24

Twenty Four

*Rafe*

"So what is your decision?" Rafael asked. We were taking our usual morning strolls along the halls.

"Decision on what?"

"The rituals. It requires you to bed one of the contestants. You have to pick one of them before nightfall. I think that... Jessica or the other lady, Aurora I think her name is, will be the best option for you."

I thought about Rafael's words. He was right. I needed to bed one of them and merge their blood with mine before the rituals began. That was the only way the goddess would accept it. If I ended up not picking anyone, the rituals would be a waste of time and the sources of our powers would be weakened. Or so my forefathers claimed. I didn't really believe in all these anyway.

"So," Rafael continued as he noticed I was still thinking about it. "Which one of them are you picking? Jessica or Aurora?"

I went silent. I knew deep down that I didn't want any of them. The one I wanted was Freya. She was constantly in my mind.

I co