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    Banned: Running Toward Illumia, #1
    Banned: Running Toward Illumia, #1
    Banned: Running Toward Illumia, #1
    Ebook68 pages55 minutes

    Banned: Running Toward Illumia, #1

    By Angel Leya

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    I couldn’t let my tribe starve... But a unicorn?

    Turns out they’re hungry enough to ignore the old warnings, but young huntress Astrea can’t live with herself if the curse wipes them out before the famine does.

    And even if she could, her parents are leaving her no choice.

    But taking their only source of food won’t sit well with her people, the Banned. The old tribe song rings in her ears: Where do the Banned go when home’s no longer home?

    Astrea has only ever wanted to belong in her outlawed redheaded tribe, but the carrot rinse for her hair and sap freckles she frequently tattoos herself with can't mask her physical differences -- or the differences rooted deep inside. She fears protecting those she loves will only solidify the feeling that she's an outsider.

    Somehow, she needs to fix this.

    Banned is the expanded part one of Running Toward Illumia, which first appeared in the young adult anthology, That Moment When...

    Pick up this ebook and start the adventure today!

    Current Parts available in the Running Toward Illumia series:

    Banned, Part 1

    Lost, Part 2

    Drenched, Part 3

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAngel Leya
    Release dateNov 10, 2017
    ISBN9781386758044
    Banned: Running Toward Illumia, #1
    Author

    Angel Leya

    Angel Leya began writing as a child, but only within the past decade has become serious, about trying to perfect and share her craft. She enjoys discovering new ways to entertain and delight, and takes pride in creating stories that she considers “clean”. Currently, her published books include Poetry in Composition: A Coffee Table Book of Poetry and Photos. This compilation of poetry, written mainly through the angst of her teen years along with some more recent pieces, is meant to bring comfort, understanding and inspiration. She’s also published a memoir about her pregnancy and what she learned in My Natural Birth Story: The Birthing Book I Wish I’d Read. Upcoming works include Running Toward Illumia, a story about one girl’s exile from her tribe of redheads and her race to leave the land of Mist before it kills her. She hopes to have it published later this year. Also in the works is Antarctic Discovery, a tale about the archeological discovery of the Tower of Babel, and the relationships formed by two historical linguists assigned to the project and the man recovered from the tower. Her original publication, Call Her Forth, is being rewritten and she hopes to release the new edition in the summer of 2017. Angel Leya loves mermaids, and was inspired to write Skye’s Lure, a contemporary fantasy romance ebook, after watching the Discovery Channel’s Mermaid: The Body Found. She spends her days trying to sing like Ariel when she’s not writing or taking care of her husband and children. In her spare time, Leya enjoys doing all things book, particularly creating book covers for print and ebooks. You can find out more at: www.AngeLeya.com

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      Book preview

      Banned - Angel Leya

      To the Reader

      BANNED is Part 1 of Book 1, which I’ve released in 4 parts. The story cuts off abruptly, but Parts 2 through 4 are available, with an omnibus version in the works. I hope you enjoy this expanded first part of Running Toward Illumia, which first appeared in the young adult anthology, That Moment When....

      Sign up for the Legion Newsletter to stay updated on Illumia. I also give my Legion the first chance at reading advanced reader copies (or ARCs).

      I welcome all feedback, which can be given in the form of reviews or by emailing me at author@angeleya.com. I look forward to hearing what you think, and plan on taking all feedback into consideration while I’m writing the next book in the series.

      Thanks for coming along for the ride as I explore Illumia!

      Sincerely,

      Angel Leya

      Where do the Banned go when home’s no longer home?

      Cast out and alone, fated to roam.

      To the land of fog, sent to die

      But fire survives much longer than ice.

      Where do the Banned go when home’s no longer home?

      Chapter 1

      ASTREA STALKED THE pure white creature, wondering how she would live with herself if she caught him. Unicorns were a rare sight in the Mist. This was the first one she’d ever seen. Vapors swirled away from its glittering silver sword of a horn, as if he had the power to dispel the fog entirely.

      A too-orange curl tickled her forehead, sticking to the sheen of sweat. The mud caked on her skin started to dry and crack, little dots of sap she’d tattooed on her arms a sticky mess. She longed to scratch it off, but she didn’t dare move a muscle and spook her prey. So much for her impromptu makeover, a byproduct of her earlier boredom in the empty forest. Not that she’d set out to add more freckles to her pale skin, or more curls to her limp hair, but really, what else was there to do?

      Her lungs strained against the warm blanket of wet fog, so low today. It wrapped around her like an old friend, and she knew just how to use it to conceal her presence.

      The unicorn grunted, unaware of her watchful gaze. Was he as intelligent as the stories said? Was the horn truly magic? And if he’s killed, will he curse us? That was the real question. Yes, the tribe needed the food, but what would be the cost for killing a creature so pure, and to eat, no less?

      Still, he was the first beast she’d seen for weeks. With the forest emptying of life, she couldn’t afford to pass up such a large mark. They’d be feasting for days on that magnificent meat. Not that she’d be able to stomach a bite. The empty gurgle in her stomach turned sour as she imagined his flesh passing through her teeth. Astrea shuddered.

      Taking another careful step forward, she gripped the reed tighter. She had loaded it with a poison dart as soon as she caught sight of the white hair, but switched it from a red killer to a green sleeper when she caught the glint of the horn. Such a beautiful creature, she had nearly dropped her reed as awe radiated through her. What business did a unicorn have in the land of the Banned, anyway? It took her nearly a full minute to recover from her shock. Thank the fog he hadn’t spotted her and bolted already.

      She was close enough now to pierce his sweaty hide now. His musty smell ambled through the still air. Flank twitched, silky white tail slapping away a couple of flies.

      It seemed wrong to capture him. She could let him wander away, disappear into the steely fog from which he came. But her village . . . The unicorn would be an answer to prayers, and she would be the hero. Surely her differences would be forgotten in light of such a massive haul.

      Resolve tightened her grip and quieted her quaking heart. Silently, she lifted the reed to her lips, her cheeks filling with air. One shot. She wouldn’t have time for another. Her hand shook. Stay true. For the tribe.

      The white head rose, ears swiveling, big blue eyes trying to penetrate the dense forest and murky air.

      What was that?

      The voice echoed in Astrea’s ears in an odd sort of way. She tensed, willing herself to pick up on the approaching footsteps, but the forest yielded no unusual sounds. If one of the youngers spooked the unicorn . . . Her

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