The dinner kept going for hours, and Izzy had several amusing conversations with both Ethan and Ben as she enjoyed each course at the Feast of the Living. As the dinner ended and people were dispersing throughout the castle for dancing, talking, or playing card games, she realized that she was quickly getting drunk. Her wine glass was being refilled as soon as it looked more than half empty. She glanced up and smiled as yet another waiter filled her glass to the brim and nodded kindly before walking off to check on other guests. She glanced at other wine glasses on the table and noted several were empty, but hers was not. She figured the waiter must have had a notion in his head that she was particularly thirsty. Her vision was getting blurred as she surveyed the table. She looked down the row and saw Cliff turned her way. Her eyes were getting blurred so she couldn’t tell if he was looking at her or not so she raised her hand and smiled before glancing back at the peop

It was well past 1 am before Izzy stumbled broken and bleeding down the hall toward her suite. She tried to run down the hall, wrapping her arms around her body, desperate to keep the torn fabric together, covering her broken body. Izzy was trying not to wake anyone up, most of the occupants in this wing of the castle were sleeping, it was the day before the ball which meant only one more day until the Hunt. There was excitement in the air, but the excitement that had encompassed Izzy for the last many weeks was gone. In its place lay despair. She shuddered as she leaned against the wall, her legs weak, her core throbbing in pain. Izzy was trying to be quiet, slowly making her way down the hall toward their suite. Her slippers scuffled as she stumbled along the hall. She looked fearfully behind her, convinced he was following her to pounce on her once more. She was out of tears, there were just none left to be cried. Her eyes were filled with despair, her heart was violated.

Izzy's breathing kept coming in labored gasps. Kate looked around the courtyard, trying to figure out where to go to escape. She saw a Council elder across the lawn talking with a group of men. It looked like the ambassador from Ilthaliem, but she wasn't sure. She was about to head that way when a familiar face crossed her path. "Hello, Kate, how are you this morning?" Cliff said as he walked in front of Kate, pausing to talk with the girls. Amelia held onto his arm as they strolled along the path, glancing at the girls. Kate instinctively stepped in front of Izzy, pushing Izzy behind her, and Susanna stepped next to Kate, keeping one hand on Izzy's arm but blocking Cliff's view of her friend. Kate had been so intent on getting away from their mates that she hadn’t been looking for Cliff. Behind Kate and Susanna, Izzy stood shaking in fear. Her body was convulsing uncontrollably. Amelia looked at Izzy and noted how she was being guarded behind the two girls. She th

Amelia rushed toward the Kreil wing, she knew the girls would be going to petition the council soon and she didn’t have much time. She raced toward the door where she knew Nate, Seth, and Logan were staying, knocking softly on the door. The door opened and a tired Kreil stood looking down at her. “Amelia?” Logan said with surprise. “Is Nate here?” Amelia asked softly, glancing around Logan. Logan nodded and called out behind him, “Nate? Amelia is here to talk with you.” “Logan, you and Seth, too,” Amelia said, quickly glancing up and down the hall to make sure no one else was around. The men walked to the door, looking at Amelia with curiosity. “Your mates are heading to the council at noon to petition the council to allow them to leave the Hunt this year. I thought you should know,” Amelia said quickly, moving to leave. “Wait, what?” Logan grabbed Amelia’s arm and held her in place, looking intently into her eyes.

Izzy was almost feeling like a watered-down version of herself by the time they reached the ballroom, her arm wrapped around Thomas'. She noted several familiar faces and made effort to offer them a smile. It wasn't her normal cheerful smile and she could tell she was getting many confused, concerned glances. She supposed she wouldn't have to work too hard to feign sickness. Thomas smiled down at her, "I don't suppose you'd save me your first dance?" Izzy smiled back at him, "I'd be honored, Thomas." She allowed him to lead her toward the dance floor as Kate and Susanna watched with hawk eyes. "Do you think we will have to stay long?" Kate asked Susanna. "An hour maybe? Long enough to see the ambassador from Ellisvale so he can confirm we attended if it comes up later," Susanna responded. "That is a good idea. We will need to make sure he sees Izzy, too," Kate said. “Do you see him?” Susanna asked, glancing around the ballroom.