Page 59 of The Monster's Mate

I have to fight with myself not to search through their figures to see if I see her.

“It’s okay,” Tiran murmurs. “Keep silent. It’ll work out.”

Lilaina and Mikhail take their positions at the center stage, and the murmurings grow quiet.

“Thank you all for attending,” Mikhail begins. “As you all know, the Match Program had been suspended until a new agreement could be reached with your leader, but there was one slot left under the old contract. Your First Lady, Lilaina Montgomery, is present to support the current match, which had been finalized by your late leader. We have re-negotiated the terms with the First Lady. Maiden no longer means a pure or virginal female, but is taken to mean a currently unattached female. The age parameters have been changed to accept all out of the previous range whovolunteertheir own names. That is the biggest change going forward. No longer is there a required draft, but will now be conducted as a voluntary sign-up. As always, the bride is given the choice whether or not to accept, and is given a six-month trial period on their planet. At the end of the term, she is brought back to Earth to make her choice freely, without any influence from her mate. Now, without any further preamble, I’d like to thank Prophet Josiah for allowing us use of his property. It was near the next name who’d been drawn and a convenient—not to mention truly beautiful—spot. Thank you.” He bows a bit, giving attention to the prophet, who preens for the cameras.

“Now, may I announce—from the Bronian clan of the planet Pimeon—Mejak, a revered hunter from the first level.”

There’s light applause as Mejak takes a bow. Next to him, Kalrian smiles broadly as if he was the one named.

“And our Earth maiden—”

It’s completely silent in the park.

“Samantha Merende, only daughter of Patricia Milinazzo Merende and Douglas Merende.”

“What?”

My head whips around to see a male get elbowed by River’s adoptive patron, Donald. He’s standing with the robed figures staring at Samantha, who’s brought out and escorted to the stage by River.His daughter.

It’s obvious who the male is, even though Tiran whispers next to me. “That’s him. The presidential candidate Isabel and River took down. Him being here tells us Lucy’s part of their plan.”

River leaves Samantha on stage, and makes her way down to Tiran.

I’m so focused on trying to see the woman hidden in their crowd of people that I’m barely aware of Mikhail’s speech.

“Mejak, do you accept this woman to be your mate?”

“I shall.”

“Samantha, do you understand the Match Program rules?”

“I do.”

“Do you accept a mating with Mejak of the Bronian clan? You will return in six months to make your final decision and if you should decide to stay with your mate on his planet, you are allowed to negotiate to bring two relatives there with you if you desire.”

“I accept.”

I can hear the breath hissed out by Duke, and I can hear River’s follow-up snicker. I think the male just realized who was responsible for the connection between Isabel and Lucy.

“Thank you for trying the Match Program, and thank you all for witnessing the event. To all the good people living here, please help yourselves to any of the decorations afterward. But first, I’d like to present the stage to Prophet Josiah of the Mortalites community for his own ceremony, so allow me and Lilaina to take a backseat for now.”

Our people make our way off the stage. Once it’s clear, the robed figures make two lines heading that way. For the first time, I’m able to see why they have a procession. There’s a masked maiden escorted between two males, her face obscured from view with a covering and a hat.

My Lucy.

Two males drag her on stage. They’re related in a strange way. Duke Milinazzo is River’s birth patron, and Donald Templeton is her adoptive patron.

After them, three females take the stage and stand behind the males. They look like they’ve been in a fight, one with her eye blackened, one with her lips swollen and cut, and the other with scratches down the sides of her face near her ears.

Duke holds Lucy’s arm while Donald moves to the front to speak.

“My brothers and sisters of the Lord,” he begins. “I am Lord Donald Templeton of the House of Diamond. Many of you remember my own daughter was once promised to our great and holy prophet—”

“He has risen!” someone in the crowd shouts in a sing-song chant.

“Amen,” a feminine voice answers.

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