Page 5 of Their Lethal Pet

My lips flatten, my urge to protect her making my heart beat faster. Sage is like a sister to me. We grew up next door to each other, and she’s the same age as Serapina, which once made them good friends.

But with Serapina being gone, Sage and I have grown closer.

A significant portion of my extra entries these last four quarters were a result of me donating resources to her and her “outcast” mother.

And a few of my other entries were consequences of me being caught outside after curfew.

If only the Village Protectors knew my real reason for being out late all those nights…

Sage will have to take over that task once I’m gone. I’ve tried to prepare her, but the village security changes weekly. Unfortunately, that means her likelihood of getting caught is high. Just like it has been for me.

A few extra entries hopefully won’t result in her becoming an Offering for Monsters Night, because the young silver-haired girl isn’t made for that fate. She’s too small. Tooinnocent.

Although, the same could be said about Serapina.

And me, I realize, taking in my five-foot-two height.

Shaking my head, I step away from the mirror as bells begin echoing through the air.

“Shit,” I mutter.I’m going to be late.

Shivers traverse my spine, causing me to turn quickly toward the door, my veil clutched in one hand. Over two decades of training has instilled this response in my being. No matter how many times I rebelled these last twelve months, I can’t quite shake the need toobey.

Especially today.

While the brides and grooms are the mandatory participants in the ceremony, all families are mandated toreport to the town square to observe. Or rather,celebrate, as our Village Viscount requires.

Ice coats my veins as I think of our infamous Nightingale Village leader. He’s taken three brides in the last decade, his reason being a need to procreate and ensure our people survive. As a result of hissacrifice, he’s been granted more resources to help care for his growing brood.

Three more men have followed his example, and several others are considering the same path.

It wouldn’t bother me as much if they were choosing women close to their own ages. But all three of our Village Viscount’s wives are young enough to be his daughters. Hell, his latest pick could have been his granddaughter.

Not my problem,I tell myself as I wander down the dirt path that leads to our village’s only road.

Except the sounds of soft steps behind me have me pausing and glancing over my shoulder at Sage’s bowed head.

I wince as I think about her falling into a potential trap with these men. Her unique silver hair, bright blue eyes, and porcelain features have turned multiple heads her way these last six months.

She just turned twenty.

That makes her more than eligible in the eyes of those older men.

“We’re going to be late,” she whispers to me as she reaches my side and nudges me to continue walking.

“I just said that to myself a minute ago,” I say back to her, my lips curling. “What do you think they’ll do? Imprison me? Add another entry to that creepy-as-fuck cauldron?” TheChalice, as our Viscount calls it, is a sacred emblem in our village. It houses all the entries inside its eerie obsidian interior.

“Lina,” Sage admonishes, using my nickname.

I simply smile wider. “What, Little S? Worried they might jump out and seize me?”

Little Sis my nickname for her even though we’re only two years apart in age and roughly the same height. Something about her just feels so much younger to me, maybe because I still see her as the little girl who befriended my sister all those years ago.

“Yes.” Her bright eyes are earnest as she answers my sarcastically phrased question. “I’m worried… worried you’ll…” She swallows. “What if…? What if it’s a dozen again? Like when…?” She trails off, the statement finishing automatically in my mind.

Like when Serapina was selected.

The quota of Offerings changes every year, the number one that won’t be announced until our Village Viscount begins the ceremony.