"The moment you've been waiting for has finally arrived! Tonight, you shed your human skin and accept the other half of yourselves!" my father, King Aric, shouted.
My system seemed to flood with adrenaline, knowing that everything was about to change.Including me.
"I just have a few things to go over with you before Corvus does the incantation. Firstly, this is a Hunt and is not purely for fun. It will be a scored event. Corvus’ ravens will be watching each royal throughout the event, the entire time. Myself, and the other royals that aren't participating, will be able to watch through the Pool of Potentia. Points will be awarded and deducted for the following: kills, injuries, type of kill, tracking involved, and cunning."
"I'm sure you're wondering what the points have to do with anything. Well, the point standings will determine the order in which you get to choose a wife."
I shot Torin a look. His mouth dropped ever so slightly, telling me this was news to him as well. From the few gasps and grumbles, it seemed everyone was in the dark about this news.
"You're telling us that we have to get a higher score in order to ensure we get a quality wife?" someone shouted.
"That's exactly what I'm telling you," Ero grinned. "So make sure you do everything you can to score points because you only get to do this Hunt once in your lifetime, and as a royal, you only get one wife! Don't let the woman you and your beast desire be taken by someone with a higher score."
The excitement of the group morphed into determination instantly. We were all riled up about the women we’d just met, and with our beasts so close to breaking free, it was as though Ero had thrown a match into a haystack.
Corvus stepped up, standing before all of us, the light from the full moon causing his thin face to look haunted. His slender fingers moved to a silent rhythm until a spark of white light ignited. I sucked in a sharp breath as a jolt of pressure hit me square in the chest. A menacing growl erupted from my mouth as he began chanting. My body was no longer in my control as I jerked forward, hitting the ground on all fours.
Howls and snarls filled the air, and I panted through the pain, my eyes widening as my fingers, which were digging deep into the dirt, began to change. Long, thick claws sprouted from my hands, and my skin prickled as thick brown fur began to overtake every inch of me. My back arched violently and cracked, making my head snap forward as a deafening roar shook my body.
The pain was unreal. I was surely going to end up dead before the spell was complete. In the fog of the shift, I saw Corvus produce four balls of light. Orange, red, gray, and green—the colors of our kingdoms. My heart raced, and sweat dripped down my face as he waved his hands and then clapped them together. The four glowing balls slammed together, and the final thing I saw through my own eyes was the shockwave of rippling light as it hit my body.
Chapter eight
"Areyoualive?"
I cracked my eyes open to find Riv standing over me. "Oh hell," I groaned. "Can I just die now?"
My new friend laughed, causing the pain in my head to spike. Wincing, I grabbed my pillow and promptly covered my head with it.
"Come on, Evie. Don't be like that." The bed dipped down on the opposite side Rivka had been standing on. Lovely, both of my new friends had no respect for hangovers.
"We let you sleep as late as we could," Isla said with sincerity. "But we need to be in the Great Hall in twenty minutes for breakfast. It's mandatory."
The thought of food made my stomach roll. How much had I had to drink the night before? Too much— way too much.
"Here, Evie, drink this. Riv and I already had ours, and we’re feeling much better."
I emerged from my pillow hideout to find Isla holding out a glass that contained a purplish liquid. "What the Goddess is that?"
Isla grinned. "Just another little remedy that I learned from my grandfather. Trust me—it will help."
"Don't ask questions, just chug it down. The stuff is bloody amazing! I drank enough liquor last night to kill a cow, and here I am—" Rivka held her arms up and spun around with her usual flare. "Fresh as a fucking fire daisy!"
"What's a fire daisy?" Isla asked, giggling.
Slowly, I pushed myself upright, and to my dismay, it did nothing to prevent the room from spinning. "I am never drinking again."
"Yeah, yeah. We all say that. Never quite sticks though, does it?"
With a shaky hand, I reached for the glass. Anything had to be better than this. Just as I lifted it to my lips, a loud knock sounded at the door. "Expecting guests?"
My friends looked at me with wide eyes. That was a no then. Rivka moved to the door and opened it half an inch. "You look about as well as our friend Evie." Quickly, she opened the door the rest of the way, reached out into the hall, and yanked Kael into our room before slamming the door. My guard took one look at me and erupted with laughter. "Looking a little worse for wear this morning, Miss Evie."
"You're looking a little rough around the edges yourself," I said, taking in his red eyes and pale face.
“I was not completely well last night. My evening ended after midnight when the sweating and dizziness returned.” He shrugged. “Either those shrimp we ate weren’t the freshest, or the drinks are just criminally strong here.” He walked closer, eyeing the glass in my hand. “What's in there?"
"I haven’t the slightest clue. It’s something Isla made and swears will heal this hellish hangover. She and Riv already had theirs."
