you’ve already found household help, I thought it appropriate that you have the house and mate to go with it.”
I blink as I process what she’s telling me. “Excuse me?”
“You didn’t think I’d let your stunt go unpunished, did you?” She taps her finger against the desktop. “You made me look like a fool. I had to stand before the Council. The Council, Lark.” She grinds her teeth. “I had to explain how such a thing could happen. But that isn’t all. No, I had to address our Society and wipe the memories of every single person watching the morning feed.
“Do you know how taxing that was?” she asks. I shake my head. “Let’s just say, the reason I haven’t called you in earlier is because I’ve been indisposed.”
My skin crawls as she glares at me. I slouch in my chair and study my shoes. Mother may be upset about having to address the Society, but my mind’s stuck on the fact she thinks I need a house and a mate.
How can I have a mate when I’m already bound to Beck?
“Are you determined to make my life difficult?” Mother asks.
“No.” My voice comes out strong, not at all nervous, which surprises me.
Mother gives a half-laugh. “The problem is, you don’t think.” She shoves her tablet toward me. “You’re too impulsive. That’s the first thing you need to learn: think before acting. Otherwise, you’ll get into trouble every time.”
A neatly stacked three-story house covers the screen’s surface. “This is your new home. Apparently, that human pet of yours ended up in the wrong round up. She was supposed to be shipped to your home. At least that’s the story I told the council.”
“My house? I’m going to live on my own?” As the words leave my mouth, I realize what’s coming and I recoil. Horror inches up my spine, leaving paralysis in its wake.
Mother snaps her fingers and an image of a boy I’ve never seen before floats before me. “I’m not a monster, so I’ll let you have some say. You can have this one, or this one.” She snaps her fingers again and another boy’s image appears to her left. “Both are from excellent Dark families and both are willing to do whatever it takes to climb the ranks of State. That includes lying about the true nature of your relationship.”
The room sways around me. This can’t be happening. Breathe, Lark. Breathe. “Surely, you’re kidding. I’m bound, remember?” Hysteria creeps into my voice.
“And you remember that it’s to a boy you despise.” Her words cut like a knife.
My heart burns in my chest and I struggle to stay seated as the pain rips through me. “No.”
“Yes. You despise him and everything he stands for.” Mother drums her fingers against her desk. “You will pick one of these boys. Or Kyra and Maz won’t be celebrating their binding, and your human pet will find her way to a work crew in the far north. I guarantee this.”
Pounding fills my ears as my eyes flit between the two images. I can’t be bound to either of these boys. Not when I’m bound to Beck. Not when I love him.
But I promised Kyra I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. That I would protect her from Mother. My eyes glaze over as I realize I don’t have a choice. If Kyra means anything to me, I have to do this.
With my heart in my throat, I study my two choices. Both boys have a similar look: dark floppy hair, strong jaws, slightly oval-shaped brown eyes. The absolute opposite of Beck. They remind me of…Ryker.
A thought bubbles in my mind and even though I try to push it away, it latches on and doesn’t let go.
Maybe…maybe Ryker could be my mate?
Heat floods my body and I shake my head vehemently. No. I can’t ruin his life. It’s not fair.
An image of Ryker in his Enforcer uniform, standing on the front porch of my new home, dances behind my clenched eyes. A smile stretches across his face and my heartbeat slows. Perhaps this will be good for him, and with Mother’s blessing, he’ll advance rapidly.
Yes, I actually think Ryker would benefit greatly from this arrangement. And unlike the two boys Mother has chosen, Ryker knows me. More importantly, I know him, and I believe he’ll respect my wishes.
“I’ll agree to be bound,” I say, narrowing my eyes, “if you let me select him. On my own.”
An amused look crosses Mother’s face. “Why would