A few more people were looking in my direction now, and it took everything in me not to tackle Belinda right off the platform.
“Ignore them,” Dair whispered.
“But I thought you were so close to her,” I fired back at him with more heat than I realized I felt. The vision of the two of them sitting together—or rather her, sitting on him—flashed in my mind. That woman had been nothing but mean and petty the entire time she’d been here. Why did she insist on continuing to bring up Kael? He was dead. With each reminder of him, I felt a piece of my heart shrivel up.
“Are you serious?” he asked, his voice hard.
I scoffed and pulled my arms behind my back. Away from his provocative touches. “I saw her on your lap, practically curled around you like a cat.”
“I blacked out, Evie. I’m not questioning the implied accusations about you because I trust you, and one day, I will earn yours.”
“I’m sorry. This is— It’s a lot. And I can’t believe he’s gone,” my voice cracked. My grief seemed to overtake me at any mention of Kael. If I pushed it out of my head, I could function.
Dair’s face softened, and he boldly reached for my hand and enclosed it in both of his. “I know, and I truly am so sorry.”
Belinda sighed loudly, ruining our moment. “It’s terrible. One can’t be sure of a woman’s virtue anymore. So many loose morals. I really think it goes back to the parents.”
My eyes widened in disbelief. Was she really going to stand five feet from me and talk about my father like that? I wouldn’t allow it. Not after everything I’d been through.
I took one step in her direction when a loud bell began ringing, and I gasped as I spotted Eliza. I’d been so distracted I hadn’t even realized she had joined us.
“It’s time,” Dair said, making me focus on him. “Just please, be calm. This will all be over soon. I’m going to go to the selection booth now.”
I nodded at him. “Okay.”
“Please don’t physically assault anyone,” he pleaded, flashing a small smile as he turned and left.
Everything started moving fast. This was the moment everyone had come here for. We traveled from our homes across the realm to this island under false pretenses and survived an unfathomable atrocity. The men filtered past, descending the stairs and congregating in a line in the middle of the room facing us. Notes of a piano filled my ears as the current rulers and other families in attendance stood on either side of them. A cold sweat overtook me, and I suddenly felt very close to vomiting.
We hadn’t prepared enough for this. Dair said he’d pick me, but what if someone else did, too? Oh Goddess. No, there was no way. I’d done my best to be undesirable. I tripped Torin. I stepped on feet. I drank and burped without a care in the world. I laughed loudly and without restraint. Not to mention the rumors that Belinda was spreading. To anyone aside from Alasdair, I wasn’t fit to be a queen.
“Breathe,” Rivka whispered, her hand suddenly gripping mine, grounding me. “We’ll be okay.”
I inhaled deeply and looked to my other side, finding Isla right there.
“It’s almost over, Eves,” she said.
I didn’t have the heart to tell her I felt that wasn’t true. This night was almost over… but the games? Those were just starting. This was probably the last time the three of us would be together for a long time. What if we all got picked by different kingdoms? We might not see each other ever again.
My eyes prickled at the thought, but I forced the tears away. There were twenty men and twenty-five women. Some of us wouldn’t be selected. Some of us would be sent away, and the only ones on the stage who knew it were my two friends and me.
“Welcome to The Choosing Ceremony,” King Ero announced as Corvus twisted his hands and whispered soft incantations, boosting the king’s voice throughout the room. “This tradition has been in the royal families for generations. I would first like to have a moment of respect for the Sova family, who is no longer with us. Each Recurrence since we lost them, we honor them, and we never forget.”
Every person brought their right hand against their heart three times while the room remained somberly silent. The sounds of wings fluttering above had all of us looking at the suspended lights. Ravens were now perched on the chains that held the lanterns.
Corvus raised both of his arms, and the birds took flight, heading for the platform. Right for all of us. A few squeals escaped, and more than a few of us covered our heads, ducking down. At the last moment, the ravens abruptly flew straight up. Above the four kingdom banners, they took hold of a large sheet and worked fluidly to pull it from the stone wall.
The sheet cascaded down, revealing a fifth kingdom banner. The largest of all five, this work of art featured a stunning snow owl in the center. A dark brown tree branch wove through, the owl’s talons wrapped around it, allowing the bird to watch over everything. Even though I was standing directly beneath it, I felt as though the owl’s yellow eyes were staring right at me. Beautiful blends of snow whites and creams added depth to the body, almost making it appear that it could simply take flight. Rose gold stitching around the edges contrasted perfectly, giving the Sova Kingdom’s lack of color just the right amount of flare.
“TO THE SOVA HOUSE!” the King boomed.
“NEVER FORGET!” everyone in the room replied.
“There is one more bit of unfortunate news I must share before we begin. I just received word before coming down to join you here,” Ero explained, and my stomach sank. What now? I spotted Dair walking from the back of the room to rejoin the ceremony, his face hard as he listened to Ero’s words. “One of the royal families has suffered a great loss.”
Gasps and looks of shock passed over the faces of the royals. Hadn’t he informed the family before now?
“King Eamon, I am so sorry to have to be the one to share this news.”
