Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Chapter 13 – The Gathering Begins

I was yanked from sleep by a rough hand shaking my shoulder. My father’s voice cut like a whip.

“Wake up, girl! Quit sleeping all the time. You stink. Do you ever bathe?”

His words struck harder than his grip. Heat rushed to my cheeks as humiliation bit deep, sharper than any slap. I blinked grogg...