Page 50 of Dragons' Mate
Tavias’s spine stiffens. I know that he wants to keep this interrogation going, but we can talk like normal people later. What I really need is for someone—for Quinton—to talk to Autumn while there is a chance. To find more information on what she thinks about the brand. I try to signal as much to Quinton, cutting my gaze between him and the petite princess who is still near the dessert table.
A sigh of relief leaves me when he wanders away from the pack, but I know better than to bring any attention to him and Autumn. From the way Tavias introduced me and her earlier, I’m certain no one but me knows about the arrangement she and Quinton have.
Kit. Kitterny.
I realize Tavias is talking to me again. From the sound of it, he’s been trying to get my attention for some time. I lower my head in apology to him. I know he’s worried about me.
Are you alright?Tavias asks.
I tap my right knee.Yes.
He frowns.You are alright, but everything is not alright?
Yes.
Explaining something as complicated as finding a secret room with a crate of singing eggs and mini greenhouses of plants that might be for the fertility elixir is just not something that easy to do with this conversation set up.
Like a symbol of shame, the priests leave me to kneel on the hard floor for the next two hours, while the celebration comes to a too slow close. For the first time since coming to the trial grounds, I’m actually glad to hear the sound of the gong.
“May I have everyone’s attention,” the head priest calls, while all the lights of the celestial hall—with the exception of the few surrounding the dais—dim. Having thus captured everyone’s attention, the priest once again goes into his sermon about the power of the goddess, and the sacred rite, and the general importance of the priests of Orion in keeping the world from descending into chaos. As he makes an extra detour to remind everyone that the dragons are surviving at all only due to the priests’ efforts with the elixir, it occurs to me that the dragons aren’t the only ones to benefit from this potion of mystical power.
The priests are making out very well too, with even the king of Massa’eve being forced here to pay his respects and play their games.
There is some editorial genuflecting on the part of the crowd, but nothing about this set up feels benevolent to me anymore. Especially not after tonight. I close my eyes, counting down the seconds before the bloody priest dismisses us and I can tell the males what I found. It all means something. I know in my gut that it does.
“Before we release the packs,” the priest says, “we have a change of schedule to announce. This rite has been difficult already and—while it is our duty to find the pack most worthy to carry on the dragon bloodline—we do not wish to stretch the ordeal out longer than we must. As such, we have moved up the second trial. Instead of waiting another week as planned, the trial shall begin… now.”
CHAPTER24
Kit
My head snaps up. What does he mean now? As innow,now?
That doesn’t work for me. Not one bit. I scramble up to my feet and rush toward Tavias and the pack, but a priest’s staff blocks my path. At once, two more priests appear beside me, each grabbing hold of my arms. They aren’t letting me get to the males.
Save your strength, wildcat,Tavias commands into my mind.You won’t win the fight just now.
It takes all my willpower to keep from fighting the two priests holding me, but Tavias is right. No good can come of a struggle just now. More priests pour into the celestial hall, separating out the humans. Some of the women are so unsteady on their feet from the wine and the rutting that they must be held up lest they fall.
“In the first trial, Orion tested the worthiness of the humans,” the high priest continues, ignoring the rising chorus of whispers and soft gasps. It’s not the description of the first trial that I’d have offered, but no one is asking my opinion. The priest raises his voice dramatically. “For the second trial, she shall test the resolve of the dragons.”
This declaration gets a cheer from guests and competitors alike.
“The rules are straight forward,” the priest continues once the shouts settle. “Over the next three hours, the humans will be scattered throughout the trial grounds. Each packs must simply locate the women and keep them alive for a week.”
A small murmur ripples over the hall as everyone likely reads between the same lines I do. Nothing in the rules prohibits packs from killing or taking other packs’ women, and with the entire trial grounds at play, it’s anyone's guess who will find who first. This is going to be a hunt. And a bloody one.
I really wish my mind connection with Tavias worked both ways.
Don’t look for us,Tavias says quickly.Head for high ground if you can. Hide. Your job is to stay alive. Leave the tracking to us.
I nod. It’s as much of a plan as we are going to get. At least I’m in better shape than some of the girls. I feel Quinton’s gaze along with the pull of our bond. He is strung as tight as a bow string. All the males are.
“With my life,” Quinton mouths to me. An echo of what he’d said when we were bonded. Hauck and Cyril’s eyes make the same promise. I long to go to them, to throw my arms around the pack one more time, but the priests’ hold is so tight that I can’t.
“One week,” the priest adds with a final flourish. “One week to survive the Goddess’s challenge. One week to protect the bride to be. One week until we all gather here again to discover which packs are worthy of the precious elixir. At that time too, the third and final trial shall be announced. We shall see you all then.”
I don’t look back at the pack as the priests lead me and the other women into a separate chamber. There are twelve stools set out here, each holding a neat pile of clothes. We each get thick leggings, a woolen dress, boots and a fur lined cloak that seems overkill for the nippy, but not severe, weather outside. Lee and I help the few girls who can’t seem to manage changing on their own.
