“Raine, where have you been?” she hissed quietly. “When you didn’t turn up, we all thought you were dead.”
A part of me wanted to tell her about everything that had happened over the past few nights. About Kade and the others, and the strange bond I had with them. About the outliers and the trials, but instead, I said, “I’m fine. The monsters from the selection just wanted to toy with me, that’s all.” It wasn’t just the fact that Perene and the other newbloods could hear everything I said that made me tell the lie.
Nora and I hadn’t been friends for years, and I wasn’t sure she was still the same person I once knew. It was possible she loved being a monster, and when she joined a house, she might have felt comfortable giving up any information I told her. What had Darian and the others said? Monsters cared about power above all else. Nora looked as though she wanted to pry and ask me more, but I said, “And what about you? Where have they been keeping you? What did—”
“Hush!” Perene snapped at us from the front of the line, and I shut my mouth. Giving Nora and me an icy glare, the older female pulled open the iron door, and instantly, all my attention focused on the chorus of chatter, laughter, and other beastly sounds that flowed out toward us from whatever room was beyond the door.
“By the Goddess Falia, it sounds like there are over a thousand monsters in there,” Nora said under her breath.
I had to agree. My imagination ran wild as I tried to picture all the monsters who were making the sounds. Swallowing thickly, I flexed my clammy hands.Just keep your head down and your ears open. You can do this, Raine.I inwardly cursed Locke for not preparing me for this better. I understood why he’d kept me away from the other newbloods, but right now, I was wishing I had the training they’d had. The idea that I was going to be on display for a horde of monsters to gawk at made my stomach churn.
There was the sudden stamping of hooves, and a voice yelled, “Sil-ence!” All at once, the noises dimmed, and I found myself leaning forward subconsciously to make sure I didn’t miss hearing anything.
“Welcome, all of you, to the Week of Orash!” the monster bellowed, his voice echoing around what had to be a large space, and his words were met with cheering and applause. When the cries quieted again, the monster continued, “It’s been a decade since the last Week of Orash. That’s ten years since we last tested the magic of the curse and welcomed twelve newbloods into our world.
“I am told by the Taratun council that, once again, the curse has changed all the chosen humans, but this is not a moment for us to despair. No, we should celebrate, for they are strengthened and born anew. Like the many newbloods we’ve had in past years, they will become valued members of Katakin! Over the following nights, we will see how the magic transformed their bodies and their minds. We will see who has the strength to rise to the top in our world. Now bring out the newbloods!”
Strengthened? Well, that’s one way to look at it.The monsters cheered, roared, and cried out as the speaker finished, and I shuddered at the explosion of strange sounds.I had expected the others from my village to feel the same as I did, but as I peered at the newbloods in the line ahead of me, I could tell they didn’t share my concerns. Excited smiles and wide eyes filled their flushed faces as they grinned at one another. Even Nora seemed to bounce excitedly on the spot as if she couldn’t wait to walk through the doorway and see what was beyond. She twisted to shoot me a smile, and I quickly lifted my lips so she wouldn’t see how I was absolutely shitting myself.
Why the hell had I thought this idea was better than escaping earlier? I was still human, and I was about to walk into a den of monsters and pretend I was one of them. I had the distinct thought that I was a like a lamb who was about to be eaten by wolves, but then I gritted my teeth. I wasn’t a fucking lamb.
Perene gestured for Lana to enter the room beyond, and Lana lifted her head higher and gave Locke’s mother a winning smile before stepping through the doorway. Her hips rocked from side to side as she sauntered forward, and I gaped at the dress she wore. The sheer gossamer fabric was see-through to the point that I could see the lacy red panties cupping her ass cheeks. Lana had always been confident back on the island, but now she had an air of self-importance around her.Go figure.
Cheers and howls erupted from the room as she walked forward until she was out of my limited line of sight, and a stream of sweat slid down my temple.It’s just walking. You can do that. Put one foot in front of the other and try not to trip,I prepped myself.
One by one, the other newbloods stepped through the doorway before me until Nora was next. “Good luck out there,” I whispered to her, and she paused to smile back at me. Excitement lit her eyes, but I could sense her hesitation. She wasn’t fighting it like I was, but I could tell she hadn’t accepted her new life as willingly as the others. “You too,” she replied, and then she was striding through the doorway as well.
I bit the inside of my cheek and tried to calm my racing heart. Following the timing of the others, I readied myself to step out, but before I could move, Perene crowded into my personal space. Instinctively, I recoiled, but her cold hand on my shoulder held me firmly as she leaned in close.
“I don’t know how you’re influencing my son, shifter, but you can’t have him. It took years for Katakin to reach a stage where all monsters accepted their place, and I won’t have you tempting my Locke to go against our traditions and laws more than he already has.
“The Taratun council and the order we’ve created is the only thing holding us all together. My son must mate with a vampire who can coax him out of the cesspool he insists on wading into. I’ve indulged him for these past few nights and let him have his fun with you, but make no mistake, that’s all it is. By the time the Week of Orash is over, you’ll belong to a house that befits you, so enjoy his attention while it lasts.”
Before I had a chance to respond to her tirade, her bony hand pushed on my back, propelling me through the doorway, and I stumbled before righting myself.
CHAPTER 16
~ Raine ~
Imadeamentalnote to thank Lockefor the pleasantries of his mother, but as the stares of hundreds of monsters landed on me, I straightened, pulling my shoulders back, and began walking to where the other newbloods were standing in a line at the center of a raised dais.
The cheers of monsters stung my ears as I walked, and the sounds of their unnatural cries and cruel laughter sent a shiver down my spine. I could feel their curious gazes locked on me, judging me with every step I took, but I didn’t stare back. Not yet. Sweat slid between my breasts, and I ignored the instinct that screamed at me to run, instead focusing on making sure my heels didn’t slip on the glossy floor. After what felt like an eternity, I stopped to stand a short distance away from Nora, and only then did I finally peer out at the room.
Ho-ly Goddess.My breath caught in my throat, and my eyes widened as I took in the massive ballroom spread before me. Hundreds of monsters filled the space, standing in groups on a polished floor of fine white marble. Some of them appeared almost human, and I guessed these were mostly the shifters, incubi, and succubi, but the rest had blatant monstrous traits. There were monsters with rams’ horns and furry tails, ogres and trolls with muscled bodies the size of small mountains, and wraiths with skin the color of ash. A group of males stood proudly, their antlers so large they were like the branches of trees sprouting from their heads, and their long faces and pale white eyes had fear trickling down the back of my neck.
Everywhere I looked I was met with hungry gazes, and I fought against the urge to run. Nights ago, Kade had told me about all the monsters in Katakin and what their strengths and weaknesses were. I found it useful now to know exactly what kinds of monsters stood before me, but the knowledge of how absolutely fucked I was made me want to hightail it out of there. I was always ready to fight if I had to, but I was smart enough to know when I’d lose. This was definitely one of those times.
Despite my fear, I couldn’t help but also gape at the beauty of the monsters and the space. Everyone wore garments that were easily as stunning as my own, made from rich silks, furs, and other fabrics. The females wore gowns that sparkled in the dim light, their necks glittering with large jewels and diamonds, and the males wore suits or shiny fighting leathers that fitted tight to their bodies.
Along the left side of the room, pale moonlight streamed through tall arched windows, shining on the three diamond chandeliers hanging from the domed ceiling and making the space glimmer with silvery light. Sweeping blue velvet curtains had been pulled to the side of the windows, and the walls gleamed golden, white, and blue from the fire torches lining the room and the opulent paintwork that detailed intricate curved patterns.
The monsters stood around high tables decorated with vases of beautiful black flowers, and there were satyrs strolling around with silver platters topped with goblets or small bites of food. On the opposite side of the room to the windows were thick pillars and large archways that led to a space beyond, but I couldn’t see what was in that area.
All right,that’s enough gawking,I scolded myself. Forgetting about the dazzling space, I focused my attention on the double doors at the other end of the room, the only other exit I could see aside from the small door I’d just walked through. Burly Minotaur guards with the bodies of men and the heads of bulls stood on either side of the doors, and I had to wonder whether it was their job to make sure none of the newbloods escaped. Then again, when I peered at the others from my village, it didn’t look like any of them actuallywantedto leave. Lana preened at the attention of the monsters, smiling and jutting out her hip as if she was a queen and they were her subjects, and the rest of the newbloods had smiles that were just as big.
“Citizens of Katakin,” bellowed a centaur who was standing beside Lana. It was the same voice I’d heard when I’d been waiting beyond the door. The top half of the monster’s body appeared human with silky black hair that trailed behind his head, a handsome face with a chiseled jaw, and a bare, muscular chest, but his bottom half was that of a powerful black stallion with four muscular legs and thick tufted hooves.Whoa.If Kade hadn’t already told me about all the monsters in Katakin, I would have struggled to believe that so many different beings existed.
“I present to you the newbloods from this round!” the centaur continued, and a deafening cheer came from the monsters in the ballroom. The sound of their warbled cries and roars vibrated in my head, and I clenched my jaw as I resisted the urge to cover my ears. After a while, the centaur stamped his front hooves to quiet them again. “As is tradition, tonight we enjoy the beginning of the Week of Orash, but come tomorrow night, the newbloods will battle one another, fighting with their weapons and bodies to showcase their new skills, strength, and dominance. By the week’s end, all monsters will have a house, and some may even have a mate. Let us toast and begin the celebration!”
