Chapter 182


    I wondered where he had been these past few days. I hoped he was okay. I wished more than anything


    that I could ask him what was going on. Did his absence have to do with the investigation? Or was he


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    truly just being reckless?


    Thoughts and worries swirling in my head, I walked over to Elva for a good luck hug. Her thin arms


    went


    round my neck in an instant and she held on tight.


    “Don’t worry, Mommy,” she said, and simple as they were, the words did seem to calm me a bit.


    With my good luck hug, I left the room and ventured down into the parlor room where the girls had


    been told to meet. I saw Susie at once and quickly went to join her. The worry line between her brows


    matched


    my own, and a hint of sadness touched her eyes.


    “Did something happen?” I asked her at once.


    She shook her head. “Nothing new. I…” She looked down to where she sped her hands together.


    “I’m


    not ready to go home.”


    I knew how she felt. But if we both fell into misery, we’d be in trouble. We needed to stay positive, if


    only


    so we didn’t break down before the ceremony even began. “Who says you are going home?”


    She gave me a nce that said she didn’t want to y games. But I wasn’t ying.


    “You are closer with Joyce than anyone else,” I said. “He might pick you.”


    She sighed. “And what if he does? Wouldn’t that be a lie, then? We both know the person I want may


    be


    here in the pce but he is no prince.”


    I moved closer to her so that we could speak in softer tones, especially as Nathan entered the room


    and moved toward the stage.


    “I’m doomed, Piper,” Susie sniffled. “I’ve fallen for a man I can’t have, no matter what I do.”


    I wanted to encourage her. Surely, we could think of some way for her and Mark to be together. But, on


    the surface, yes, it did seem impossible. Mark, as a Beta, had pledged his live in service to his prince.


    Betas, traditionally, didn’t seek or find happiness of their own.


    Still, I had seen the way Mark looked at Susie. It was clear he was in love with her too. If I could speak


    with Nichs, maybe he would allow their romance to blossom. But that couldn’t happen if he and I


    weren’t speaking, or if Susie was eliminated today.


    I didn’t know what to say so instead, I took one of her hands in mine and squeezed.


    Nathan began speaking, reminding us of the proper etiquette for the elimination ceremony and that if


    we were not selected, we were to quietly leave the room, collect our things, and find the cars out front


    to


    drive us home.


    None of what he said was new information, but after those rules had been tantly disregarded by the


    eliminated girls at thest ceremony, I supposed he felt the need to reiterate them.


    I looked once more to Susie.


    “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together,” I said softly, so as not to draw any attention away from


    Nathan’s, except for that of Susie. “And if the worst should happen, we will always be friends.”


    She squeezed my hand in return.


    Our friendship affirmed gave me the courage I needed to face this ceremony.


    If I was eliminated, I didn’t know how but I would find a way to save Elva. No matter what I had to do, or


    who would help me, I’d never let that underground organizationy their hands on her.


    Even if I had to bring the whole thing down myself.