Two

**KELILAH'S POV**  

The rest of the night passed in a tense, suffocating silence, but the morning was even worse. For as long as I could remember, our family had never been selected for this cursed ritual. But today... today, I feared we wouldn’t be so fortunate.

Loveth barely spoke a word, her lips tightly pressed together as she toyed with the hem of her dress. Mother, toowas uncharacteristically silent, nervously chewing on her fingers—a habit she never indulged unless things were truly bad. Father seemed calm, but his eyes betrayed the worry that lay beneath his composed exterior. As for Tyra, she appeared indifferent, her focus elsewhere, though I knew she cared deeply. She just couldn’t express it in the same way.

I took a quick shower, trying to wash away the growing anxiety, before slipping into the red dress Loveth had given me. By the time I joined the others in the living room, the sun was already high in the sky. Late again, a habit I couldn’t seem to shake. Normally, Father would give me a stern look, but today, he didn’t even acknowledge my tardiness. We all knew what loomed over us.

Without a word, we piled into the car, heading to the gathering of royalty. Mother and Father whispered quietly to each other in the front, their voices too low to catch, while Loveth and I stared out of the windows, lost in our own thoughts. The air was thick with dread.

When we arrived, the hall was already crowded with familiar faces, many of them as grim as ours. We found an empty spot by the window and took our seats in silence. I scanned the room, noting how some families, those whose daughters were still too young, seemed lighter in their mood, whispering among themselves as though today was just another formality. I envied their ease. Self-preservation, I thought. They didn’t have to worry—yet.

I glanced at Loveth, her face pale. "Do you think it’ll be us?" she asked quietly, her voice almost a whisper.

I couldn’t lie to her, not now. “I don’t know,” I said softly. It was the most truthful thing I could offer. We both knew our chances were high—two daughters of age, a family never chosen before. The odds weren’t in our favor. Loveth looked away, and I wished I could say something, anything, to ease her mind. But nothing I said would change the reality of what might come.

Time dragged on, every passing second a reminder of the fate that awaited us. My heart pounded louder with each minute. Finally, Nathan, the high priest, entered the hall with his family. His face was solemn, as it always was during the selection, burdened by the role he had to play. The ritual might have been an agreement from generations ago, but that didn’t make it any less cruel.

"Sorry for the delay," Nathan apologized as he ascended the podium. His voice was calm, almost soothing. He was always respectful, always dignified, even in moments like this. The murmurs in the crowd ceased, and a tense silence filled the room. 

Moments later, Jackson entered. His tall frame and striking silver hair immediately caught my attention, as it did everyone else's. His presence was commanding, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. I smiled and waved when his eyes met mine, but it did little to settle the knot in my stomach. I could swear on my life that I all the princesses present here has their eyes on him.

“Let us begin,” Nathan’s voice echoed through the hall, pulling everyone’s focus back to the front. 

“All princesses present today, please step forward,” he announced.

With a nervous glance at Loveth, we stood and walked toward the podium with the other princesses. My legs felt like lead as we took our seats, and when I looked back at the crowd, my stomach dropped. The number of eligible girls had dwindled this year, many having left or been quietly whisked away by their families before the selection could happen. Smart, I thought. If only we had done the same.

“As usual, five families will be called, and we’ll keep eliminating until we get to the last family. So once you hear your last name, please stand”, the assistant said as he began calling out names.

"I’m scared," Loveth whispered, her voice trembling. I didn’t respond this time. I was scared too.

Nathan’s assistant began the ritual, calling out names one by one. “Sean, West, Edwards, Lucianos...” 

Each name sent a ripple through the hall as girls stood, eyes wide with dread. We were still seated, but the tension only grew. Finally, the assistant's gaze landed on me, and my heart seized in my chest.

“Don’t call us. Don’t call us”, I prayed mentally. 

“Anderson,” he called out.

Time seemed to stop. He had called our name. Our name.

Loveth and I exchanged a horrified glance, both of us too frozen to move.

My heart thumped wildly in my chest and I was sure it was the same for Loveth. One look at her and I could see her shaking like a vegetable.

 "Anderson, please stand," the assistant repeated.

Slowly, as though my body no longer belonged to me, I rose to my feet, Loveth following beside me. I couldn’t look at her; I didn’t dare. If I saw the fear in her eyes, I might break down completely.

"Edwards and Lucianos, you may sit," the assistant announced. 

Sighs of relief echoed from the dismissed families, but for us, the nightmare was only just beginning. The selection had narrowed. My heart pounded so violently I was sure everyone could hear it.

“Sean, take your seat,” the voice called again.

We were down to two families—us and the Wests. I closed my eyes, praying desperately. We had never come this close before. Never had our family been drawn into the final selection.

"Please, not us," I begged silently. "Let it be the Wests. Just not us."

The assistant’s gaze swept over us again, and for a brief, agonizing moment, the hall was silent. 

“I will be more obedient and respectful. I’ll take my responsibilities seriously. But please let us seat”, I kept on praying. 

I didn’t care that I sounded selfish at this moment. But I will be happy if they picked the West’s over us, and there was no denying it. 

And then he spoke.