Hearts of Stone (The Lost Omegas #1)

Prologue

Fern

“Seriously? The bats are choosing women again?” I say, exasperated.

Lora, my newly-promoted second in command nods over the printing press. We’re in the back of my home, my brewing room. She slots on the next letter.

“Yup, the next bride lottery is September twenty-first.”

“Bastards,” I spit, turning to grab the stack of paper.

“If Susie gets picked, she made me promise to...” Lora trails off as she finishes the last line of the pamphlet.

I grit my teeth, understanding the implication.

Taking a deep breath, I try to reassure her.

“The odds are so low. Sixty-six women from the entire NUS?” I shake my head.

“And us so close to one of their government centers? Nah,” I open the ink and grab a brush.

“No way, what if our proverbial family made a fuss? They’re choosing them from far off, the north or the west.”

Lora’s intense blue eyes meet mine from the other side of the press. “You’re really not worried about it, Fern?”

“Nope. Not one fucking bit. Besides, if I go down, I’m taking one of them with me,” I flatly answer, pulling the handle of the press down firmly.