Mistress of the Veil

The day of my college graduation is the day before my family’s traditional card draw. I’m excited to be finished with college, but everything about today is rehearsed and predictable. Graduating college is the culmination of years of dedication, blood, sweat and tears. It proves that all my hard work was worth it. The card drawing is what has my emotions all over the place. It’s not rehearsed. It’s not predictable and it means everything. It’s literally the most important decision of my life and I have no control over it. It’s all left to the Veil Fates.“Tresia are you ready yet? I really wish you’d stop locking your door. It really is rude. No one here would even think of just barging into your room without permission.”How is it that she doesn’t see how she contradicts herself with that statement? If my door wouldn't have been locked, she would have just barged into my room. The only reason she didn’t was because I mentioned locking the door. Gaslighting at its finest.“Mom, walk

There they are the un-mate able six pack. This is their fifth time attending the mating tradition and if they aren’t mated this time, they have to move to the outlands where all the unmated are sent. If the traditions don’t mate you, then you’re never allowed to mate. I’ve heard horrible things about the outlanders.In high school, we’re taught that when someone is sent to the outlands, they never know love or the touch of another. We were told stories that they tried mating by their own rules once, but the Elders ordered all the Veil bastards killed. That’s too far for me. They’re babies for fuck’s sake. What harm could they have caused?Scanning the room, I lock eyes with Ryland, I notice all of them are looking at me. They’re all gorgeous, but I can breathe easily knowing harems are against the laws of the Veil. No one has to worry about that one. I wouldn’t mind one of them being for me though.It’s obvious no one wants to be here. It’s nothing more than grandstanding in my opinio

“You sentenced him to death for an immature prank! I know I’m pissed off at him for doing it, but there’s no way I actually wanted him sentenced to death. He’s my twin brother for fuck’s sake!”“Tresia, you have to understand that laws are...”“I know why the damn laws exist, but I also know choices exist too and you could have made the choice to do anything else to him, but you didn’t. Mom, Dad, let’s go to the Oracle’s Temple at the Seat of Crown, so I can pull my card. It seems the elders have decided our family’s tradition should balance on the edge of a cliff.”While dad’s seeing everyone out, I’m trying in vain to get mom to breathe and calm down. There isn’t shit we can do about Misha, but hopefully my mate can begin to fill his void in mom’s life. It’s not the same, but at least it’s something.It took dad and I a few hours to get mom to come around. Giving her time to clean up, dad and I watch the day slowly pass by when we finally make it to the Oracle’s Temple. I technicall

The Castle of the Veil, also known as the Veil Warden Academy, is a beautiful place, which is completely opposite to everything we’ve been taught our entire lives. It’s styled and decorated in the Renaissance era, and the courtyards are beautifully kept sitting areas. The entire vibe of the place is live and let live but respect each other.What in the feck is wrong with that? Why all the stories? Nothing I was taught from kindergarten to graduation is true. Why did they feel they needed to play all the cloak and dagger games? I am so confused but mostly, I’m angry as hell about losing my mate.“I don’t know why you’re upset, Misha. You knew what was going to happen. Everything was explained to you by one of our Dream Walkers. He was able to prove every detail to you so that you would believe him and set certain events in motion. As we’ve already told you, your sister and parents are alive and well.”I know that complaining isn’t going to accomplish anything other than annoy them and

“Ryland, you need to start talking to me. Everyone seems to know what’s going on, except me. I mean, I know my brother is gone. We just left my parents in the middle of nowhere and now we’re in the truck, on a trail up a mountain I didn’t know existed.”I hate that she’s been kept in the dark, but to be honest, we all have been, to a point. Her tears are what’s breaking me. So much has happened in a couple of days. Scooting over to sit beside her, I take a deep breath and ready myself for everything I need to tell her.“Tresia, listen. We don’t know everything. I wish we did. It might make whatever’s coming easier to handle. I’ll tell you what we do know, so bare with me.First of all, everything you were taught about the last Veil Mistress is a lie. Well, except the six mates. That part is true. The Elders at the time became threatened by her and her men. The reason she’s only referred to as Mistress is because her name was stricken from all records. Your six’s parents were told her