Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Well, now she knew everything.
And she probably had figured out that I knew everything.
I knew she would never understand that it was necessary, that it was the only way to protect the peace of our world. “Father?”
He continued to read. “What is it, son?”
“Do we have to continue the lottery?”
His eyes immediately flicked up, hostile.
“If what you say is true, there’re already a lot of people down there.”
“And what happens if we stop?” he asked. “We tell the citizens of Delacroix that we’ve suspended the lottery? How do you think they’ll react? It’s the one thing that keeps our subjects working hard every single day. It gives them something to work toward, because they can’t enter the lottery without money, and they can’t get money unless they work. Not only does it keep Necrosis fed, but it keeps order in this kingdom. Keep people busy…and they don’t cause problems.”
At nightfall, I walked along the cobblestone streets and watched the torches get lit one by one. Effie lived farther into Delacroix, so it was a long walk, requiring a couple turns down the alleyways.
I was there early, but I couldn’t wait any longer.
When I arrived at the front of her house, I saw the carriage.
I remained hidden around the edge of the next house, recognizing the guards from the castle.
Why would they be there?
Did they see Effie with me the other night? Even if they had, that wouldn’t explain this. Lots of girls came and went. It remained a dirty secret that no one ever spoke of, so I couldn’t imagine anyone would rat Effie out, especially when they had no idea who she was.
So why was the carriage here?
I snuck down the alleyway and approached her bedroom window. After taking a quick peek inside, it didn’t seem like anyone was there, so I pushed on the frame and made the window crack open. “Sweetheart?”
She must have been in bed because she came into view a second later. “Oh, thank the gods.” She pushed the window higher so we could come close together and whisper. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come in time.”
“Come in time for what?” I asked. “Why’s the carriage here? Are you in trouble?”
“Trouble?” she asked, bewildered. “No. My family won the lottery.”
Oh shit.
Her face lit up in a way it never had before, her green eyes bright with their own luminance. “You should see my dad… I’ve never seen him so happy.”
My face must be pale as milk, because her happy reaction slowly faded.
“Ryker?”
What were the fucking odds?
“I was hoping you’d come by…because I wanted to say goodbye. I thought that was why you were here early.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“We both knew this was going to end anyway. It sucks it didn’t last longer, but…” She gave a shrug. “It was fun while it lasted, right?”
When my mother died, I was heartbroken. When my sister was taken, I was heartbroken then too. That was why I recognized the feeling in my stomach so quickly—because I’d felt it enough times. “Effie, look…the lottery isn’t what it seems. Tell them you’ve forfeited your prize.”
It took her a long time to say anything, to overcome her puzzled expression. “What…?”
“Just trust me, okay?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? My family has already packed their things.”
“Effie, the lottery is a lie—”
“Effie!” A man’s voice came from behind the door. “It’s time to go.”
She kept her eyes on me. “I’ll be right there.”
He tried the door, but it wouldn’t budge. “Why’s this locked?”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I have to go.”
“Effie, don’t do this—”
She cupped my cheeks and kissed me goodbye. Quick and sterile. There was no passion, not anymore. Then she shut the window and closed the curtains.
I stared at my own reflection in the glass, seeing the sheer white of my skin and the emptiness in my eyes. “No…”
I ran down the hallway straight to my father’s quarters. “Father!” I tried the knob but it was locked, so I banged my fists against the wood until I got his attention. “Come quickly. It’s urgent.”
The guards didn’t rush me like they would somebody else, but they did grip their swords to prepare for whatever news I was about to deliver.
He finally opened the door, his appearance disheveled, his hair a mess. “Ryker, what is it? Are we under attack?”
“No. We have to stop the lottery.”
In the most dire circumstances, my father had a wildness to his eyes, as if he was prepared to carve out the eyes of anyone who was a threat to his kingdom. He was in his breeches and tunic, his sword in his hand rather than the scabbard. “The lottery? What is it? Have they discovered the truth?”
“I know the winner, so I need to stop this.”
All the tension in his muscles left his body. “What do you mean, boy?”
“My friend and her family won the lottery…so we can’t do that to them. We need to give them land in the Capital like we promised.”