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“Almost time for doughnuts,” he whispered into her ear, pinching her hip.

“Don’t remind me,” she groaned. She was ordering a pepperoni pizza. No, wait. Sausage. No. Pepperoni and sausage. And doughnuts. She didn’t care that they didn’t go together. Doughnuts really went with anything. Yep, that’s what she was getting. She wasn’t sharing with anyone. Not even Dex. And if Lange tried to steal a doughnut, she wasn’t above biting.

The Achaz Heir had stepped forward as he was asked for his selection. “I choose Sasha Roenya to be my bonded Source,” Dagian announced, his voice as deep and booming as his father’s.

Applause broke out again while Sasha was escorted up the dais by a Legacy of the Zinta bloodline, one of the sister goddesses of magic and sorcery, to stand behind Dagian. Legacy of the Lesser gods were all sworn to one of the kingdoms. The Zinta bloodline, along with the Sirana bloodline, goddess of love and fertility, were sworn to the Achaz kingdom. The most powerful of the Lesser bloodlines usually served as advisors on the High Councils of the Lords and Ladies.

All the Selected Sources would be escorted up to the dais to stand with their new masters. Before the feast began, the heirs and their new Sources would all leave to speak privately. Apparently that was when the bonding began, but the Selected wouldn’t receive their first Mark until after the evening’s festivities. They’d been told that the adjustment period to the Marks could take hours, so it was done at the end of the feast and ball, right before the heirs took their leave.

The Falein Heir, Prudence, was called forward next and was asked to Select her Source. Each Selection went as expected. There were no surprises, but when the Arius Heir was called forward, the entire room seemed to still.

“Theon St. Orcas,” the Achaz Lord called, and the Legacy from the alcove stepped forward.

No one knew what to expect from him. All the Fae tensed, none of them breathing. Legacy watched with curious looks, and the ruling families appeared to be awaiting his decision as anxiously as the Fae were. The other heirs had laid claims to their Sources long ago. This was all tradition and ritual now, but the Arius Heir’s pick could be anyone’s guess.

Oralia had reached over, gripping Tessa’s hand to the point of pain, and she wasn’t sure she could get any closer to Dex. Lange’s arm was draped tightly across Corbin’s shoulders, and Brecken had Kat pulled back against his chest. She’d turned her face into his shoulder, eyes closed and lips murmuring a prayer to the gods that did not care.

“I choose Tessalyn Ausra to be my bonded Source,” Theon announced, his voice skittering over her bones.

“No,” Oralia gasped beside her, but it was muffled by the murmuring that broke out around them. Dex’s hands tightened as Tessa’s knees nearly gave out and she stumbled in her stupid heels. The Arius Heir couldn’t have possibly said her name. There was no way she had been Selected. She hadn’t been slated for Selection. She had been seen and dismissed so often at the estate, it hadn’t even been a real possibility in her mind. No one wanted her. No one had ever wanted her. Nothing and no one. That’s what she was. This… This was a huge mistake. A joke of some kind.

She glanced up at Dex to find his eyes closed and his features set in a way to suggest he had thought this was a very real possibility from the beginning, and when he opened his eyes and met Tessa’s, she knew this was no ruse. Time seemed to stand still as she turned to look at Lange and Corbin, their eyes wide in horror. Kat had her hands clasped over her mouth, and Brecken’s lips were pressed into a thin line, some kind of silent fury in his gaze. More and more eyes were coming to settle on her as she was pointed out among the Fae.

“Tessalyn Ausra,” came a deep voice to her left. She turned to find the Legacy she had seen speaking with the Arius Heir. “Come with me.”

He held out his hand to her, and all she could do was stare at him. This wasn’t how this was supposed to go. None of them were supposed to be Selected. They were supposed to have at least another year together before they’d be separated and sent to the various kingdoms.

“Come on, little one,” the Legacy said again, his voice soft and coaxing.

“You need to go,” Dex hissed into her ear, shoving her lightly.

Tessa had never felt more alone than she did when his hands slipped from her waist. And that was saying something because she knew loneliness all too well.

She swallowed hard and willed her feet to move as she slipped her fingers into the Legacy’s waiting palm. His hand slid to her lower back as they moved, and all she could think about was how hot his hand was, like a brand on her back. She kept her eyes forward and focused while he led her through the crowd and up to the dais. Her attention fell on a Fae standing poised and submissive behind Valter. His Source.

And she saw her entire existence from this point forward in that female.

Time was still moving so damn slowly. She knew her feet were moving. The sound of their footsteps echoed on the stone floor, but she felt like they were hardly making any progress forward. Her gaze slipped off the Fae for a split second, but that was all it took for it to land on Theon’s dark emerald eyes. He held her stare, an unreadable expression on his face, and suddenly time sped up. She blinked, and she was standing behind him. The Legacy who had escorted her was gone. Tessa had no idea where he’d disappeared to.

“What an excellent round of Selections,” the Achaz Lord was saying. She wasn’t sure when he’d started speaking again. “I believe I speak on behalf of all the Lords and Ladies when I say I am immensely proud of all the heirs and the way they are growing into their positions. They will now be dismissed, along with their Sources, to begin the bonding before the feast commences. The rest of the Legacy are welcome to continue enjoying drinks as the tables are set. We will begin finding our seats shortly.”

The heirs began filing off the dais, curious glances finding their way to her as they passed, but Tessa wasn’t paying attention. Her eyes were fixed on Dex and Oralia and her other friends who were staring back at her, a mixture of shock, anger, and grief on their faces.

A hand at her elbow startled her, and she looked up to find Theon towering beside her. “Come, Tessalyn,” he said in a soft command. “They have a room prepared for us.”

She didn’t know what that meant, but she allowed Theon to usher her off the dais, out of the grand hall, and into the corridor where they’d informally met a mere hour ago. What felt like ages ago.

They were escorted up a set of steps to a room at the end of another hall. Theon’s hand never left her arm. His touch was somehow right and unnatural all at once, and she was fairly certain she hadn’t taken a full breath since he’d called her name.

Tessa entered the room, stopping just inside the door. It wasn’t just a room, she realized, but a small suite of sorts. They were standing in a small sitting room. The sconces were low, creating an intimate environment. A plush sofa sat along one wall with a couple of throw pillows. A small table and two chairs were against the opposite wall with a pitcher of water and two glasses atop it, along with a small covered tray. An ornate rug of earth tones ran along the center of the room atop the cold marble floor. There was a doorway that led into another room. She could see the end of a bed, and that was all Tessa needed to see to know she didn’t want to step foot in that room.

“Do you have bags?” the Fae who had escorted them was asking, drawing Tessa’s attention back to her and Theon.

“Luka Mors will be bringing them later. They can be left outside the room. I will retrieve them when it is time,” Theon answered. “No one else is to enter this room. Am I understood?”

“Yes, my Lord,” the Fae answered, her eyes fixed on the ground.

“You are dismissed.”