Page 4 of The Curse of Golden Blood
"Take me." The words were out before I could think of the consequences. "I'm a strong fighter. I'm older. Take me instead."
It was true. I could use my knives better than most boys in the village. I could wield a sword if needed. I was twenty, past the age most were Chosen, but still within range. But mostly, I was desperate.
Warlord's eyes roamed my face, my body. I'd dressed as well as I could, but my boots were old and patched, and my clothes were hand-me-downs. My hair was well-kept, my face clear of any marks. But I knew that the Warlord wasn't looking at me that way. He wasn't even seeing me at all.
I wasn't human, after all. I was a Vessel.
"Very well." His expression hardened. His hand came up and rested on my cheek, making me stiffen. "We'll take you both."
My heart dropped like a stone.
Zydar moved closer, and his lips brushed my ear.
"Miralyte Tavora." His breath was warm on my skin. "I'll enjoy making you regret that."
Then he turned away, his wings snapping out and taking him into the sky.
"What did you do?" Pelbie grabbed my arm.
"I didn't—"
"You did something. Mira, no. You know the rules…" She was shaking her head. "You…"
"It's fine, Pelbie. Trust me." It wasn't. "We'll be back once the snow melts."
The other fae watched me curiously, too, although none were so obvious about it. I wondered how often a mortal volunteered, and how much they'd bet against me.
Pelbie and I walked to the platform without a word. The crystal surface crunched faintly beneath our boots, already layered with fresh snow. Snow that would quickly forget my rebellion here today, just as it had forgotten Ciradyl’s screams. We stood off to the side, waiting in silence as the fae continued their choosing .
Once they were done, the woman with the white wings raised her arms to the sky. "In the name of our glorious queen, the High Sovereign Ylvena of the Sun Court, we come to you.The Tithe is made. For our part, we claim these mortals to serve in our courts and feed our lands."
She looked at the crowd disdainfully, before she continued, "May the Mother bless these vessels. May our queen protect our borders and our realm."
I had seen this done enough times before to know what would happen next.
The crystal beneath our feet would split open. A portal would appear below us, golden light pouring through the cracks like fire under ice. The only way in was down. There was no way back up.
The Sun Court faerie stepped to the center of the platform and lifted her hands. Her eyes closed. She whispered something in the old tongue and a shimmering, golden portal yawned open at our feet. It was large and bright, and the light was almost blinding.
There was no time to adjust.
"Don't let go," I tightened my grip on her hand.
"Never."
One by one, the chosen were pushed through. I kept my chin lifted high, though my chest felt tight. My legs began to tremble.
When our turn came, we stepped into the golden glow.
It was as if the light itself swallowed us up. Every sound warped — my heartbeat, Pelbie’s breath, the crunch of snow — all stretched thin and strange like they were underwater. The air burned cold and hot at the same time. My ears popped. My skin felt inside-out.
We fell fast and without warning. My feet hit the ground before my mind caught up.
All around us, faint light shimmered beneath the crystal floor as the portal sealed itself shut. I turned and saw more ofthem scattered across the horizon — glowing circles of gold where other mortals were arriving.
Dozens of people, maybe more, stumbled forward in silence. They came from other villages, other places like ours, each one carrying the same dread on their faces.
We weren’t alone.
