Ready For It

I return to the party after spending a few minutes composing myself in my room, but instead of continuing to hunt men like it’s a sport, I decide to walk to the council table.

My father is standing on one side, drinking and laughing with King Kellan and Queen Alicia. Safe territory.

I reach them and hug my dad. I think he didn't notice my forty-minute disappearance, which is good. I grab a flute of champagne and join in their conversation for a while, taking their praise about my Interpack Mating Ceremony like it’s food and I’m starving.

My intentions were a little selfish at the beginning, but it’s going to help a lot of people. Once everyone else around the country hears about how successful this was, they’ll choose to take part in the next heat and then do it all over again next year. And before we know it, we will have tens or hundreds of new fated couples, a lot of new families and babies all around. So, yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.

“So, have you found someone new?” My dad a