What was going on? Something wasn’t right.
I spotted Odette’s curly mass of blonde curls near the fountains. Theo was there, rubbing her back as she trembled, close to tears. They had their formal Choosing outfits on— Theo in a white suit, and Odette in a big pink dress with a fluffy white coat, but neither of them appeared ready to go onstage. Kiara and Alexei stood nearby, both of them anxiously still.
I jumped off Ethan’s back, and he transformed to join me as I rushed to Odette’s side. She didn't sag in relief until she met my gaze. “Odette? Are you okay?”
“What are you two doing? You’re supposed to be in line for your Choosing,” Ethan said in confusion.
“I just had a vision.” Odette grabbed my hands and squeezed. “Oh, Emma, it’s simply awful!”
“She looked into the water barrel over there and began seeing things,” Theo said, casting his head to the side. “What she foresaw isn’t good.”
“Something really bad is going to happen here, tonight!” Odette squeaked. “I don’t know specifics, but I saw so many bodies, and fire, and blood… oh, it was just terrible! So many are going to die! We have to get out of here.”
My heart thudded in fear. “If the city’s in danger, we have to protect it from whatever’s coming.”
Odette’s curls bounced as she shook her head. “No, Emma, you don’t understand. This feeling I have isbad. If we stay and fight, it could turn out all wrong.”
“We tried to find Delmare and Stefan, but they’re at the front of the line,” Theo explained. “We’ll have to wait for them, so they can be warned.”
“There isn’t much time,” Odette insisted. “Once Delmare and Stefan get down from that stage, we need to leave straight away.”
“Are you sure? Odette, you said Ethan wasn’t with us when we found the alicorn stone. It was in your vision, and yet that didn’t happen,” I said.
“Visions can change. We saved Ethan, so the future changed as well. The future isn’t set in stone,” Odette insisted. “But so far, everything else I’ve come to see has come true. I don’t think there’s any changing this— it’s too late!”
I looked to Kiara— she was the sensible one. But Kiara didn’t rush to replace Odette’s worries with logic. “If Odette says she had a vision, let’s not take chances,” Kiara said. “We get the rest of our friends and we leave. Best thing that can happen, Odette and Theo miss their Choosing and they have to do it next year. But if it’s the worst case scenario…”
She didn’t need to finish that sentence. I nodded and said, “Right. We’ll leave once Delmare and Stefan are done.”
A horn sounded, and we turned toward the stage to see the same High Priestess that had declared Ethan and I’s bond last year. The old sorceress bellowed over the crowd, giving opening remarks and welcomes to cheerful applause.
Looking around, it seemed so strange that such a happy occasion could turn deadly so quickly. Yet I wasn’t fooled. I knew things could jump from good to bad in an instant, and I trusted Odette. My eyes scanned the crowd for rioters, the king’s guards, anything that might be a tip off to the upcoming chaos. I saw nothing.
The first few couples came onstage and were bonded. I held Ethan’s hand, trying to keep my composure. I neededallmy friends to be safe. I wouldn’t leave this square unless all eight of us left together.
Finally, Delmare and Stefan walked onstage and stood underneath the arch. It had only been ten minutes into the Choosing ceremony, but it felt like an eternity. Both of them were dressed nicely, Stefan in a black suit and Delmare in a beautiful black lace gown, her hair draping down her back in long curls. They knelt beneath the arch and held hands as the High Priestess said, “Do you, Stefan Slasky, join yourself to this sorceress in mind, body, and spirit, proclaim her to be your mate, vow to one day be married with her in sacred union, defending her at all costs?”
“I proclaim that Irena Delmare is my mate, for now and forever, until my watch on the hunt is over and until the end of time,” Stefan said. His words were proud and full of love as he stared at Delmare, and she returned his gaze as if he was the only dragon for her.
“To which god do you align?” the High Priestess asked.
“I pledge myself to Radek, the Red Stag of War,” Stefan proclaimed.
There were a few polite claps, and the High Priestess turned to Delmare. “Do you, Irena Delmare, vow to join yourself to this shifter in mind, body, and spirit, proclaim him to be your mate, vow to one day be married with him in sacred union, loving him despite whatever cost?”
“I proclaim that Stefan Slasky is my mate, for now and forever, until my watch on the hunt is over and until the end of time.” Delmare’s voice was certain and sure. There was absolutely no doubt, and I could see Stefan’s hands squeeze hers gratefully.
“And to which god do you align?”
“I pledge myself to Neva, the Specter Doe of Shadow and the goddess of time,” Delmare said.
Applause burst from the audience as Delmare and Stefan kissed, and rose to their feet. The nausea in my gut settled. I was delighted they were formally bonded now, and happy for them, but the nervousness I felt from Odette’s words overshadowed the real joy I should’ve felt at their Choosing. As they walked down the stage stairs leading to the square, Odette frantically waved them over. Delmare and Stefan cut through the crowd, clearly confused.
“Why weren’t you guys up there with us?” Stefan asked Theo. “You backing out?”
Odette took a frantic breath. “No, it’s not that, we need to—”
The sound of the trumpets burst again, but it was a different medley— the tune of the king. I grasped for Ethan as I saw Elijah and Gabby stroll onstage, in all their finery. They were flanked by a battalion of guards. Eli sent a nasty look at the couple currently being bonded, and they hurried offstage. The High Priestess stepped forward, confusion shining on her face.
