Page 85 of A Hunt So Wicked
I looked at Becca, who looked shocked but not necessarily displeased. I don’t think any of us really knew what we were feeling or thinking. Except maybe Belinda, who was clearly crafted from dark magic and evil. We’d simply been through too much in too short of a time to process anything. That was probably on purpose.
Desmond approached the stage and stood, hand outstretched at the bottom of the stairs.
“My lady, the Faolan kingdom welcomes you. Will you accept my offer of marriage?” Desmond’s cheeks were flushed, though that could’ve been from the upsetting news he’d just gotten.
“I will,” Becca replied, stepping forward and gracefully walking down the three steps, slipping her hand into Desmond’s. The pair smiled at each other, and I wondered what Becca was actually thinking.
More clapping and shouts of excitement drowned the room, and when Desmond and Becca made it to their designated spot, everyone quieted down, eager for the next selection.
“Taj Ekpen has chosen Miss Ayla Moreland!”
Ayla had been badly wounded during the attack that happened at the stream on the first day of the hunt; so I wasn’t surprised when I heard her suck in a sharp breath, and I wasn’t the only one who heard.
Taj was already climbing the steps, something Desmond hadn’t done. My heart raced as he passed me and headed for Ayla. Surely he wouldn’t harm her?They all harmed you.
“My lady, are you well?” Taj asked, looking down at her. “If there’s anything you need…”
I was waiting for something to happen. The silence before a thunderclap had arrived, and I struggled to remain still.
Ayla’s bottom lip quivered, and my stomach sank. She wasn’t going to be able to keep it together. What would they do to her if she caused a scene? I looked back out to the crowd to see Ero’s reaction to this, but froze as I locked eyes on Corvus. His lips were moving, but there were no audible words if he was speaking. At least not from where I was standing.
“I’m just so excited!” Ayla blurted out, and my gaze snapped to her just as she launched herself at Taj, wrapping her arms around his torso.
My jaw dropped.
Taj chuckled, along with the rest of the room. “I am, too,” he whispered to her. “But I have to do this formally, so—” He removed her arms and held her hands before him instead, “The Ekpen Kingdom welcomes you. Will you accept my offer of marriage?”
“Yes, yes, of course!” Ayla beamed at him, and he escorted her down the stairs.
What in the Goddess’ name? Something wasn’t right. A voice in the crowd yelled out loudly in congratulations, and I slowly forced my eyes away from the newest pairing and stared ahead, confused. Corvus was mouthing words prior to Ayla’s abrupt change in behavior, but—surely not. However, when I worked up the courage to look behind King Ero, Corvus was there, glaring at me. My lungs didn’t seem to remember that I needed air as they seized in fear. Slowly, his glare morphed into a smug smirk, and I nearly jumped when a voice whispered directly into my ear.
“You may either accept your fate willingly, like a lady, or I will make you. Your choice.”
My choice? That wasn’t a choice, and Corvus knew that. They all knew that. I wanted to look away from his dark gaze but felt physically unable. Like he was holding my focus just to show me he could. Stubbornly, I wiped my sweaty hands on my skirt as the seconds ticked by. He lifted a dark brow, waiting for an actual response from me. Hating myself a little more, I nodded and sucked in a deep breath of air, actually feeling his influence lifting. Averting my eyes to the ground, I tried to slow my heart to a normal pace. It was impossible.
“Ciar Faolan,” Ero’s voice boomed, “has chosen Ms. Tiona Marnsi.”
“YES!” Ciar shouted and jumped in the air. I slyly watched as he proceeded to run to the stage and forego the stairs completely, clearing the jump in one go. “Hello again,” he waggled his brows at Tiona, who rolled her eyes back with a laugh.
Even Tiona, the girl who was the first to voice her opinion on what was in the woods, was about to accept a proposal of marriage from a wolf. One whose mental stability I questioned.
“The Faolan Kingdom welcomes you. I definitely welcome you,” he said, his voice deep.
“CIAR!” The Faolan king barked.
His eyes danced as he stared at Tiona. “Will you accept my offer of marriage?”
“I will.” She placed her hand into Ciar’s, and he acted like he was going to jump off the stage, but Tiona pulled his arm back. “If you use the stairs like a normal person.”
“Ohhh,” Ciar purred. “Yes, ma’am.” He winked and strutted to the stairs.
Several people laughed, including Isla. Part of me wanted to laugh. I really wanted to, but I couldn’t laugh when Corvus had just thoroughly threatened me. With Ciar being the eldest heir, Tiona had just secured her position as the next Queen of The Faolan Kingdom.
One by one, the number of women on the platform dwindled. I suspected that Mosi Ekpen didn’t get his top choice judging by the look of longing he gave Isla as he proposed to a woman I didn’t know very well. Another queen in the making. Nine of us remained, and only four men left without brides. I searched for Dair in the crowd, finding him easily towering above nearly everybody else. His brother Alden was saying something to him that caused him to smile. His entire face changed when he smiled, as if the weight of his duties washed away into nothingness, giving him a second or two of freedom.
Ero walked around the stone floor like this was a theater and he was putting on a performance worthy of an award. “The next four men displayed levels of cunning, strength, and dedication that warrant acknowledgment. Torin and Evander Volos, and Alasdair and Alden Oberon. Your kingdoms are lucky to have you, as are the women you have chosen to be at your sides.”
Polite applause started, and some of the other guys whooped in celebration, showing their support.
