"What kind of trials?" she asked carefully.
"Pick any three members to decide on trials."
Michelle's blood ran cold. Choose your own executioners. How generous!
She scanned the Council members there were ten ancient beast-kin, each representing apex predators. Each one looking at her with varying degrees of contempt or hungry curiosity.
Okay. Think strategically. I need trials I can possibly survive. Who here has a vested interest in me NOT dying immediately? Why do they have this kind of tradtion in the first place and what do want to achieve with it? Am I the only one been sensitive to not have a killing Hunt?
"And if I refuse?" Michelle asked.
"Then you forfeit your proposal and submit to immediate Mate Hunt protocols. Tonight." Lord Valykor's smile was sharp. "I'm sure Lord Venom would be... enthusiastic about participating."
The Lord Serpent-kin's yellow eyes gleamed. "Most enthusiastic indeed."
Yeah, I bet you would be, you creepy noodle.
Michelle's gazed raced over them. Every Council member was dangerous. But maybe she could choose the type of danger.
"I choose..." Michelle forced her voice steady. "Lord Ash of the Fox Clans."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Lord Asher himself looked surprised, then intrigued, his tail swishing with interest.
If I'm going to be trapped in a psychological nightmare, might as well choose the one who seems entertained rather than homicidal.
"Bold choice," Lord Valykor rumbled. "The fox is known for his cunning. His trials will test your mind. Choose your second."
Michelle studied the remaining Council members. Her gaze landed on the only female a massive she-boar with greyish-streaked fur and eyes like dark chocalate. She seems most controlled yet ooze the aura of raw strength to rival even a dragon on her own.
Female solidarity? Maybe? Please?
"Lady Mora of the Mountain Clans."
The boar-kin lade rose slowly, her expression unreadable. "Interesting. You choose the only female, thinking I'll show mercy?" Her voice was like grinding stone. "I will not. If anything, I will be harder on you than any male. You insult our traditions, our ways. I will ensure you understand the cost of your arrogance."
Well, there goes that theory. Note to self: sisterhood is dead.
"I wasn't asking for mercy," Michelle said quietly. "I was asking for fairness."
Lady Mora's eyes narrowed, but she gave a slight nod. "We shall see if you survive long enough to appreciate the distinction."
"Your third choice," Lord Valykor prompted.
Michelle looked at the remaining eight Council members. Lords of Tigers, Wolves, Eagles, Serpents, Sharks, Leopards, and two dragons including Valykor himself.
Venom is obviously out. Valykor would squash me like a bug just for the principle. I need someone who might actually test ability rather than just... murder.
Her eyes landed on a scarred Eagle-kin with piercing amber eyes. Lord Zephran. Why are there no domestic beast-kins.
Eagle Lord. Maybe he's less of a disaster than his associate? Low bar, but I'm working with what I've got.
"Lord Zephran of the Skyfall Clans."
The Eagle-kin's expression didn't change. "Hope you didn't choose me for favor?"
"I choose you because eagles see things from above. Because your trials will test whether I can actually survive in this dynamic world, not just whether I can amuse the Council." Michelle met his gaze. "I'm asking for honest assessment, not political games."
Also because you're the only one who doesn't look like you want to eat me immediately, but semantics.
"Humans and their assessments," Zephran repeated slowly. He stood, wings spreading slightly. "Very well. But understand, human—I will assess you as I would any creature claiming to survive in the Feral Lands. No handicaps. No sympathy. If you are too weak, my trial will expose it. If you are too foolish, my trial will end you."
So... death by exposure or death by foolishness. Fantastic options. Really quality selection here.
"That's all I ask."
Lord Valykor surveyed the three chosen Beastly Council members. "Then it is decided. Lord Ash, Lady Mora, and Lord Zephran will each give one trial. The human will face all three before the next full moon—three days hence."
"Three days?" Michelle's voice cracked. That's barely enough time to write a decent will, let alone prepare for three murder gauntlets.
"More time than most get before a Mate Hunt," Lord Valykor interrupted. "Each trial will be scheduled tweleve hours apart. Use the time wisely to prepare. Or to pray to whatever gods human clan worship." His ancient eyes gleamed. "I suggest both."
Oh sure, let me just phone up God real quick. 'Hey, remember me? The agnostic who only showed up on parties? Yeah, I need a favor...'
He turned to the crowd. "This Council session is adjourned. The trials will be public, held in the Grand Arena. All territories are invited to witness whether this human has the strength to survive outside our protection... or whether she will beg for the very traditions she rejects. Meanwhile prepare for Mate Hunt of other selected females."
The crowd erupted in conversation as Council members filed out. Michelle stood frozen on the platform, the weight of what she'd just agreed to crushing down on her.
I just bet my life on three trials designed by predators who think humans are crunchy snacks. Still they have the Mate Hunt planned for other females. Did they selected them? Everything is—
"Well," Lord Ash said, appearing beside her with unsettling silence. "This should be entertaining."
For YOU maybe, Michelle thought darkly.
"What does human wish each other in such dire situations..." he acted to be thinking over when Michelle gave a tight smile and helped. "Luck...we wish Good luck!"
"Oh yes, Good Luck then, see you soon." And then he went away with his cape fluttering behind him.
The moment the ceremony ended, Michelle was swarmed but not with support. Beast-kin pressed close, their animal forms and hybrid shapes towering over her, voices raised in anger.
"You dare insult our ways!"
"Human arrogance!"
"She'll die in the first trial, such a waste of our Lord's time!"
"Human clan is weak from the start. Why do we even expect anything worthy of them. Useless two legged animals. "
Woah...such disgust. That's... something?
"Should just force her into the Mate Hunt now, any way no Beast clan will come to claim her and save us all the spectacle—"
A low growl cut through the noise. Kael came in between Michelle and the crowd, his dragon gaze taking up everyone's attention. His golden eyes blazed with protective fury and aura emitted a dark smoke.
"Back. Away." Each word was punctuated with smoke curling from his nostrils.
The crowd retreated slightly, but their hostility remained palpable.
"My dear Lord...She doesn't deserve protection," someone shouted. "She said so herself! No territorial allegiance!"
"Then consider this personal interest," It was then Alpha Riven's voice cut in as he and Rome formed a barrier. "Anyone who touches her before the trials answers to me."
You know what? I'm too tired to be mad about the patriarchal rescue squad. I'll add it to my list of complaints right after 'forced death trials' and 'possible interdimensional murder plots.'
Elder Mira then pushed through, taking Michelle's arm. "Come child! We need to leave. Now."
They made their way through the hostile crowd, protected by the buffer of Kael's massive aura. Michelle felt dozens of eyes on her calculating, predatory, as if waiting for her to fail and can't wait longer to see.
When they finally reached Mira's dwelling, Michelle's legs gave out. She collapsed onto a chair.
"What have I done?" she whispered.
"You've declared war on the entire social order," Elder Mira said bluntly. "And now you have to prove you can survive it."
"Tell me about the Council members I chose."
Elder Mira sat heavily. "Lord Ash—he's brilliant, manipulative, and plays games within games. I think his trial won't be physical. It'll be psychological. He'll try to break your mind, make you question everything, trap you in your own logic."
So basically he will go for my mental break-down designed by a sadist. Perfect.
"And Lady Mora?"
"She lost her daughter to corruption twenty years ago. She blames weak clans specifically useless animal—for not having strength to go on war. Claims her daughter chose to save others instead." Mira's expression was grim. "Her trial will be personal. Brutal. She will wants to make you suffer and rub your weakness on her your face."
Awesome. I get to be the physical punching bag for someone's unresolved grief trauma. This keeps getting better.
"And what about Lord Zephran?"
"He lost his mate to a Mate hunt years ago. He believes only the strongest survive in the Feral Lands, and he has no patience for weakness." Elder Mira leaned forward. "His trial will test your survival skills. If you choose wrong, you die."
"So all three have personal vendettas or trauma that make them predisposed to watching me fail spectacularly." Michelle laughed, slightly hysterical. "Did I choose the worst possible combination?"
"Probably," Elder Mira admitted.
Great. My decision-making skills remain flawless.
A knock at the door made them both jump. Kaelen entered without waiting for permission, followed by Alpha Riven and Beta Rome.
"You need to talk strategy," Kael said.
"There is no strategy," Michelle said tiredly. "The trials are designed to kill me or break me. I knew that when I accepted. I just didn't realize I'd manage to select a panel of judges with personal reasons to hate humans."
Really outdid myself on this one.
"Then why did you accept?" Alpha Riven demanded."You could have just sit on sidelines and watch the hunt before being claimed."
"Could have what? Submitted to a Mate Hunt? Let males tear each other apart over and then claim ME?" Michelle's voice rose. "No way even in hell!"
"You'll die then," Kael asked with a grudge in his voice.
"Maybe. But maybe I'll survive..." Michelle met his eyes. "And that's worth trying for."
Or at least that's what I'm telling myself to avoid the screaming panic spiral.
Silence fell over the room.
Finally, Alpha Riven spoke up. "Lady Michelle... Beast mates are not absolute cruel. But yes they're uncompromising once they claimed you, they might push you to your absolute limit but that's not death."
"You're oddly reassuring my decision in a completely terrifying way," Michelle sighed.
"I can help with understanding Lord Ash's games," Alpha Riven then offered. "I've known him for decades. He thinks in puzzles and manipulations."
Michelle looked at each of them these males who had no reason to help her, who she'd essentially rejected by declaring independence. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because you're a human," Alpha Riven said bluntly. "A brave, stubborn, infuriatingly smart beast-kin. And apparently, every world are always needed your human-kin alive and controlled than let loose."
"No," Dragon Kael disagreed. "You're my choice. There's a difference."
Well, that's unexpectedly harsh and sweet from both male.
"Okay," Michelle said, rubbing her temples. "Okay. So I have today until Lord Ash's trial. How do I survive as I am recovering from broken ribs, and my most impressive physical feat is climbing four flights of stairs without wheezing?"
The males exchanged glances.
"You're going to need a miracle then," Alpha Riven chuckled at last but Kael's eyes darkened. Even if she's get lucky he must do something to protect her against all odds. His Dragon Beast has already shown interest in her and perhaps desperate to form the mate bond. It's rare to have this kind of bond.