Violet
I steppedinto the amphitheater-style lecture hall just before ten o’clock to find the other Selection girls already gathered there. Everyone looked remarkably chipper considering we'd all been up until nearly two in the morning.
Madeline caught my eye from a few rows up and waved me over to the empty seat beside her.
“Morning,” she said as I sat down. “How are you feeling after last night?”
“Tired, but relieved,” I said. “You?”
“Same. I'm hoping today is something easy. Maybe a nice lecture on wine pairings or something.”
The buzz of conversation filled the space. Everyone seemed to be speculating about what today would bring. Mrs. Astor entered right at ten o'clock, her usual stern expression replaced with something that almost looked like amusement. That immediately put me on edge, because I couldn’t remember a single time I’d seen that woman crack a smile.
“Good morning, ladies,” she said, clasping her hands in front of her. “I hope you all had adequate rest after last night's trial. You performed admirably. Most of you, at least.”
A few nervous laughs rippled through the room.
“Today's session will be quite different from your usual classes,” Mrs. Astor continued. “In fact, it's not a formal class at all.”
I sat up straighter. Beside me, Madeline did the same.
“Instead,” Mrs. Astor went on, “you'll be spending the day with your Reaper partners.”
Confused murmurs spread through the room. Madeline shot me a questioning look, and I shrugged.
“As you've learned over the past two months, a successful partnership in our world requires complete understanding between husband and wife,” Mrs. Astor said. “You must know each other's minds, each other's strengths and weaknesses, each other's fears and aspirations.” She paused. “You must also understand each other's bodies. What brings pleasure, what causes discomfort, what boundaries exist and what desires might be explored.”
Oh.
Oh.
The room had gone completely silent.
“Physical intimacy is a cornerstone of any strong marriage,” Mrs. Astor continued, her tone remaining perfectly professional despite the subject matter. “Particularly in partnerships like yours, where trust and vulnerability are essential. So, on that note, your Reapers have been instructed to take you to private spaces within the estate where you can explore this aspect of your relationship in whatever way feels appropriate to you both.”
“Of course the Club has a training module for sex,” Madeline muttered under her breath, just loud enough for me to hear. “They have one for everything else, so why not this too?”
I had to bite my lip to stop myself from giggling.
“This is not a test,” Mrs. Astor clarified. “And of course, there is no performance evaluation. No one will be observing or judging you. This is simply an opportunity for you to deepen your connection with your partner.”
She looked around the room. “Your Reapers are waiting in the corridor outside. You're dismissed until tomorrow morning. Enjoy your day, ladies.”
I stepped into the corridor to find Julian leaning against the wall, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
“So this is what you meant by fun, huh?” I said, walking up to him.
His wicked grin widened. “Maybe.”
“I really should’ve known,” I said with a soft laugh.
He pushed off the wall and offered me his hand. “Come on. I want to show you something.”
I took his hand, hyperaware of the other couples around us. Some were already walking away together, while others stood in the hallway talking quietly, looking excited.
“Where are we going?” I asked as Julian led me down the corridor.
“You’ll see,” he said, still grinning wickedly. “It’s a surprise.”
