Austin -

Most of the selected girls have already arrived. I've been hiding in my room for most of the day, avoiding cameras and people in general. I won't be meeting these girls until I'm supposed to. I don't think I've ever felt so thankful to have a bathroom in my bedroom.

I risk a peek out of my door, but I can still hear the bustle of footsteps and camera crews walking around everywhere. Dad said when the girls arrived for his selection, he met Mom by accident on the first night, so I'm not leaving this room until morning unless I absolutely must. I don't want to spend more time with any of these girls than necessary.

I feel a little guilty that I'm not walking into this looking for love like Dad was, but my soulmate would never be the type of person who enters a lottery to marry someone because they're royalty. I wouldn't want someone that shallow, I'd want someone to love me for me, which I know is an unrealistic expectation for the selection. I'm going to find the least annoying woman here and marry her. I'll act like I love her on camera, but neither of us will really feel that way.

And maybe that's for the best. I've never been in love before. I wouldn't know it if it looked me in the eye.

Lunaris -

Dusk is devastated, but I can tell there's some glimmer of happiness in her. Like Dawn leaving has done something for her. I thought the reason she didn't want to go was because she didn't want to leave Dawn behind. I don't think I could ever leave Lia and not feel like a piece of me was missing.

Something kept Dusk here, something that made Dawn go in her place without telling her. Tears prick my eyes. I love all my sisters, but I don't know how long Dawn will be gone. It could be years before I see her again, and both of us will have changed so much. I clutch my stomach with both hands and try to ignore the dull ache of hunger, but it gets strong. I so badly want to sneak into the kitchen and eat the food, but I know that'll mean less for everyone else.

"Ari?" I hear a soft voice behind me.

I turn towards Lia, and the expression on her face breaks my heart. Even though she's the older twin, I've always felt the need to protect her. To me, she's like a bird with broken wings, so I give her mine so she can fly.

"Lia. What's wrong?" I ask.

It hasn't even been a full day since Dawn left. She probably hasn't arrived at the palace yet. Lia sniffles and I can tell she's on the verge of tears.

"She'll come back..." My voice trails off, but Lia's eyes are lined with silver now, and I can tell my words aren't helping.

"It's not about Dawn." She says.

Her voice is trembling. And not just with sadness, it's trembling with rage. Confused, I tilt my head to the side and ask her what happened. Lia lakes a shaky breath.

"I was doing some housework for a Three. Her son came home while I was there and talked to me for a while. Then he tried to make a move on me and when I said I wasn't interested he dragged me outside."

Lia stops talking, her breath hitching. I hug her tightly, not forcing her to continue. She takes a shuddering breath, then opens her mouth again.

"He tried to kiss me, Ari. I punched him and ran away."

I gasp and hug her tighter. What is wrong with these Twos and Threes? Don't they realize that other people aren't their property?

I pull away to examine her arm and sure enough, four bruises the size of fingerprints are already blooming blue against her perfect skin. Rage boils inside me. When I turn her arm over, there's one more, most likely from his thumb.

"Who is he?" I ask her.

My voice remains calm, and that's how Lia knows what I plan to do. Frightened, she shakes her head and doesn't say anything. I understand why she doesn't want to tell me- she's afraid of what I'll do. But I'll find him with or without her help.