SandiBell

Hi all! Returning on August 10th. I will release five new chapters on August 10th and then move to a three chapter a week release schedule for the next arc. Thank you all for your patience!
Romantic comedy set in an extremely patriarchal fantasy world where women are viewed as commodities. A non-conforming female defies societal expectations in an attempt to get disowned. 

Kylara Adamare the only surviving daughter of Lord Adamare, is sent to the High Mating Season to secure a mate who can help her win back her father's estate, but Kylara is not the type to do what she is told. Shortly after arriving, she receives a "fighting" system, that tries to aid her in finding a mate.  Throughout the mating season, Kylara uses her wits, magic, and fighting prowess in an attempt to get disowned by her family so she can take revenge in her own way. However, when her old flame shows up too, will all her plans be ruined?

**Excerpt**
"Kylara Adamare, checking in." I said.

"Are you alone?" The male asked.

I remember from my childhood how strict Viceria was towards females. Showing up without a male guardian like this was highly improper, not that I cared.

I felt my cousin run up beside me.

"Why didn't you wait for me?" She demanded hotly.

I ignored her and said, "Yes, I am alone." The male didn't bother to hide his contempt.

"What the Other?" My cousin screeched at me. She turned to the male and gave him her best smile. "I am Miss Delphi Goldleaf. I am Kylara's friend."

I snorted, "No, you're not." Looking back at the male, I extended my left hand. "I would like the key to my rooms, now." I said.

The male grimaced but nonetheless complied. He placed a small steel key in my palm.

"You are in the blue rooms on the first floor of wing 2." He said. And giving no other directions, he walked off.

I walked back to the carriage as Miss Goldleaf chased after the male. I informed the guards where my singular trunk was going and watched as two of them unloaded it.

"Kylara?" I heard a familiar male voice say. My eyes narrowed as I spun in its direction.

Two males whom I'd never forget in the whole course of my existence had just dismounted from their horses. The black-haired male raced over to me.

I recognized him as Kane and his red-headed cousin, who was watching with a smirk, as Rhana. As Kane reached me, I slid one of the small throwing knives hidden in my sleeve into my right hand. His warm hands grabbed my shoulders and my heartbeat accelerated.

As he looked down at me with a tangled mess of emotions clear on his face, I smiled at him. Then I stabbed the knife straight into his gut.

Falling in Love While Earnestly Trying to Get Disowned

A half an hour later, Ishmael rode up at a gallop. I smiled at how irritated he looked. 


He jumped from the saddle and strode over to me. 


"We were supposed to talk this morning. I waited for an hour!" He snarled. 


I shrugged, "I have nothing to talk about with a lying, manipulative jerk." 


"We were going to tell you eventually. We just-"


I raised my hand to cut him off, "Now is not the time." I said, "Lord Glade is currently trying to wrangle that Fire Cat by himself." 


There was a loud boom from the top of the rise. Looking up, I saw black rock and broken tree limbs exploding around a white-gold barrier. 


Ishmael growled and began stomping away, leaving his horse to wander alongside mine and Lord Glade's. 


"We WILL talk later, Kylara, but you're right now is not the time." Ishmael said offhandedly as he made his way up the sloping rise. 


I closed my mouth in a fit of annoyance. 'I'll be the one to decide if we talk later or not,'I thought furiously. I smiled in amusement as my hand drew the enchanted rope and Sandy's collar, given to us by Mrs. Martin, from my bag. Those two chauvinistic idiots can flounder with the Fire Cat for a bit. 


Collapsing to my butt on the grass, I watched the top of the rise for some indication that things were fine. I waited fifteen minutes as flashes of light and loud growling floated down to me. 


After twenty minutes, I heard a loud yowl and then I saw the 'Kitty's' flame covered, striped, four foot tall, three foot wide body barreling down the hill. Ishmael and Lord Glade were tearing after her. Ishmael looked fine still but Lord Glade looked extremely disheveled.


'Activate Shadow Bolt Level 1,' I thought rapidly. I aimed my hand precisely at the barrier's weak spot. I'd been studying it along with the top of the ridge as I had waited. 


The coal black ball of tangible shadows hit the thin point of the barrier squarely. The barrier shattered in a rain of ethereal gold sparkles. Quickly, I threw one end of the rope to my left side in the Fire Cat's path. Then, I began dragging the rope through the long grasses in a jerky pattern. 


The Fire Cat froze. Her whiskers jerked and her pupils dilated. She skidded to a halt and lowered her torso to the ground as her tail curled and her butt, lifted into the air, wiggled. I gave the rope an extra flick. 


With a playful chirp, the fire cat lunged for the rope. Quickly, I pulled it out of the way. Wiggling it in the air, I tossed the end of the rope away again. Soon enough Sandy, the Fire Cat, was leaping all over after the rope and running in circles. However, I had yet to let her catch it. 


Finally, I threw the entire rope in the air. Sandy leapt after it and caught it in her jaws. When she landed, now a normal sized, orange tabby, she began rolling around in the grass kicking at the rope. Swiftly, I walked over to her and snapped the containment collar in place. 


Then I picked up Sandy and turned to the two males. They were both staring at me with wide eyes. 


I flashed them a smug smile, "Idiots." I snorted. I put Sandy into her traveling case and mounted my horse. 


Without waiting for either Lord Glade or Ishmael, I rode off in the direction of town. 


We arrived back at the palace early Monday morning. I swiftly sent a note to Prince Pharon saying I would not be attending that day's mating event. Then I crawled into bed and fell asleep until noon.


Sunday June 21st - Catching the 'Kitty'