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Carrying me.
Goddess above. But then what? My mind was blank. How did I get back here? Did he carry me all the way across campus back to my dorm? Was he still here? With that horror, I pried my eyes open and bolted up straight in my bed.
Scanning the room with newfound vigor, I let out a sigh when only Vallie’s amber eyes were staring back at me.
I slumped back into my bed, nausea creeping its way up my throat from the movement. I leaned back, hoping to land on my pillows, but instead, my head slammed into the wall. I groaned, rubbing the new bump until my fingers became entangled with the knots in my hair.
Vallie skipped over to me and plopped down on my bed. I didn’t know how she could be so lively. “So, tell me everything!”
“What happened last night? How did I get back here?” was all I could muster.
“What? You don’t remember? How lame. I wanted to hear all about it,” she frowned, pouting her gloriously red lips. “I was looking for you all over the party and couldn’t find you. Then Miles told me that you’d left with the Prince. I didn’t even know he was in LakeWood, but everyone was talking about it. I’m dying to know what happened.”
I recoiled deeper into my pillow as the volume of her voice escalated with each word. “You and me both,” I winced. “I didn’t know he was here either. I barely remember any of it, and I definitely don’t remember coming back to our dorm.”
Vallie’s black dress that I had on last night was folded neatly on my chair. My eyes shot to what I was wearing now. A black shirt that barely reached my mid-thigh was in its place.
My gut curdled, and I really thought I was going to vomit. This wasn’t my shirt. I tried to sort out my thoughts, to remember what happened. An image of me leaning against something black and touching a muscular abdomen was now stirring front and center.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, no, no.
Vallie seemed to come to the same conclusion I had. “It’s okay, calm down,” she said. It was no use. I started hyperventilating.
I still had my undergarments on, so nothing could have happened, right? But then the thought of him even seeing me in my underwear made me go red. I didn’t know if I was more embarrassed or enraged. I threw my hands over my head, flopping back down against the mattress as I groaned, not even caring that I landed on my sore ribs. A strong wooded scent filled my nostrils. I glared at the shirt I was wearing. “I hate alcohol.”
Vallie pried softly as if aware I was treading water, “You really don’t remember anything?” When I shook my head, she added, “Relax. I’m sure nothing happened, and even if it did, he will be your husband soon, right?”
She gently rose from my bed to finish getting herself ready. “Come on. You overslept, and our graduation is soon. We have to start getting ready.”
“Right,” I said as I followed suit and agonizingly lifted myself from the comfort of my bed.
Vallie was right. We were to be wed, so it wouldn’t be a big deal to anyone else, but it was to me. I wanted to remember my first time. I never thought I would even get a first time, but now that it was an unavoidable reality for me, I wanted to remember it. Maybe even enjoy it. Because the first time I had sex with someone from Tennebris, it would probably be my last.
When we finally reached theGreat Hall where our graduation was being held, I couldn’t help but notice the decorations and lights hung up for the celebration. Sparkling, twinkling strings hung low from the ceiling. It was beautiful. It was like looking at the night sky while still being indoors. I knew that LakeWood only splurged with the lights because Prince Noren was here. They just wanted to make a good impression for the future King of Tennebris. Normally, the only light was the dingy overhead one that hung in the center of the room. The Hall usually required many candles and torches on the walls to make it visible during the winter months or when the sun was blocked by clouds, but now it was blinding.
The front of the Hall had plastic chairs lined up facing the stage, similar to the banquet, just without the overly large ribbons. The back was filled with tables of different arrays of foods and drinks. My stomach growled in response, and I wanted nothing more than to stuff my face with whatever cheese and meat platters were on display.
As we were ushered to sit down in the chairs that corresponded with our names, I realized that the food would have to come later. The chairs were perfectly positioned to face the stage that housed our professors.
Our principal stepped forward to the microphone positioned in the center of the stage—another luxury in honor of Prince Noren.
He began addressing the room, “Congratulations to this year’s graduating class. It has truly been a blessing to teach each and every one of you here at LakeWood. With one hundred and eleven students here today, this is the largest class LakeWood has ever seen. You should all be proud. I urge you to remember your fundamentals as you begin to navigate your way through your wonderful new careers. Take the life path given to you with pride as you officially join the Tennebrisian society. But know that LakeWood will always be a home to you.”
He paused, glancing around the room. “Now without further ado, we will continue with what I know you have all been patiently waiting for. You want to know your official rankings and how you placed in the Trials. Let me explain how this will proceed. I will call you up one at a time to announce your official ranking. You will be given a folder by one of your former professors, detailing your ranking and what it means within your specialties.
“If you have a career path that requires higher education, there will be information provided about one of the two universities you must attend. Not everyone has been granted what they Trialed for. However, I think many will be pleased with how you placed. What is detailed in your folder is permanent. Whatever the High Council deemed as your job is final. There is no changing it. If you have any specific questions regarding your paperwork, do not ask until after the ceremony.
“Right before you walk off the stage, you will sit in the chair over there and get your ranking burned onto the back of your left wrist. Remember to wear your rankings proudly from this day forward. Every ranking is crucial and important to ensure our society continues to blossom. Each number comes together to make a whole.”
Principal Myers continued to ramble, but my attention was directed at the man standing to the side of the stage. A boiling iron cauldron with six different pokers to brand us with stood waiting, labeled from zero to five.
Everyone seemed antsy in their seats. I knew I would feel the same, anxious to find out my fate if I didn’t already know what my future held. I knew my ranking would be a zero. And I was sure my folder consisted of information on the Kingdom and the duties of being a Princess. Maybe all I would do was sit around and drink tea. I muffled a laugh at the thought.
I zoned out for the remainder of the speeches that I didn’t realize when the ceremony officially started. With the seats alphabetically arranged, my last name landed me a spot in the second row to the back.
“Miles Acker Hartlin. Rank three.” I couldn’t help but smile as Miles strode toward the stage.
“Valerina Alice Hartlin. Rank two,” Principal Myers continued. Good. Vallie could get an excellent job with a rank two. I would have to ask both of them what was listed in their folders.
