Chapter 15
Close to a week had passed without any news from the council on the third test or my Vepar, and I missed them terribly. Worry bubbled in my gut at the delay. Everyone gossiped about what it meant, along with talking about me. Most now completely ignored me, well except out in public. There they pretended to be my friend, and I played the game. Maybe too well because they squirmed when I hugged them, and I made sure to do it every time. Ever since the team dinner where I vanished with Corran, they accused me of cheating and treated me even worse than before at the mansion.
A bitter breeze washed past, and the trees in the backyard swayed, their fruit swung back and forth like globes on a Christmas tree. This was the only place that the others left me alone most days and it gave me time to think--if I made the right decision to stay here.
Someone rushed across the yard, and I perked up.
“Luren,” I called out as I caught the elf Vepar crossing the mansion yard, waving to him.
He glanced over, squinting beneath the glare of the two suns.
I stood from the bench near the mansion and ran toward him.
“Haven't seen you in days. Or the others. What’s going on?” Nerves danced down my spine as I watched Luren’s brow furrowed. He glanced back and forth before leaning in closer.
“I shouldn’t be telling you this, but the council is selecting the mate today.”
“What? But we haven’t done the third test.”
He turned away and continued his march across the yard, leaving me alone, not looking back. Dread sank through me.
Something happened…something bad. Why else had the Vepar disappeared and now suddenly there’s a selection without the completion of the last ritual test.
My heart beat like it intended to stop, and sickness churned in my stomach. I rushed back to my room and shut the door, then paced when a message popped up on the monitor.
“Ella. Council have called you to the front yard.”
I paced some more, not sure I wanted to find out who they selected. I couldn’t stand it if it wasn’t me. Except the Council picked their mate, not my men. My focus was scattered and I hurried into the common room’s cylinder wardrobe, changing into a simple yellow, summer dress with short sleeves.
Despite the new clothes, I sweated, and couldn’t bring myself to move. I hadn’t expected this selection to happen this fast and had kept telling myself there was one more test then I’d worry about the outcome. And now that it was here, panic strangled me because all I could think about were the what ifs.
What if they picked another girl?
What if I had to live with the Council?
What if my Vepar couldn’t do anything about it?
What if I became a slave or they experimented on me?
But I had to finally get this done. I hurried my steps out of the room and toward the front entrance where the remaining women joined me. They all wore pale faces and worry crammed behind their eyes. They knew… We all knew something wasn’t right.
Four of us lined up in front of the three Council members. At the side near a bubbling fountain of purple water, my three Vepar stood stoic, their emotions barren.
Terror consumed me. I remembered the Council’s threat. If I didn’t win, they would take me as their own.
A few staff were present, including Luren, but where were the media crew needing to publicize the event?
The one-horned Council member stepped forward, the blue cape he wore fluttered in the wind around his legs. “Thank you for your patience while we deliberated. This was a hard decision. The four of you who remain showed exceptional strength and bravery during the first test. The devotion and dedication were extraordinary in the social dates and confirmed you’re each well suited to our matches.” He paused for a moment, his gaze skimming over all of us, pausing on me a bit too long. “The third test… is complete.”
Everyone murmured, and my mind was on fire. Had I missed a test?
“What third test?” Zeni called out.
“The dinner you were all called to was a test of keeping your emotions in check.”
My mouth dropped open because I spent the whole time keeping to myself, never showing interest in the men, then I disappeared with Corran. Crap.
Everyone else cooed like birds… their fakeness made me sick.