The new Caelestis Academy students piled onto the platform, but I still refused.
Delani nudged me in the side. “You have to go up there, Maeve.” Her eyes showcased her concern.
I nodded slowly. “I'm going,” I said, but I still didn't rise.
I would go. I just needed a second.
“Then stand up,” she whispered.
“I will,” I snarled under my breath. My body and brain were at odds with each other, and Ijust needed a damn second.
My cheek twitched and my fingers jumped to apply pressure to the ache. Why couldn't my gems be presented on my hand like everyone else's? Then maybe I would have had a chance at hiding them. I could have worn a glove indefinitely…or cut my hand off.
I massaged the stones. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hide them.
Delani elbowed me again, harder this time. I turned to look at her face, caked with blatant fear.
“Maeve, if you don't go up there?—”
She didn't finish her sentence. She didn't need to. I knew what would happen if I didn't get my ass up there soon.
I bit my lip as I looked back at the platform. I contemplated for a brief moment if being killed was really a worse fate than the one I was about to walk into. In all honesty, I wasn't sure. But I knew for Delani and my mother, watching my execution would destroy them.
This would just be twelve years of my life. Not my whole life. As long as I survived.
I forced my body out of my seat, my gaze drifting towards a certain soldier as I stood. Oddly enough, he was staring at me with the same expression as Delani.
My brow lifted, and he noticed. But as soon as I rose to my full height, his attention dispersed.
That’s fucking weird.
Before I could think too hard about that encounter, my mother grabbed me by the shoulders. She forcefully turned my body, angling me towards the aisle. My feet dragged in the dirt as she directed me to the edge of our row, pushing me out and leaving me on display for peering eyes.
Too many eyes.
“Go, Maeve.Please.” My mother’s voice was a warning. Her hands dropped, then she turned from me and didn't look back. Not even for a second.
Her motives were not ill intended, but the sudden disregard for me caused a hole to burn through my heart.
Delani granted me a soft grin, then turned her attention from me as well, copying my mother’s apathy. My eyes watered as I watched them ignore me, but I refused to let any tears fall.
They knew how to play this game and win. They’d been battling with my anxiety for just as long as I had.
I drew a deep breath.I had to do this.There were no other options. Aside from death, which I had already ruled out.
Whatever courage had been burrowing inside of me broke loose, and I started forwards towards the platform. My whole body shook, but it continued moving.
Just like my family, I didn't look back.
Chapter
Five
Every year I was surprised to discover which gods found the most mortals worthy. A few years ago, only one man was chosen by the God of Light and Darkness, Jesper. He was given a topaz gemstone, along with the ability to manipulate shadows and create blinding light at will. The year before that, the goddess Sloane did not select anyone to give an emerald jewel to. That came as a surprise, because the Goddess of Nature usually gifted a large number.
I followed instructions and lined up in my row, giving my peers a quick glance and noting a lot of sapphire stones this year. Interesting. Wished I was one of them.
Once we were all stationed in our assigned groups, the king's advisor—whose name I learned was Lucan—began to hustle up and down each row. One by one, each new student gave Lucan their name, followed by the god or goddess who had chosen them. Lucan confirmed the details, then announced them to the crowd of Caelestians watching intently. In between each student, he took a moment to document the data on some parchment for the academy's census.
