“Ladies!” Marcus Ward’s voice cut through the garden, amplified by his microphone. “I’m happy to announce that we’ve finished compiling the lucky thirty. If you’d be so kind to stand to the side when your name is called, we’ll have you in a hot tub with a cocktail before sunset!”
A cheer went up as the women nudged and grinned at each other.
“Serena Voss.”
“Yay!” A pretty auburn-haired, curvy girl dashed through the crowd to stand alone to the left.
“Keira Holt.”
“OMG!” Another curvy blonde ran to join Serena.
“Nadia Waters.”
“Ahhhh!”
The list went on and on, followed by squeals of joy and impromptu dancing.
Turning away from the spectacle, I focused on the two girls still hemming me in as if ready to silence me if I started making a scene.
“What’s in there?” I asked quietly. “Who’sin there?”
The black-haired girl smirked. “That’s not any of your business. You were one of the lottery invites. The law of chance that maybe someone plucked off the street would be able to achieve what we’ve been groomed to do. But the likelihood of you getting in is zero.” She patted my shoulder. “So don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”
“Lydia Swift.”
“Oh, that’s me. Would you look at that.” The girl with golden highlights smirked. Before leaving, she leaned in and whispered, “My suggestion is to keep your mouth shut, forget everything you think you saw today, and don’t be stupid.” Cupping my cheek, she dug her nails into my skin. “Because if you don’t. If you do something foolish like talk to someone. If you try to ruin this for us...someone will hunt you down and take your life.”
My mouth fell open at her threat.
How the hell had this day turned out like this?
“See ya ‘round.” She patted my cheek so hard it was almost a slap before weaving seductively through the crowd to join the selected others.
Marcus Ward kept reading names, but I locked eyes with the Asian girl next to me. “What the hell is going on in this place?”
“Guess you’ll never know.” She grinned. “And it’s probably for the best. He would eat you alive if you stepped one foot in there.”
“He?” I moved closer, thanks to someone jostling me. “Who’s he?”
I didn’t think she’d answer, but with an aura of smugness, she murmured, “Lucien Ashfall.”
That name.
It sounded almost familiar...
“What’s the selection of thirty women got to do with him?”
“Evelyn Ling,” Marcus Ward called out.
“Oh.” She flicked her glossy hair. “Surprise, surprise. That’s me.” Wriggling her fingers, she blew me a kiss. “Bye-bye, unchosen one.”
Without another word, she pushed past the pouting women slowly realising their chances of being picked were running out.
“Kia Brass.”
A short skinny girl squealed and joined the group.
I turned to go.
