Page 70 of Spirit Rites
“What do you—”
Five long blasts of an alarm of some kind sound, and I wait. “What was that?” Before she can answer, four short blasts sound.
Raquel meets my gaze. “Five blasts is always for an assembly of some kind. Today, it’s that your Jade Ceremony is taking place. The four short blasts are for the time.” I can tell the moment she decides to take charge. She pushes her shoulders back and rubs her hands together. “Okay. It's your Jade Ceremony. You are going to pass easily. There is absolutely nothing to worry about. You are more than worthy for our king, and the ceremony will show our entire kingdom that. Now, let’s get you looking the part.”
I have so many questions I want to ask, but I don’t get a chance because Rakel keeps me moving. “Put on the Jade outfit, and put these shoes on.” When I finish, she sits me in a chair and gets to work. She pins my hair up, using the set of pins she found in one of the bathroom drawers. I hadn’t even known they were there. She searches through a few more drawers and then finds lip stain, kohl for my eyes, and shade for my eyelids. She works quickly and efficiently. There’s a knock on the bedroom door, but she doesn’t slow down.
“Yes?” I call out.
“We need to get going, or we’re going to be late,” Taren says through the closed door.
“Thirty seconds,” Rakel calls back. True to her word, Rakel steps back less than thirty seconds later “Let’s go.” I don’t even get a chance to look in a mirror, but I wonder if that’s a good thing. This way, I can just assume that I look...good? Put together? I don’t even know, but I don’t get a chance to worry about it. Rakel ushers me out the door, and Taren all but pushes me down the hallway.
“We have to go fast.”
We leave Kaldar’s house behind, and I wonder if anybody thought to let Harper know what was happening. There was no time now. Taren keeps a quick pace, and I can’t help but notice there’s nobody around. “Where is everybody?”
Taren glances at me with a frown. “At the assembly.”
I come to a dead stop. “What?”
Taren and Rakel both turn back. Taren frowns at me. “We have to keep going, or we’re going to be late.”
But I can’t get past this thought. “Everybody’s going to be at the assembly?”
Taren blows out a breath, but it’s Rakel that answers. “Yes. Everyone in the kingdom attends the assemblies; it’s forbidden to miss.”
“I have to do the Jade Ceremony in front of the entire kingdom? Why didn’t anybody tell me?”
Rakel steps forwards and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Take a breath.” I do. “And another one.” Then she gets right in my line of vision. “The entire kingdom will be at your Jade Ceremony. There, now you know because we told you. Now, we have to get going. I don’t want those things to happen to you that Taren said will if we don’t go through with this. So, let’s go.” I find myself moving forward quickly. I don’t pay attention to where we’re walking; my mind is too busy conjuring up what it would be like to burn to death.
“Are you okay?” Rakel asks from right next to me. “Your face is really pale.”
“I’m just thinking of what it would feel like to burn to death from the inside out.”
She makes a terrible expression, but it’s Taren that responds. “Don’t. That’s not going to happen. You will pass just fine.”
We walk on the wooden walkway under the trees. We pass the Grove and keep walking. Eventually, I see a huge dome shaped building. “Is that it?” I ask, feeling a little sick.
They both nod, and I try to keep my breathing under control. Now that we’re closer, there are more people heading in the same direction as us. When we get close, Taren pulls me aside. “Kinsley.” At the seriousness of his tone, I look up. “Kaldar isn’there right now to protect you. I don’t know what’s all going to go down in there, but I won’t leave your side.” He blows out a breath.
“You’re scaring me,” I tell him.
“I don’t mean to, but I just want to prepare you. Whatever happens in there, keep your head held high and your shoulders back. That makes you look confident, and that’s how you need to appear. People need to know that you and Kaldar are a sure thing. Be ready for anything and just keep a blank expression on your face the best you can. I know you’re a super emotional person, but you can’t be in there.”
I frown at his words but nod because I get it. I knew the consequences of failing this test. I also knew that they’d waited until Kaldar left to call this assembly, and that didn’t bode well for me.
Chapter 33
“Kinsley!”
I turn towards the sound of the familiar voice and see Mae walking quickly towards us. She stops right in front of me. “I thought you were going to be late. I’m so glad you’re not. Oh, wow, I love your outfit. How are you feeling? Are you ready? You don’t look ready.” She gives a quick shake of her head. “But that’s okay, because we know you’re ready. Right? You’re ready?”
“Breathe, Mae,” Taren says in a calming voice.
Her eyes don’t leave mine. “I don’t know if I can. I’m so nervous for you.”
The sick feeling in my stomach intensifies. Rakel squeezes my shoulder. “I have to get in there and find my mate. Will you be okay?”
