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CHAPTER 1

I PACED THE FLOOR, TRYING to walk the anxiety out ofin the distance—a possibility forBut now? Well, I wasn’t so sure

The census had been coures checkedreallocated, wardrobe preparations were being uests Thein one fell swoop

For the girls, the process started once they filled out the forms—thousands ht

I was nineteen Noas eligible

Stopping in front of ain There would be ht, and I needed to look like the self-confident prince everyone was expecting Finding no fault, I left for my father’s study

I nodded at advisors and faine that in less than teeks, these halls would be flooded with girls My knock was firm, a request made by Father himself It seemed there was always a lesson for me to learn

Knock with authority, Maxon

Stop pacing all the time, Maxon

Be faster, smarter, better, Maxon

“Come in”

I entered the study, and Father briefly eshortly Are you ready?”

“Of course,” I replied There was no other acceptable answer

He reached over and grabbed a s it in front of me on his desk “Happy birthday”

I pulled back the silvery paper, revealing a black box Inside were new cuff links He was probably too consuotten me cuff links for Christmas Perhaps that was part of the job Maybe I’d accidentally get et that far I’d need a wife first

Wife I let the word play on n

“Thank you, sir I’ll wear them now”

“You’ll want to be at your best tonight,” he said, tearing himself away frohts”

I gave hi hih this, after all He must have had his own doubts once upon a time

Evidently, my nerves read on my face

“Be positive, Maxon This is ed

“It is I’” I focused on lacing the h the holes on my sleeves

He laughed “It see on my end”

I narrowedup from my task “What do you mean?”

The door opened then, and my mother walked in In typical fashion, Father lit up for her “Areet her

She smiled in that way she always did, as if she couldn’t believe anyone would notice her, and e, I hope I wouldn’t want to steal attention” Letting Father go, she caht “Happy birthday, son”