Page 105 of Daughter of Garnet

Dominic looks like he's the one whose heart is broken. "Please, Zoe. Please." Honesty rings out from his pleading words. He falls to his knees in front of her and bares his neck. "It doesn't need to mean anything. Let me protect you."

Zoe regains control of her dragon as the partial shift fades, then stands. "The Hierophant isn't a nobody. The Archon won't be able to get rid of him easily. We need to get to Cameron." She looks down at the Alpha supplicating himself in front of her. "I'm sorry, Dominic. I'm not tying myself to you forever."

It's risky, trying to get to Cameron in the chapel when that is where the ceremony is being held, but he really is our best choice. He's not expendable like Ray, nor a cunt like Dominic.

Yeah, he choked me out the first time we met, but I'm over that now. It showed that he'll protect her from anything and everything.

"Let's go, then. We have to be quick." I grab Zoe's hand and haul her to her feet, then lace our fingers together and take off for the chapel. Viv is right beside us.

I'm vaguely aware that Dominic is behind us, but I don't spare him a glance.

It's his fault she's in this situation.

The chapel is in view when Professor Hayes, who teaches Designation Hierarchy, steps in front of us, cutting us off.

"Oh, good thing I found you three! The ceremony is about to begin. Let's get you to the chapel." He glances over my shoulder, confirming Dominic is still there. "Thank you so much, Dominic, for gathering them up for us. Are you going to watch the ceremony? We only have room for so many Alphas, but I know your father will have no trouble finding a place for you."

Hayes moves behind us to walk abreast of the Alpha. Our chance of going for Cameron is gone for as long as we're under his watchful eye. Maybe Dominic can distract him enough for us to sneak off?

"I'll be there, yes. I'm… excited to see what happens." If Hayes hears the falseness of his words, he doesn't let on.

"Hurry up, you three. Let's go." Hayes is on our heels, and our window of escape is gone; the chapel is right in front of us. The only hope Zoe has now is of Cameron claiming her in front of everyone.

It looks like almost every Alpha from the institute is out on the grass in front. The doors are open wide, and a line of Betas is filing through. Some actually look excited, as if they might receive a Blessing this time.

Hayes stays on our asses until we're through the door and sliding into a pew. I look around for the Hierophant, but Cameron is not on the pulpit. Four high priests are there, each standing behind a podium with the stones. They have cords woven into their robes in their God's colors, all having two except Ilota's high priest, who has three.

The Archon walks behind Cameron's lectern. He addresses the gathered crowd with a broad, blindingly white smile that doesn't reach his eyes.

"Thank you all so much for joining us for our first mid-year ceremony. Isn't this exciting?" There are murmurs of agreement from the gathered Betas, but just as many look unhappy to be here. I'm sure there are many who, like me, have no desire to be anything but a Beta.

The Director of the Institute steps forward and holds up a thick stack of papers. "Let's begin with Aaron Joesph."

CHAPTER 50

Zoe

Four stones, representing the four Gods, rest on pedestals at the front of the stage. One by one, each Beta must place their hand on the stones and wait to see whether a God has chosen to grant them a designation.

Again.

As the names are called, the Betas are instructed to touch the stones, forgoing the need to strip to nothing. I imagine they don't expect many to shift, so a few pieces of clothing as casualties are an acceptable risk.

I look around for a sign that Cameron is here, watching, trying to put a stop to this, but he's nowhere to be found. Why isn't he here?

Dominic's warning rings in my ears. Should I have taken his advice and bonded him?

He's hurt me, sure, but he seemed genuine, and I know how crucial it is that his father not know what I am. If he has to, is it such a bad idea to already be tied to one of the people the Gods chose for me? Kashmyre must have had a reason to put us together.

For what may be the thirtieth time since I heard what was happening, I call out for Ilota in my mind, but she doesn't respond. I even try to speak to the others, but they're all silent as well. I wonder if they can only speak to their Blessed?

The process is arduous, four times the size of my original ceremony, and I know I'm going to be at the end. Cliff, however, is one of the first, since they're calling us by first name again.

I can see his hands shaking as he lays one on each stone. He knows better than anyone that someone shifting into an Omega right now is not a good thing. I doubt they'd be allowed to stay at the Institute at all. Most likely, they would be swept away by the Archon to be used like all the others.

Cliff's trembling reaches a fever pitch as he places his hand onto Ilota's garnet. I grip my pendant as he does, praying Ilota won't Bless him with this burden as she did me. She wouldn't be so cruel, would she? Five counts go by, and he removes his hand, shoulders slumping in relief.

That's one of us who is safe.