The Breeding Lands (An Epic Erotic Fantasy Novel) Read Online Free Page A

and more girls being selected. As lunchtime neared, Mia felt a small glimmer of hope that perhaps she would not be chosen. Melanie had managed to make it through the morning unnoticed as well. Just as Mia was heading outside to eat lunch, she passed two scouts in the hall who seemed to be deep in conversation. The men were older, each with slightly graying hair and fine lines. They both carried an air of authority about them. One was tanned and dark as if he had spent years outdoors, his muscular build still evident and clearly visible through the standard scout uniform—white shirt and white pants.
    The other scout was tall and wiry, his skin was pale and nearly translucent, and his eyes shifted wildly as he spoke. There was an almost feral quality about him, and it set Mia on edge as she hugged the wall in passing. As Mia went by the two men, they stopped their conversation, and looked at her with surprise. Mia instantly felt the color drain from her face. She put her head down, hurrying by as she made her way to the doors.
    She could feel their eyes raking her body as she attempted to make her exit. She burst through the doors and walked out into the fresh air of the courtyard. She sat down at the table, visibly shaken, and waited for Melanie and their other friends to join her. Something about the way the two scouts stared at her had unnerved her. She didn’t even bother opening her lunch; she had lost her appetite. Melanie sat down a minute later, and to Mia’s great relief she saw that her wrist was still bare.
    “I’m worried,” she choked as soon as Melanie sat down across from her. “Two scouts just eyed me in the hallway.”
    “Try not to think about it. It doesn’t mean anything." Melanie reassured her. "They have to look at everyone. That’s why they’re—’’
    But Melanie stopped mid-sentence, her eyes were wide and focused on something behind Mia.
    “What is it?” Mia asked worriedly, turning around to look.
    Striding purposefully towards them were the two scouts that Mia had passed in the hall. Their eyes were set on Mia and Melanie.
    “Twins,” murmured the pale scout, his beady eyes shifting excitedly between the two girls.
    “A great honor is about to be bestowed upon you,” the tanned scout began.
    Mia heard a strangled cry. It took her a moment to realize that it had escaped from her own throat. She watched as a glittering blue bracelet was slipped deftly onto her wrist, watched as an identical one was slipped onto Melanie’s wrist.
    “We look forward to see you both at the Breeding Lands,” the tanned scout finished, bowing slightly before disappearing into a sea of students.
    Fat tears slid silently down Melanie’s cheeks, but Mia was too stunned to cry. Somehow she had known this would happen all along. She and Melanie, with their bright red hair, were a rarity. Their pretty faces and curvy builds only added to their appeal.
    “Let’s go home,” Mia croaked, still in shock.
    Melanie stood, tears streaming down her face, and silently followed Mia. Students reached out to them, trying to hug them and offer condolences, and other girls held out their own hands, to show that they had been given the same fate. Mia barely noticed any of them.
    She saw James in the hallway and would never forget the look of shock and grief that crossed his face when he saw her wrist. He went to approach Mia, but she shook her head and held her hand up to stop him. It would be too painful now. She had said her goodbye to him that day in the garden. She couldn’t open that wound again. In a month’s time she would belong to someone else. She would be someone’s mate. Giving her virginity over like a prize on the blue sands while all the creatures of the continent watched.
    Mia and Melanie entered their home solemnly, knowing their mother would be the only one home at this hour.
    “No!” their mother screamed in anguish the second they walked through the doors. Their blue bracelets were shimmering