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I blinked away tears and set down the rest of the lemon-grape. There was shuffling around me, but I didn’t look up, trying to reel in my overactive emotions. I hated feeling so out of control.

“Amethyst?” It was Tabitha’s soft voice. “Are you all right, my lady?”

My head shot up, focusing on the woman. Her feathered wings shone in the warm light of the fire, and her blue eyes were bright with concern. Chatter slowly died, and my cheeks flushed as everyone focused on me.

“Is your leg hurting you?” Shelby asked beside me. “Shall I get Reuben?”

I quickly wiped away the tears, cursing myself for breaking down. It had only been a day since I’d seen Sloane. Everyone here seemed to think she was safe, too. No one spoke of Senona the way Lillian had spoken of the Sylvorians, with mistrust or shame. So this level of reaction was just ridiculous.

“I’m… just tired,” I said, quickly pulling a piece of the bread and shoving it in my mouth.

No one seemed convinced, their gazes morphing from worried to wary. God, I just wanted rules I understood, expectations that made sense that didn’t require me to admit I had no idea how I even ended up in this world with them. Four days ago I hadn’t even thought other realms existed, for crying out loud. Tears lined my lashes, but I blinked them away.

I’d rather be dropped onto a tiny boat in the middle of a hurricane than be emotionally vulnerable with these people right now.

“And missing my sister,” I offered.

The group relaxed with that answer. Tabitha’s eyes grew rounder, and she patted my knee in a move that was probably supposed to be sympathetic. It just made me feel like I was eight again, sitting in the social worker’s office. I shoved that particular memory away. I was already hanging on by a thread, and there was no way I needed a pity part over my childhood. I’d survived it, beaten the odds and graduated college and had built a life I was content with. Well, content wasn’t the word I’d actually use if pressed, but still… Something not embarrassing, at least.

Without a word, Amaria rose to her feet and disappeared into the array of tents being constructed on the other side of the fire. There were no jars over there, no light seemingly at all. As soon as she left the bonfire’s light, I couldn’t see more than a vague silhouette of her shape.

“Your sister was part of the Rite, too?” Monique asked, moving a bit closer to the fire, her hands held out to it. She’d been within touching distance of Arden all day. Even now her leg brushed his and his arm wrapped around her waist. When I nodded, she tilted her head. “That’s very rare.”

She didn’t say anything else, just leaned into Arden’s side. I swallowed my piece of bread.

“It is?” I asked.

No one even batted an eye at the question. Maybe everyone thinking I was from these mysterious Far Lands was a good thing. Maybe I should have been asking more questions today even though I’d rather take a cheese grater to my skin than show incompetence.

She nodded. “To have two omegas in a family is already very uncommon since we appear as the goddess wills, just like alphas. So to have you both touch the ticket that brought you into the Rite is even more rare. There’s only been a handful of double entrants. The last was over seventy years ago.”

“The Minston siblings!” Tabitha said with shock. Her cheeks flushed and her wings rustled as she tucked a strand of her white hair behind her ear. “Sorry, I’d forgotten that they would be known outside of Tousir.”

Joseph laughed. “Yes, they’re very famous most places I would think!” Then he turned to me, his blue eyes bright. His hands moved as he talked. “So, as you know, when omegas join the Grand Rite, we do it understanding that we give up everything of our old life. We may be able to maintain contact with our families, but it’s not an expectation. We must walk onto Magefall thinking of only our future partner and the life we will build with them.” His eyes cut to Hugh for a moment, and his own cheeks darkened with a bright pink blush. “When a double entrant happens, like your sister and you, there’s the understanding that Freia has something bigger planned for the both of you—together, I mean. You brought them with you, and so you’re supposed to bring them into your new life as well.”

Shelby looped her fingers around my wrist. Her voice was softer than the others, reminding me even more of my sister. “When two come together, it’s often a sign of great change. Historically, the double entrants are chosen by participants within the same kingdom so that their nearness can continue physically.”

“The Minston siblings brought new trade to Tousir, especially our northern cities. Even now, we can see the prosperity and stability they brought to our kingdom,” Tabitha said in agreement. “We are so grateful to the goddess that she brought them to us.”

“I wonder what the gods have in store since your sister and you were selected by different kingdoms,” Joseph said, nothing but unbridled curiosity in his voice.

It wasn’t a sentiment shared, though. Hugh’s look grew concerned as his gaze flashed to my hair, and several people abruptly looked down at their food, the conversation dropping off a cliff. I shrugged, trying for nonchalance. I’d be damned if I let them realize their obvious anxiety around my looks bothered me. That response, though, just seemed to make everyone more uncomfortable. I dropped my eyes to the tray of food and slowly ate the rest of the bread and salted meat.

A few people rose, but I didn’t bother to check who. After a minute, Monique’s voice cut through the crackling logs of the fire.

“Do you know which kingdom the alpha belongs to, Amethyst?”

“What?” I asked.

Her smile was tentative. “Your sister. Do you know which kingdom the alpha came from?”

“Oh.” I tried to remember what Callum had said this morning, but the name slipped from my memory. I looked to Shelby for help. It was Vincent who actually said something.

“Senona, my lady.” He set his own tray to the side and leaned back on his hands, looking up at the cloud-covered sky. “Their journey is much shorter than ours. By the time we get to Starguard, the Votarists there will be sure to have an update on her validation.”

My stomach clenched.

A hand clasped my wrist before I could say anything in response. My head whipped around, my heart racing in my ears for a long minute.