senses needed to be alert the next day, she’d shut her eyes and done everything she could to drift into slumber—counting flower petals, repeating soothing melodies. Nothing worked. After a few hours of frustration, she sat up, rubbing her shoulder out of habit. It pained her less than the day before, only causing a sharp stab if she lifted too heavy an item with it or jerked to the side.

Her thoughts were clear and repetitive, distracting her from rest. Worrying about what would happen on the morrow plagued her. The last time she’d been in a town in Anstetor, she’d been marched onto a sale platform and bid on like a prize hog. Entering another one willingly set her nerves on edge.

Would Ward be able to convince people he owned not one, but two slaves? He hated acting as an owner and wasn’t always successful at it. Besides, it seemed unfair to put the responsibility on him for their concealment, considering his recent recovery. If anyone suspected he was lying, it would be his job to convince them otherwise. Neither Lexil nor Jalaquin could help—not if they were to fill their role as submissive slaves.

Lexil wasn’t looking forward to her part, either. It hurt her soul to even pretend to be owned. Jalaquin hadn’t done well on the one occasion she’d been forced to adopt that role. To maintain that façade for a long period of time…Lexil had doubts.

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