Ariel Slick writes original fiction including short stories, novels, and memoirs to spread the joy of imagination and creativity. She also helps clients achieve their fiction writing goals with her ghostwriting skills on Upwork.com and Guru.com. Although she has  worked as a freelancer for three years, she has been dedicated to the craft all her life. Her fiction focuses on themes of love, justice, and magic, and her most popular works include romance and fantasy romance. 

What would make a girl, terrified of everything, go into the woods? Knights chasing after her, for starters. All Elaine wants is to stay in her small village forever, baking bread with her family. All that changes when she discovers that she is one of seven girls with the gift of magic. Elaine must leave behind her family and flee into the deep, dark woods where anything and everything can happen. Only guided by a talking fox, who may not be who he says on the surface, Elaine battles thieves, murderous plants, and magical creatures of all sorts. She will discover her powers and why they matter: to dethrone the evil king.  Will she be brave enough to embrace her powers?

Valient

Alicia pulled back the tapestry as she left the secret hallway in the wall of the castle. She exited as quickly and quietly as she could. Although her heart was hammering, she tried to appear nonchalant as she strolled through the castle halls. She needed to seem like she was on a mission for her father, not be caught already knowing where the secret door led. Meandering back to her old room, she waited for the right moment. 


Her room was empty when she arrived; her sisters must have been out, still leading hopeful young princes to dancethen die. They were all away, doing their father's work, and Alicia felt sorrow grip her heart. 


Chapter 62