Zoe Dawn grunted. “Bears do not attack and then run into the trees like monkeys.” She ran her fingers down my cheek. “Your face will swell. We need to put some ice on it as soon as we arrive to the temple.”
I swayed on my feet, and Zoe Dawn reached out to steady me. “Maybe we should turn back,” I grumbled. “If it was not bears, what just sent me toppling to the ground? And I swear someone—”
“They were bears,” Sister Nikita snapped, interrupting me. Her eyes narrowed, and the lines around them deepened in a way I had never seen before.
Zoe Dawn glanced at me and shook her head. “They nearly stood like humans. Bears do not run through the trees like men. I agree; we should return to the village.”
Brother Caprio strode toward us, waving his hands. “Be swift, sisters. The others are waiting. If there are animals attacking in these woods, we must hurry to the safety of the temple.”
“You heard him. Move.” Sister Nikita stood behind me and Zoe Dawn and pressed us toward the path.
Zoe Dawn dug her heels in. “But—”
“You are in no position to argue, Zoe Dawn,” Sister Nikita hissed, but her hardened gaze was locked on to me.
I flung my hands up in defeat and stomped forward, ignoring the throb in my cheek. It would have to wait until we arrived at the temple. Zoe Dawn caught up to me and linked her arm with mine.
“Stick with me,” she whispered. “I will protect us both.”
I needed her. I did not want to admit it, but she was my haven. She pushed my boundaries, and at times her actions caused me more grief than I wanted in my life, but in the end, she had my back. And I needed a reminder that I had hers as well. Allowing the Doyen, Rafael, and my own insecurities to convince me to turn my back on someone who would never do the same to me drove shame through my gut like a relentless whirlwind. She was the only one in this world I could trust.
As I leaned in to return her hug, something cool brushed my fingers. I stepped back and looked behind her, but she quickly pulled me back into a side hug.
“I had to bring it,” she whispered in my ear. “If I cannot return, then I did not want to leave my treasure behind.”
“It is junk, sister. Why can you not just leave things be?”
“That would be boring,” she said, pulling me so close our cheeks nearly touched. “Besides, this is the last I will see you—forever if the Doyen have their way. Let’s not be boring on our last two days together.”
I rolled my eyes to the heavens, but nodded in agreement. I would miss my wild friend.
THE TEMPLE HAD BEEN dug out many seasons ago by our ancestors. It was one of the buildings left by the ancients and sat nestled against the mountainside. When they unearthed the words on the building, they had dedicated it as their temple. Quality. I was told the word defined it as a place of greatness and that we had chosen to honor the tradition from the ancient people. They had named it Quality for a reason, especially since it stood so close to the Mountain Gods.
There was another word underneath, but it was faded to a point where it could not be read. It looked like “in” to me, but others believed it was nothing and should be left in the past where it belonged. I disagreed and often fantasized of the lost world, filled with many people who had visited these lands to speak to their gods. If only they could tell me their true origins.
It was hard to believe the ancients had created faces of the gods on a mountain, unless they were significant beings. Zoe Dawn thought it was all a hoax. She only praised our Goddess. As for my beliefs, unimportant figures did not get etched into mountains.
The sweet smell of bread assaulted my senses as we drew closer to the temple. I breathed it in and sighed with longing. The food at the temple was always my favorite, and it had been many seasons since my last visit. We would be greeted by a full meal before the ceremony began. My stomach growled with delight.
“I’m going to be first in line,” Rafael yelled from farther back.
He jogged past us, and Zoe Dawn kicked out her foot, barely missing his calf. I laughed and pulled her forward. This would be our chance to scope out the other tribes, and even though I had been ordered to not pick a mate, I was hoping I could find another way to make it happen.
“There he is,” Zoe Dawn whispered in my ear. She nodded her head toward another incoming tribe.
My gaze traveled over the group of men and women heading our way. “There who is?” I asked, tugging her to a halt.
“My future mate.” Her bronze eyes brimmed with tears. “The Doyen have ordered me to pick the male with the bright-green smock. You cannot miss him.”
I did not like seeing my best friend in such a state. She rarely cried. I glanced over my shoulder. The first man in the group was wearing a bright-green smock and his gaze was locked on Zoe Dawn. His white hair was difficult to peel my eyes from. It nearly sparkled, with the sun’s rays shining right on him. I swear I knew him, but I could not put my finger on how.
“He has a shine about him,” I murmured, turning back to look at Zoe. “And he is godly. Why do you cry?”
Her gaze snapped up to meet mine as a wave of surprise flashed across her expression. “Because they told me who to mate with and have taken away my choice. I do not concern myself with his looks. And I told you, I do not want a mate. I want to be free.”
I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. “Then run away, dear sister. Pick him as your mate and then when we break for bedtime, leave this place for good.”
“Alone?” she asked with a hint of a whimper in her tone.
“Sisters, we are waiting for you,” Brother Caprio called from the temple doorway.
Zoe Dawn gave me one last expectant look before racing off to the temple. I followed at a slow jog. I loved her, but I was not giving up my dreams for hers. Although, I should leave with her now, before the ceremony. All my senses were screaming at me to not even enter the temple, but I shoved them away and stepped through the doors.
The main hall bustled with noise as tribes crowded around their tables, each piled with a feast fit for our Goddess. A soft smile tugged at the edges of my lips as I remembered the last time I came to the temple with Mama. The entire day had been perfect and the taste of the food had been unforgettable. I licked my lips and hurried after Zoe Dawn. Sister Nikita handed me a ball of fabric as I sank into my seat.
“There is ice inside for your cheek,” she whispered, patting me on the shoulder before she walked away.
I pressed the fabric against my face just as a lanky man with a missing tooth stepped up to the railing from the upper level.
“Sisters and brothers,” he called down to us. His accent sounded familiar.
The crowd quieted slowly, and the strange man continued talking, but my mind was a hundred miles away. None of his words reached my brain. Zoe Dawn jabbed me in the leg with her finger. I glared at her but softened when I saw the gleam in her eyes. She pointed under the table at the group next to us.
My gaze lifted slightly. That’s when I saw him. He was staring directly at me. Those beautiful copper eyes...
I dropped my eyes to my lap, unable to listen to the man giving instructions from above. Alarix was here, despite telling me another woman had caught his eye and they would be privately mated. The look in his eyes spoke volumes, and I realized something had changed. He was planning on picking me at the ceremony. My heart skipped a beat.
“Kia Lynn?” Zoe whispered.
My gaze snapped over to meet hers. “Yes?”
“It is time to eat.” She nodded at the table where everyone else was loading food into their bowls.
I could not look at him. Averting my eyes from that table, I quickly scooped potatoes, meat, and corn in to my wood bowl. Zoe Dawn handed me a torn piece of bread and I tossed it on top of the rest of my food.
“He made it, despite what he told us. That is good news,” she muttered, not looking at me. “Why are you acting like you have seen a ghost?”
“I cannot—” I pressed my lips together, suddenly feeling unwell. My stomach churned like butter in a barrel.
“What is it, sister?” Zoe Dawn set her bowl to the side and turned to face me. “As much as I want you to run away with me, this is exactly what you were hoping for. Why the long face?”
Heat rose in my cheeks and I shook my head as I bit into the potatoes. “I am fine,” I grumbled with a mouthful of food.
“Liar,” she snapped quietly.
I refused to look at her or Alarix and she finally returned to eating in silence.
The overly tall and thin man returned to his perch above us after everyone had completed their meals. “Tribes of the Mountain Gods, we are so blessed to have the next seasoned adults gather with us today. Our ceremony will begin shortly. Please separate into your quarters and meet in the courtyard. We will begin before the sun begins her descent.”
I pressed away from the table and rose from my chair. “I will follow you, sister.” I nodded at Zoe Dawn.
I could feel Alarix’s eyes on me as she led the way out of the main hall. Sister Nikita was uncomfortably close behind us as we weaved through the crowd, following the rest of the ladies from our village.
“Remember what you were told yesterday,” Sister Nikita whispered in my ear as she passed by.
My head jerked to the side, and our gazes met. “What was I told yesterday?” I muttered.
She nodded toward my calf, raising her left brow as if I would understand what she meant. “Do not pick a mate today, and excuse yourself from the ceremony before the final pair has been matched.”
“You are in on this?” My jaw clenched in anger as fury prickled up my spine.
“Just do as you are told, sister.” She nodded one last time and then pranced across the quarters and disappeared from my sight.
“What was that all about?” Zoe Dawn asked as she shifted around others in her way. Her gaze traveled back toward the exit that Sister Nikita had just walked through.
I could not breathe. Who else could I not trust?
Zoe Dawn’s hand rested on my shoulder, and I jolted slightly from her touch.
“It was nothing,” I muttered, pushing past her and dropping my pack by one of the empty cushions.
I furiously yanked out my clothing for the ceremony and quickly changed into the bronze, wide-legged trousers I had stitched together only a few days before. Then I tugged on my crimson sleeveless shirt. Zoe’s mum had picked out the fabric for me three seasons before at the Black Mountain Festival. It was rare to find any fabric that was without damage. I smoothed it against my torso and inhaled a deep breath, relishing in the comfort of the palo santo scent laced within the threads.
“You look lovely,” Zoe Dawn whispered from behind me. Her hands curled around both my shoulders. “He would be a fool to want anyone but you.”
I held back the sob that continued to threaten to burst from my lips. Pressing them together, I nodded as if I agreed with her. I was not worried about him not choosing me. I was terrified of his expression when I turned him down.
Zoe Dawn had changed into all black, which was probably for the best. The sooner she could escape, the better, and her outfit would help keep her hidden in the dark.
Her excitement broke my heart. She twirled around in front of me and bowed when she faced me again. Escaping these rigid beliefs would brighten her whole world. I smiled at her playfulness, but my heart was not in it. Not only would I not be able to pick Alarix but I had to leave before we even had a chance. And somehow, I had to warn Zoe Dawn without anyone knowing.
Before I had the chance to say anything, she grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the courtyard. My stomach gurgled with fear. What would happen to her and all my friends? If they were asking me to leave before the end of the ceremony, would something awful occur in my absence?
Sister Nikita and the mystery man from yesterday had me confused. They were in on this together, but why? How did they know one another? Sister Nikita had moved into our village soon after Mama’s disappearance and had been my rock through all my grief. I thought I knew her. She was our village’s guiding light, and being a woman of our Goddess, everyone had trusted her.
I tumbled into the courtyard behind Zoe and drew in a shaky breath. Alarix was watching from his spot on the opposite side from us. The vegetation had been trimmed back, allowing the sun to shine on us for the next little while. The rays hit across his chest, illuminating the little white horse hanging from his neck that I had found in one of the ancient’s buildings. I had given it to him to remember me by, as he had called me a rare gem, and horses were an animal from the days before the stars had collided with Mother Gaia.
“Welcome to this season’s mating ceremony,” the tall man with the missing tooth said loudly from the middle of the courtyard, interrupting my thoughts.
“I do not understand. Who is that man? I have not seen Trix yet,” I whispered, leaning closer to Zoe Dawn.
She shrugged. “I have never seen that man before, and I do not like his voice. Maybe he is replacing Trix.” Her attention moved across the crowd. “I am surprised she is not here at all. Usually they introduce their successor.”
“Shh.” I grabbed her hand in mine and squeezed it. “Listen.”
“Regretful to announce the sudden passing of our beloved Trix.” The man turned as he spoke, his gaze finally resting on me. “I am only a temporary replacement for this season’s ceremony. When the new seer’s name is revealed, the announcement will be spread across all the tribes. But do not be dismayed. This year’s ceremony will be unforgettable. The rules remain the same. Each party must agree to the partnership. If there are any of you who is picked by more than one mate, the burden of choice lies on the chosen. There are no battles for love. May Goddess and the Mountain Gods bless every union established here today.”
He winked at me, and my heart skipped a beat. I knew why I recognized his accent. The man who had attacked me in the village had the same one. My blood ran cold. The entire ceremony was a hoax to complete whatever he had started.
I took a few quick steps back, searching for an escape route. Zoe Dawn, Alarix, and even Rafael were all in danger, and I had done nothing to stop the advances of this unknown foe.
“Careful, Kia Lynn,” Sister Nikita murmured in my ear. Her breath was hot on my neck as her hand curled around my upper arm. “It is not quite time to make your departure.”
I froze against her touch. “Let me go,” I hissed under my breath.
“Remember your place, Kia Lynn. All will be clear soon.” She leaned in closer to me, her lips skimming across my ear. “Your mama has asked for your protection. Soon the marking will activate, breaking this ridiculous bond, and then your entire life will change—for the better.”
“What did you say?” I struggled to swallow as I whipped around to face her.
She grinned and walked away, leaving me to hear her words rattle around in my mind. My mama? Wanted my protection? But they had told me she would never return if she had not already.
“It is time.” Zoe Dawn grabbed my arm and pulled me back to the front. “You need to claim Alarix first.”
She pushed me toward the one man I’d loved from the first time we had met in the woods several seasons before. Everyone else was seeking out their future mates, and Alarix was on his way toward me. I skidded to a halt, then whirled around to meet Zoe Dawn’s eyes.
“Something is wrong,” I muttered. My heart pounded like thunder against my chest.
She shook her head and cupped her hand to her ear. “What was that?”
“Zoe Dawn.” I stepped toward her, but a sudden, intense heat gripped my calf, driving me to my knees. The courtyard erupted in screams around me.
I fell to my side and reached out for Zoe Dawn just as a massively huge man ripped her from my grasp. A mask veiled his face. He reached for me, then his gaze snapped up and the muscles in his chest rippled, before tightening. Clinging tightly to Zoe Dawn’s thrashing le
gs and arms, he whipped around and sprinted from my view.
I curled into a fetal position, weeping from losing Zoe Dawn and the agony pulsating from within. The heat in my calf seared through each muscle as it shot up my leg and spread like wildfire through my body. A scream of terror was all I could hear as speckles of darkness invaded my eyesight, drowning out the chaos in the courtyard.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Zion
ZOE DAWN
It felt like a ton of boulders were lying on my head. I pried my eyes open, but was only greeted by more blurry darkness, and all I could hear was the loud thump of my pulse beating against my skull.
“What in Goddess’s name is going on?” I grumbled under my breath.
My arms felt leaden next to my sides. I tugged, but something was holding them tight against my body. A groan bubbled up my throat from frustration, and I nearly jumped out of my skin when someone moved on the other side of the room.
“Hold still, Zoe Dawn,” a woman said softly. She sounded familiar. “We will be there soon and you will finally have your answers. The restraints are for my and your protection."
My head was boiling with a rage I had never felt before. “Jump off a cliff!” I hissed between clenched teeth. “Where are you taking me?” My head whipped from side to side as I squinted into the darkness to find whoever was in here with me.
Heat simmered down my neck and spiraled down my spine. I strained against my restraints. My arms ached from the effort, but I did it again anyway. I was not going to allow them the satisfaction of holding me against my will.
I could hear the woman shift closer, which only encouraged me to keep wrestling, and when she draw near enough, I flung my legs over my head and kicked her. I continued rolling to the side and leapt to my feet, wiggling against the ropes to loosen them more. My skin continued to simmer with a flame I had only felt once before, and the ropes sizzled from my touch. As much as it frightened me, I concentrated on the heat to burn away my restraints.
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