Page 9 of Tamed
A chorus of verbal agreement followed.
Kendra could see benefits to both suggestions, so she didn’t offer her support to either side.
“But that means the good planets will all go to the first few names on the list,” Maria objected. “Everyone farther down will end up on Houkdi.”
“Not all of Houkdi is a desert,” Eden defended. She was the only female in the room who had actually been there, but no one seemed to care.
“Break it up by month,” Kendra suggested. “Two of us must go to each planet each month. The random list will determine the order in which those eight openings are filled. That will give more people a chance at the ‘good’ planets.” She accented the descriptor with finger quotes. The topography and climates of Altor were most like Earth. Also most of the people at the Citadel were Altorian. Jessie and many of the others were clinging to the familiar. Kendra thought that was sad. Why come to a new star system and settle on a planet just like Earth?
“I like Kendra’s idea,” Maria insisted and several others nodded their heads.
“One through eight will choose now. Nine through sixteen will choose next month and so on?” Jessie mused, as if to make sure she understood the concept.
“That’s what she’s proposing,” Eden agreed.
Jessie shot Kendra a semi-hostile glance then nodded. “I can live with that.”
“Does this work for everyone?” Eden called out. There were a few grumbles, but no one objected. Just to make sure no one could complain about the decision later, Eden said, “Raise your hand if you want to keep the selections grouped by month.” There were only three women who didn’t like the idea. “That’s a solid majority,” Eden concluded. “We’re going with a random list grouped by month.”
Eden used a random number generator on her data pad to create the list. Each woman tapped the screen and her number appeared. When it was Kendra’s turn to go, number five appeared on the screen. Her heart sank. That meant she was in the first group. She’d be leaving the Citadel in the next week or so.
“There are eight openings for this month,” Eden reminded once everyone had a number. “Who has number one?”
Predictably, the two openings for Altor filled up first, then Pyron. That left either Houkdi or Torret for Kendra. Eden’s mate had an estate on Houkdi and Torret was ruled by a tyrant. Despite the inhospitable climate, the choice was easy.
“Why would you want to live in the middle of a desert?” Jessie shook her head when she saw where Kendra entered her name, disapproval twisting her features. “Torret was a much better choice.”
Rather than defending her decision to such a hateful person, Kendra asked, “Which number did you draw?”
“Nine,” Jessie said proudly. “I get to choose first next month. Looks like me and Heather will end up on Altor together after all.”
Heather had drawn number two, so she’d had her pick of the planets. “I hope you’ll both be very happy.” She didn’t bother softening the sarcasm in her tone. Everyone was tired of Jessie’s bad attitude.
After number eight made her selection, Eden recorded the numbers of the remaining females, and then the meeting adjourned.
“That was more complicated than I expected it to be,” Eden admitted as she gathered her belongings.
Kendra smiled. “You grew up with these women. Nothing is ever simple with them.”
She nodded, some of the tension easing from her face. “I’m glad you chose Houkdi. I’m not sure how often we’ll be at Kyrex’s estate, but it will be wonderful to have you nearby.”
Emotion welled inside Kendra and all she could do was nod. Eden and Ansley had both found their mates without even trying. Then Arcon arrived at the Citadel and Kendra thought the same thing was about to happen to her. According to popular folklore, soul mates were destined to be together through all eternity, so they were drawn together over and over through multiple life cycles. Well, Arcon had finally noticed her and she was being sent off to a different planet.
“What’s going on with you?” Eden asked, compassion shining in her eyes. “You’ve been tense all morning and you weren’t yourself at lunch yesterday either. Wasn’t Dr. Damaris able to help you?”
Kendra shrugged but felt anything but indifferent. “I just want it to be over. I’m sick of all the changes. All the uncertainty. I want my life to begin.”
“That’s understandable.” Eden blew out a long breath but concern lingered in her expression. “Arcon wants to meet with the first eight volunteers in about an hour. Are you up for a training session or should I tell him you’re not feeling well?”
“I’m fine, but I’ve already attended his class.”
Eden shook her head. “This is different. Zevon wants all of the volunteers to learn basic self-defense techniques.”
“But you said a security team will be assigned to each of us.”
“Bodyguards can’t always be there. Raina was kidnapped right out of her bedroom while she had a bodyguard.”
The example made Kendra smile. “She’s now mated with her bodyguard and the male who kidnapped her, so that doesn’t fill me with dread.”