Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
“You want me?”
“More than you could know, but tasting you was more than I thought it would be. Your nectar is addicting, and I will be savoring your taste for years to come.” River walked to her and grabbed her face. “You are beautiful and intoxicating Araiya. I want to spend every day unraveling you so I know everything about you, but today has proven that I can’t be here.”
“What?” River leaned his forehead against hers.
“Zeph attacked you because of me. He didn’t like what I said about you or that I was giving you attention. If I stay, he will come back and find another reason to hurt you.” River kissed her. Tingles shot down her spine and her toes curled; the kiss was amazing. Before she was ready it ended, leaving her breathless.
“Don’t go.”
“I have to. I need to protect you. Even if it’s from my own family. You are too important to me.”
“River I…” River kissed her again on the lips and once on her forehead.
“I drew you a bath to clean up. I will put everything back in order here while you’re in there. Eat and then rest. Your body is still healing, and you have training tomorrow.” River pulled her to the bathing room and helped her strip out of her remaining clothing before placing her into the hot water. “I will see you again. Until next time Araiya.”
“Until next time River.” River walked away from her and closed the door. Araiya listened to him move her desk back and shuffle around for a few minutes before someone knocked. The door opened, a quiet conversation was had, then the door was closed, and then nothing. Silence. She was alone, confused, and utterly exhausted.
She cleaned herself up, washing away the rest of her juices and the dirt, blood, and sweat left from her fights. Once she was cleaned, she left the bath, ate the dinner that was left on her desk and crawled into bed.
As she slowly drifted off all she could do was focus on the desk and think about what happened. The way River had punished her and then taken care of her. The way his hands and mouth had felt on her body. The way his voice felt against her skin and the way her heart cracked when he said he was leaving. Something inside of her gave a mournful cry as her eyes shut. The sound was a soft, lonely song from an animal who had lost her mate.
River disappeared that night and never returned throughout training. The next few weeks flew by for Araiya. She followed the same pattern every day. Wake up, class, training. Araiya flourished under the Chosen and learned new tactics for battle, how to help heal, and how to perform rituals and the history wrapped around the Chosen. As she spent more and more time learning, the ambiguity became more and more frustrating.
Every day at dinner she would sit down with Tal and Shavon, and they would go over the day’s lessons. Araiya waited at the table the trio usually sat at with her head down on her arms. Exhaustion slowly took her away.
“So how was today?” Shavon sat at the table and poked Araiya, jolting her fully awake.
“Bullshit like every other day. We did a tournament this week and I won over everyone including half the teachers. On the plus side I have become really decent with a sword. The downside, every day we hear the same fucking shit and get zero explanation to any questions we throw out there.” She rubbed her eyes and glanced at her friend’s face. These past weeks they had grown closer, Araiya completely moving past the incident of her first day here.
“Araiya, you know we can’t. Are you excited for tomorrow?” Araiya leaned over and dropped her head on Shavon’s shoulder.
“What’s tomorrow?” Araiya yawned so loudly that her jaw popped.
“Tomorrow is the full moon silly. Classes are canceled. You have the day to get ready.” Shavon nudged her.
“Ready for what exactly?”
“Tomorrow night is the Anointing Araiya. Tomorrow, you meet the Goddess and find out who will or will not stay Chosen.” Shavon laughed.
“No way. I’m not ready. What if I don’t get anointed?” Panic surged through her. Everything hinged on this final decision.
“Hey,” Shavon patted her shoulder, “you will be fine. I don’t pretend to know the Goddess’s mind, but she chose you once.”
“And Goddess forbid even if you do not become anointed, River has already prepared you a room. His room.” Tal sat down and leaned over to kiss Shavon but both women’s mouths had dropped open. “What?”
“What do you mean his room?” they both screamed at the same time. Tal just smirked and ate his dinner.
“So how do I prepare for tomorrow?” Araiya slumped in her seat already feeling entirely defeated. Nothing ever truly went her way.
“Hey. It’s going to be okay. I promise.” Shavon grabbed her hand and held it. For the first time outside of her family, Araiya felt cared for and seen. They hadn’t had the easiest start, but since moving past it Shavon had been amazing, quickly becoming her best friend. Tal and Shavon had helped create this cocoon of safety in her new life. One she hoped she would not have to leave tomorrow.
“Come on you guys, you both had training all day so you’re both exhausted. I am going to coordinate with Amara what is needed for tomorrow.” Tal picked up his now empty plate. “I know breakfast will be delivered to the cabins, so sleep in. There will be your first set of instructions with it.” Araiya stood and followed the pair back towards the cabins. “Don’t worry too much. You will be fine.”
“Why are you helping with tomorrow? Doesn’t an Enforcer usually step in?” Shavon wrapped her hand in his as they walked.
“Due to what happened a few weeks ago Amara requested someone else. River offered me up today in placement. Amara is cautious. She doesn’t want a repeat of what happened with you with anyone else. The Enforcers can’t be trusted, it seems, where you are concerned.”
“Hey, River can be.”
“Oh, I know just how trusting you find River, Araiya. But even River doesn’t feel trustworthy around you right this second. That’s why he’s stayed away.”
“Why… I thought…”
“Hey.” Tal turned and reached for her hand. “River likes you, you idiot. You drive him crazy. Primal. But we have rules we have to follow in our world, so he’s doing his best to follow them. You will see him again after the Anointing. I swear it.” Tal let go of her hand and turned back. “Now go to bed and stop worrying about the old bastard.”
“He’s not old,” Araiya mumbled as she walked off. Only to be chased home by the laughter of her two friends.