Chapter 3

The shattered remains of my first Sunstone Seed, my essence, were swept into a biohazard bag.

"For further study," the emcee announced with a flourish.

My body shook. I felt cold, empty.

"And now, for the second round!" the emcee chirped. "This time, we invite our distinguished guests to guess! The guest who correctly identifies a Sunstone Seed gets to decide its fate, or its donation!"

A buzz of excitement went through the crowd.

Candice, her face a picture of saccharine sympathy, stepped forward.

"Oh, I'd love to try!" she cooed, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

"If I win, I'll personally return the Sunstone to Elara. I feel just awful about that little misunderstanding earlier when I... touched them."

She reached out a hand towards me, as if to comfort.

The hypocrisy was too much.

Repulsion surged through me.

I slapped her outstretched hand away.

The sound echoed in the suddenly silent ballroom.

Gasps. Murmurs.

Ethan seized my arm, his fingers digging into my flesh.

His face was contorted in anger. "How dare you!"

I ignored him, my eyes scanning the remaining crystals, desperately searching for a sign, any sign.

There.

Number 17.

A faint, unique internal vein of gold, almost invisible unless you knew what to look for.

It was my second Seed, the one I poured my hopes for Ethan's kindness into.

"Number 17," I declared, my voice hoarse but clear. "That is my Sunstone Seed."

The emcee looked at Ethan.

Ethan gave a subtle nod.

The emcee turned back to the audience, his smile wide and cruel.

"Incorrect!" he announced dramatically.

An attendant moved towards the display, not to #17, but to a different, ordinary geode nearby.

He raised his hammer.

He smashed it.

The geode broke apart, revealing a hollow, unremarkable interior.

Dust. Nothing more.

I stared, confused. That wasn't my Seed. What was happening?