Chapter 8

• Cielo POV
• "You would think so." My head shakes. "Forget about it. Tell me about your relationship with Eddy. Is the wedding still on graduation day?"
• She follows me to my couch with a small smile. "He actually broke up with me?"
• "What?" I insist. "When?"
• She frowns. "Monday. Can you even believe it? He claimed he only got engaged to avoid the Claiming. He was not going to wait until we were out of school to mark me. He was just taking advantage of me." Jenny's rage turns to hurt, and she begins sobbing. She collapses into my arms. I wrap my arms around her and allow her to cry.
• This is not unusual. You are exempt from the Claiming if you declare your intent to mate in front of the council and become "engaged." However, when you reach the age of twenty-two, you must be marked and mated. If the council suspects you of forging your engagement, the consequences are severe. That is why, after their final eligibility age for the Claiming, one couple will usually break up with the other. Jenny will be 22 years old next month. He could have waited; he is just a jerk. Especially the week before. I would be the first to start looking for Eddy, but that would also make Jenny an accessory. Perhaps I can deliver a dozen snakes to his dorm.
• From my bed, I hear my phone ring, and judging by the doomsday sounds, it is one of the council members. I ignore it and leave a message on voicemail. Speaking of the end of the world. "I know you do not need this right now, Jenny, but we have to get going."
• We have a ball coming up."
• She sighs and rests her head on my lap. "I do not want to leave."
• "I will tell you what. We appear for a short time to satisfy my mother, then return here to eat junk food, drink really good wine from my dad's office, and watch bad romcoms."
• "Really?" She asks, a little sniffly.
• "Two hours at most."
• She raises her head, wiping her swollen eyes. "May I prepare here?"
• "Girl, you are sleeping here too," I say, kissing her on the cheek, and we both stand.
• "I mean, we are about to be hunted through thick forest. I believe a sleepover is in order."
• "I will go get ready," she says, kissing my cheek. "I will come get you and drop off my belongings."
• "I am going to shower, let yourself in," I say as she walks away. I groan and throw my head back, hearing doomsday music again.
• When I finally answer the phone, I stomp to my bed, "Stupid bloody old micromanaging man with nothing-Councilmen Geoff, how can I help you?" I ask in a bright sweet voice that makes me mentally gag.
• His raspy voice is smooth and calm. "I heard you were attacked, Princess Cielo."
• How does the- "I was, indeed. While investigating the attack on the Moon Dune Pack, I was attacked by a rogue lycan."
• "By lycan? Are you in pain?"
• "Yes." He knows I have been attacked, but not my injury. "Just a deep scratch with Wolfsbane on it. "ÑI killed him before he could do anything worse."
• "Wolfsbane? Are you still able to attend tomorrow?"
• What are you talking about? Is that what he is after? "I-uh-yes, I think I can. It should be fine in a few hours."
• Before he responds, there is silence. "I was afraid you would have to sit out due to injury."
• "I did not want to be the one to tell you, but if you do not have a mate by the end of the Claiming, you will be assigned one by your twenty-second birthday."
• I bite the bile that is forming in the back of my throat. "I appreciate your concern, Councilman."
• "I eagerly await your response."
• His voice has a frown on it. "Are you going to let another one bite you?"
• "Nope. Councilman Geoff, farewell." I hang up the phone and ignore his follow-up call. I toss it on the bed and head to the shower.
• I work on drying my long ebony hair after I get out of the shower. It is already waving, so I curl it loosely to shape it, then twist it to the side to hide the deep claw wounds on my shoulder. I apply make-up to my face, concealing the blemishes on my soft round face. I carefully line and apply crimson red lipstick to my pink lips. I carefully trace my sky-blue eyes with eyeliner before applying silver eyeshadow and mascara. I put on the blasted silver mask, allowing a thin black glass to cover my eyes. I then put on a diamond choker to completely conceal any evidence of the mate bond. After last year's attempt to mark me during the ball, the choker has become almost mandatory. That individual was promptly shot and killed. Under no circumstances are you permitted to mark someone prior to the Claiming.
• After I have done my hair and makeup, I go into my walk-in closet to get dressed.
• I choose the gown that my mother has chosen for me for this occasion. I take a step into a nearly black sleeveless dress. The stitching of diamonds and crystals against the background creates the illusion of stars. The gown is floor length, and I need to wear heels to keep it from touching the ground. The slit ends at the top of my hip, leaving me with little room to move. So, it appears that I will not be wearing pants tonight.
• Jenny enters my room and says, "Ciel, you in here?"
• "I am just finishing up," I say, looking down at the long mark on my arm. I can still detect a faint odour of Wolfsbane. Rogue lycans are stupid. I mist myself with a scent-masking spray. You will be able to smell it even if you use a scent-neutralizing spray. I search for a pair of silver gloves and put them on. They are also jewelled, so they match the dress. The gloves reach up to my mid-bicep, completely concealing the scar.
• "Did you have time to grab some wine, Ciel?" she asks as I enter the room.
• I take up the dark green bottle and examine it. "I did not do it." Perhaps it was a gift from a suitor." I set down the bottle and smile at her.
• She looks stunning in a white gown. Jenny has curled her dark auburn hair and let it trail down to the white scarf she wears around her neck. Her cream-white gown has diamonds cut up the side, allowing the imagination to run wild.
• She grins as she puts on her white wolf mask. "It appears that I am not the only one wearing pants."
• "I think we should avoid sitting on cold stools," I say as I take her arm and lead her out of my room.
• I nod to Lucas, my little guard, and then turn my gaze to Jenny. "Have you decided what movie you are going to see tonight?"
• She sighs and shakes her head. "No, but I would like to eat cookie dough and pretzels tonight."
• "You are going to stalk that poor woman, are not you?" I open my mouth to respond when I hear a voice I have never heard before.