The Fangs of Bloodhaven Read Free Page A

has the softer feminine side that defines her character. A definite must read.”
    —S. Teppen- Goodreads Reviewer
     
    “I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. . . This premise is interesting and the world building was intriguing. The author infused the tale with the feeling of suspicion and fear . . . The author does a great job with characterization and you grow to really feel for the characters throughout especially as they change and begin to see Nexa's point of view. . . I did enjoy the book and the originality. I would recommend this for young adult fantasy lovers. It's more of a mild dark fantasy, but it would definitely fall more in the traditional fantasy genre. ”
    —Jill- Goodreads Reviewer

To my amazing and supportive husband,
    Michael my love,
    And to my children, Myree, Ashton, and Aiden,
    who bring joy to every adventure.
    Mommy loves you!
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Being different doesn’t mean
    We must be excluded.
    Our differences are what make us special.
    Embrace what it is that separates you from the world,
    And use it to find your own integral part.
    You have worth, you are unique,
    And the world needs what you have to offer.
     
    Believe in yourself.

Chapter One
     
    He could feel it happening. It had been far too long since his last meal. Everett leaned against one of the restaurant’s garbage containers and looked inside. Grateful for the fact that his muted sense of smell hadn’t picked up the scent of half-eaten food the flies appeared to relish, Everett stuck his hand into the container in the hopes of finding a rare steak or pork chop. He gritted his teeth at the squishy feeling of old mashed potatoes and admitted that he had definitely reached a low point in his life.
    A sound caught his ear. Everett looked up to see two cats rush past, both of them black. They disappeared around the corner. The persistent vines of the jungle that crept into the city tangled in the darkness, the lingering reminder that the Ending War had changed the world into something that continually attempted to reclaim the cement and asphalt for its own.
    Everett’s gaze shifted to a window of the restaurant across the street and his heart gave an angry beat. He put his free hand to it unconsciously as he stared at the girl with golden eyes who watched him from the other side of the window.
    She sat at the table alone, her fork paused halfway to her mouth with a twirl of spaghetti caught in its tines. Everett figured she was close to his fourteen years, and thought it strange that someone that young was dining by herself. Her long white-blonde hair was caught back in two ponytails over her shoulders; a few strands had worked free, creating a striking counterbalance to her eyes. Her eyebrows pulled together, causing a little furrow to form between them.
    Everett recognized the emotions that crossed her face, pity, sadness, and a touch of concern. Embarrassment flooded through him. He withdrew his hand from the garbage container and ducked behind the building in the direction the cats had gone. He used his arm to shove his hair out of his eyes so he wouldn’t touch his face with his dirty hands. His stomach hurt and his heart gave another angry beat, but he leaned against the brick wall, unable to make himself go for the garbage again. Pride was all he had left, and he had little of that as it was. He crouched over as another surge of pain arched through him.
    “Leave me alone!”
    Everett opened his eyes. His thoughts were sluggish and it was hard to focus.
    “What’s a nice girl like you doing out here alone?” a man asked. “Trouble comes after curfew.”
    “Trust me, I know about trouble,” the girl answered, her voice tight.
    “Apparently not enough,” another man said. “But we’re happy to teach you.”
    Both men chuckled.
    Everett pushed off from the wall. It took a lot of effort to force one foot in front of the other as he made his way to the edge of the alley. He paused