Chapter Two Tresia

I don’t know how Veil magic works, but we know not to question it. As long as everything concerning tomorrow stays ritualistic, it’ll be amazing. I’ve attended several mating events and they’ve all been peaceful and beautiful. Other than lots of food, fun and laughter, nothing ever happens. There are some bedtime stories to keep kids in line with the different traditions or to keep us from getting funny ideas. There’s only one story for The Oracle’s Card tradition...

“Hey stupid, will you stop fantasizing about stuff and close your door so we can go already? I’m starving.”

Looking at Misha through squinted eyes, I show him a magazine to resend my earlier message. I swear Misha’s still a little kid when he’s around our parents. When they’re not around, he’s a totally different person. I don’t know, nor do I care what his issues are, but I can’t wait to move out of my parent’s house and in with my mate.

Seeing the magazine seems to have the effect I want it to have. “Stop calling me stupid. I’m top of our class, while you’re almost last. I’m not the one that made us late, again. I hope your mate is strong, both mentally and physically. After tomorrow you won’t have mommy to take care of you.”

Mom turns around to step in to defend her baby boy. The good thing is I’ve gotten used to tuning her out. Focusing back on the kid's bedtime story, I always thought it was made up until my second year of Veil studies at Uni. Boy oh boy was I mistaken.

Back before the veil appeared there was one mating tradition. The men would compete for the woman they wanted as a mate. They had to prove their worthiness. Not only to the female, but to her family. One year there was one female that a bunch of men wanting to mate with her, and she refused to choose. Everything went horribly wrong that day and now it’s used to scare the hell out of kids.

The men, I think there were six of them, all competed to win her, but they all kept tying. On the final day, the Elders announced that she was unable to mate, because the Gods aren’t indecisive. The story goes that the men tried to get to her and in the fighting, she was killed and so were all the men. The veil appeared shortly after that.

Everyone blames the guys for what happened, because they didn’t accept what the Elders decided. I can’t say I would have accepted their ruling either. You can’t teach and preach that everything happens for a reason, then turn around calling bullshit when something happens out of what you consider the natural order of things.

                                                                        Ryland

I don’t want to deal with tonight’s events. I know the guys are excited to check out all the available women, but it’s just going to end up like it has for the past five years, a big fat fucking zero. I refuse to play this game anymore. Well, I can say that, but it’s affecting all six of us, so I don’t have a choice but to play a long, for their sake.

Walking from the truck into the Gathering Hall goes a lot faster than I would have liked. That’s sort of my fault for allowing myself to walk in the middle and not in the lead. Lead sets the pace, so, we tend to have our slowest walker in front. The others made sure Arlo’s walking with me.

“Would you stop fucking mumbling to yourself? People already think there’s something wrong with us because we’ve gone through five mating rituals and we’re all still single.”

“I’m not mumbling. I’m complaining in a way that only you all can hear.”

“Mumbling.”

“No, not mumbling.”

“Jace.”

“What?”

“Feck off.”

“Awe is big daddy getting all up in his feels? Look, if nothing happens this year, then it’s nothing short of normal. However, there is a chance, although slim, we could each find our mate tomorrow. So, suck it up and at least act interested. If not for you, then us.”

Well, we do look good, but I’m still not getting my hopes up. I understand where Jace is coming from, but I guess I’m built a bit differently. One of us needs to stay mentally in the moment to catch the others. Poor fools. At least I’m ready with the snacks and alcohol this time.

Once we enter the Hall, we’re ushered to our table on the single-male side of the room. The parents are put in the middle and all the eligible ladies are seated on the opposite side of the hall. Of course, the joke was made that the females are on the right side to remind us guys of that fact. Hardy, Har, Har, whatever.

Looking around, I must admit there are a lot of beautiful ladies. Reaching over and lightly slapping Gavin a couple of times, “Who is that?”

“Who is who? Do you realize how many people are...”

Watching as his gaze follows down my arm, down my finger and straight across from us, he pushes my arm down and clears his throat. When I turn to face him, he has a don’t even think about it type of expression.

“What? It’s an honest question. So, answer me.”

“That’s Zoe. She’s as looney as they come. She may be gorgeous, but she played hide and seek the day the Gods were handing out intelligence points. As a matter of fact, I’m convinced she’s running a negative deficit.”

“Hey guys, hopefully this is all of y'all's year.”

I swear I’d growl, but it won’t do any good. If I hear one more person say something like that, I may lose my shit. We understand no one means harm by the statement, but this being year five, isn’t looking good for us.