Parlangua Boyfriend: Lerour #2 (special preview)

“Our selected,” the first, a woman, speaks. She is much bigger than the two males with her. “We chose you all sixteen years ago, and now, at long last, your time has come to each sit upon the throne.” She and the other two kneel down. “At this time, we would like to speak with all of you.” Her eyes gaze across the room. “But it seems one of you is missing.”

I step forward and approach the Paralangua. “Nellie hasn’t shown up.” I keep my jaw stiff.. “We think she has forgone the ritual.”

She bows her head. “Such a shame. In any case, the ritual will go on, but there will be some of our children who are disappointed.” She raises her gaze to us. “But that also means the arena will be all the more brutal.” Her eyes fall once on each of us. “Since one is missing, those who would compete for her will now separate to fight for one of you.”

“Yikes,” Chuck hisses under his breath.

“This is not uncommon, and in fact, we almost always expect it.” The leader shakes her head. “That is why we select five.” She then glances between us again. “But beyond that point, tonight, your lives will change. Tonight, once you and your mate meet for the first time-” Ben and I exchange looks again. “You will all be taken to the castle on the hill. It is there you will remain for one year to allow a bond to be made. The bond is what will hold you both together and keep you strong.”

“But what will happen?” Ben asks timidly. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but none of us know what it is we are to expect.”

“Those are all fair points,” she replies. “But I cannot answer them. All I can say is that you will be safe and your mate will take proper care for you.”

That evening, we are taken to the doors of the arena. All around us, we can hear whispers in the water, and the low breathing of the battlers in wait. I sit close to Ben as a cold chill goes down my back.

The four of us hold each other’s hands in a line. I squeeze tighter onto Ben’s than I do Chuck’s, but I can tell through all his bravado that he’s nervous too. 

“Well, this is it then,” Chuck chuckles anxiously. “I can go in first if that will make the rest of you feel better.”

“If you want,” Abby murmurs. “But I can go in first.”

I look to Ben who is easing away from the door and is standing a pace behind me. “Well, someone needs to go inside.” I let go of their hands and drop my robes at the door. Like always, we must go into the arena naked.

I push open the heavy stone doors and they groan as they ease open. A cold gust of air ripples over my body and it is enough to set my teeth on edge. I take the first step down and follow the stairs until I ease into the water. It’s cool, but not too cold. I look up, seeing the light shining from the open door. 

“Come on in!” I call out. “The water’s fine!” I then glance back into the arena, seeing a pool of water stretched out before me and then three corridors. I wade into the water and it comes up to my navel. I pick the farthest door on the right and continue my journey inside.