Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
“That’s fine. You aren’t staying here. Don’t argue with me. There was a mix up, and Shavon realized someone was booked into two homes. One is yours. She got it all ready. She was coming to tell you when I ran into her and said I would bring you. She had to run and get ready for dinner. Now grab your bag, and let’s go.” River pretended he didn’t see the tears and grabbed Araiya’s bag. He offered her a hand, which she used to pick herself off the floor. They left the hut and walked away in silence. River didn’t know what to say to a woman in this situation, something that would make her smile or something that wasn’t cruel.
He never dealt in sweetness or kindness towards the opposite sex. River had yet to be blessed with a mate, so he was at a loss. He didn’t know how to act or make her feel better. When you are someone’s mate, it comes naturally. You change. He had seen it thousands of times, watching younger males find their moons. He watched even the most battle-hardened male find his moon and watched her pull the tides of change in the male. He becomes exactly what she needs when she needs it. He reached over and awkwardly patted her back.
Araiya laughed, he was so sweet sometimes, but he was being super awkward right now. Her mom always told her that men became useless around tears, and it turns out she was right. River looked over while she chuckled and smirked.
“What is so funny?” He smiled back at her, confused. Araiya just laughed harder and shook her head.
“You just reminded me of something funny my mom used to say. Are we almost there? I’m sure we are running out of time to get ready.”
River looked into the darkening sky. “You have a little time, but you are right. Dinner will be soon, but thankfully we are here.” River opened the door to her new place, and she gasped. It was amazing. She ran over to the bed and sat down. It was so big and comfy. River watched as she ran around and looked at everything. She ran over to the basket of sweets and saw the note. She looked at River with a question on her face.
“That note is from Shavon. I am assuming that she wanted to explain some things to you. You read that and get ready. I am conveniently next door to you. I will get ready and come back to escort you to dinner. The bathing chamber is this one. I’ll get the bath ready for you before I leave.” He entered the room, and she heard water pouring into the tub. “The other door is your dressing room. I don’t know how much you have been told about training and the initiation. We have a few weeks of basic training until the next new moon. You are to wear the plain black robes until the day after initiation, which will assign you a province and color. Everyone will go over what your days will look like for the next few weeks.” River walked back into the room. “I need to get ready and reach out to a few people. Read your note and get ready.” River leaned over and gave Araiya a soft kiss on her forehead right before he left.
Araiya,
I am so very sorry for how I treated you. I don’t know if you know this, but I knew your stepsister. I have hated her for so long and thought the Goddess chose wrong when your name was chosen. Growing up, I knew you weren’t treated as well as Korine, but I still thought you would be the same as her. Korine always got what she wanted, including other girls’ men. The year that I was chosen, Korine had stolen my fianc?. I wasn’t going to enter, but I found them together. I was saving myself for marriage, but that didn’t seem to be the case for your sister. I joined the Choosing with a broken heart, but I found my path here, with Tal.
When we were on our way here, I saw how Tal was nice to you. How you two just seemed to click, and I became jealous. I thought yet again a Hill sister was here to steal my love, and I made horrible choices. You are not your sister. Tal is not my ex. Bond mates are different from fianc?s, and I betrayed you and Tal for acting as such. Please believe how sorry I am, it wasn’t you at all. Just my insecurities and an outdated outlook.
I hope you understand where I am coming from. Becoming Chosen doesn’t change your past trauma but opens a new life entirely. It just takes a while to get past these facts and grow. I swear to you I will never allow this to come between us again. I hope you forgive me and let me help you grow into one amazing Chosen.
Sincerely,
Shavon
Araiya remembered that little coup that Korine pulled last year. Korine was so proud of herself. Araiya hadn’t realized that the engaged young man was Shavon’s fianc?. Korine just paraded him into the house the week before the Choosing. Ellis was his name. She had entered the parlor Araiya was cleaning and sat him down.
“My father will be happy to hear that you have broken your engagement off with that whore you were going to marry, Ellis.” Korine sat on his lap and stroked his cheek.
“Well, my dear, I would have sooner. I just had to convince my family it was the right choice. I have always wanted you, and now that I have you, I won’t let you go.” Ellis nuzzled her neck, and Araiya almost threw up. The poor fool didn’t know what he was getting himself into. Korine didn’t actually want him. She knew this was just a ploy to keep the families away from each other and stay weaker than him. Araiya listened to her stepfather and Korine come up with the plan weeks ago. She would have warned the couple if she caught any names, but she hadn’t.
Korine played the besotted fool well, for one single measly week. Until the day after that year’s ritual, if Araiya remembered correctly. Ellis had come over in the morning when Araiya was completing her chores when the shouting started.
“What do you mean it is over? I ended my engagement with her. I broke her heart for you. I loved her, and now she is gone. For what? Was this a game to you, ruining people’s lives? I can’t believe this! I was stupid enough to believe you ever actually cared for me. I ruined everything just to get in between your whore legs. It wasn’t worth it, and you will regret this. I promise that I will ensure you will never get who you truly desire. I will ruin every marriage proposal you receive. No one wants to marry a whore who opens her legs for nothing but a game.” The door slammed, and the house grew quiet. Korine laughed and went up the stairs, never giving that boy and his words a second thought.
Araiya got up and placed the note on the desk. She had wasted enough time on memories of her past. Now it was time to get ready. She quickly got undressed and walked down into the tub. River must have scented the water with a few oils. The blend of aromas was thick in the air and clung to her skin. She quickly washed and got out to dry off and get dressed. She stared at herself in the mirror and tried to figure out how she should do her hair. She quickly brushed her long hair out and sectioned it off. She styled her hair with two small braids on either side of her head and tied the rest of her hair back with the four braids. She quickly lined her eyes with kohl and painted her lips red, thankful there was makeup in her basket. It helped her feel more confident about going to dinner. She was so nervous that she was shaking as she got dressed. The robes were light and silky and felt almost like nothing on her skin. It was almost like a dress. It wrapped around her body and was tied on the side. The black robe fell down to her ankles. She had just slid on her boots when she heard a knock, and her door opened. She looked up at River in his blue robes, which were a different style. His robes looked thicker and just lay over his clothes. She got up from the chair and walked over to the door.
“You look different in your robes, River. Older, and if possible, even more serious.” River chuckled. “Am I always going to be dressed in this flimsy thing? I would much prefer the over-the-clothes look.”
“You get proper robes once you make it through training. This helps us find what position you will be taking, what color robe you will need, and what style of robe you will need. Your robe, for clarification, is geared toward healers. It’s light and tighter, so it stays out of the way while you heal another. It has a second flexible layer that is almost like armor. My robes are geared towards fighting. Let’s go.” River held out his hand toward her.
The meeting area was just an open square filled with tables and chairs. Running along the side, there looked to be a serving area, but it was already empty. River nodded towards a table where Tal and Shavon were already seated. They walked over, and the two stood up as soon as they noticed them coming over. Shavon looked at Araiya with guilty but hopeful eyes. At the same time, Tal was just his usual smiling self.
“Araiya, River. We figured you two would be late, so we made you a plate each. Hope you can eat fast, kid, because you are almost out of time.” Tal smiled and waved them to sit down.
“Araiya, I hope you like your cabin. Did you read my note?” Shavon looked hopeful as they all sat down. Tal tensed up while River and Araiya started to eat.
She swallowed what was in her mouth and took a drink. “Yeah, I read your note. Shavon, I don’t know what to say to you. My stepsister is a huge bitch. She did that to you because my stepfather decided your two families were getting too powerful, and together it would hurt him. She went out of her way to ruin your relationship. I can’t tell you how sorry I am about that. I would have warned you if I had known who the plan was about. Tal is a better man than Ellis, and even though I know it hurts, believe me, I know.” Araiya grabbed Shavon’s hand. “I do feel like you are where you were meant to be. That being said, I am not my sister. I wouldn’t ever try to get in between a couple. The fact that you thought I would, well it hurts, but I also understand that we don’t really know each other. So how about we forget about everything and start fresh.” Araiya smiled at Shavon and went back to shoveling food into her body. Shavon blew out a breath that she was holding and smiled at Tal. He nodded and smiled back. Everyone around them were whispering, but Araiya ignored everything but her food.
“Oh, look, it’s the Chosen no one wanted.” Tamara walked up to the table and leaned over Araiya. Tal and River snapped their heads around to look at the girl. Araiya kept eating, ignoring her. “What nothing to say? You run away, and they drag you back here. You wasted everyone else’s time and have nothing to say for yourself.”
“Tamara, I have already told you…” Shavon started.
“Who are you?” River slowly stood up.
Tamara finally noticed River and stood up from Araiya. She smirked and sauntered over to him. “I am Chosen Tamara Black, handsome. Who are you?”
“You are a new recruit, are you not?”
“Yes, I am. I was truly Chosen, unlike Araiya here. She was tossed in at the end.”
“So, let me understand, how are you a recruit yet act like you speak for the Goddess? Someone who, if I am correct, has never even spoken to you. You, who hasn’t even come through initiation, deem yourself worthy enough to say with such certainty what the Goddess thinks and feels about Araiya. That is a very high opinion you have of yourself there, young one.” River looked down at the girl with obvious distaste.
“Who the fuck are you to talk to me like that? You weren’t introduced, so I am assuming you’re just a nobody walking around here, talking down to a Chosen,” Tamara shot back, trying to stand tall under River’s gaze.
“Tamara, I am telling you this in the best way possible. You do not want to anger Lord River.” Shavon stood up. “I know you have gone through the welcome ceremony. So, I know without a doubt that you know that there is a council who rules over all Chosen.”