Ash by Shani Petroff

say?”
    I felt Bas’s arm tighten around me as he went on the defensive. “You know that’s not what I meant.”
    “Okay, boys, enough.” I said. “Today isn’t about us. We’re here to watch the championship, and support Aldan’s Destiny Day while we’re at it. Not to fight with one another.”
    Theron nodded and got a faraway look on his face. I could tell his mind had moved back to the race and his upcoming role.
    “You’ll be great,” I assured him and nudged Bas.
    “Yeah,” my boyfriend muttered.
    “Besides,” I said, “It’s Aldan up there. It’s only right that you’re part of his big day.” The two were best friends. Theron had been there to see every record that Aldan had broken—which was all of them. “Remember how amazing he was at the track last summer?”
    I almost hit myself for bringing it up. The last thing I wanted to think about was last summer, hand in hand with Link, sitting together at the practice track watching Aldan do impossible trick after trick. Back then we’d even talked about coming to the championship together. But that was before Link’s stubborn streak had ruined everything.
    I pushed away the memories. “Anyway,” I said before Theron could respond. “I know you have to get ready, so we’ll let you go. Good luck tonight.”
    As Theron headed back to the booth, my eyes scanned the others in the Box. There was no sign of Link yet, and I took a deep breath, willing the tight knot in my stomach to release. I wanted to sit before he and his parents showed up. Maybe I’d be able to avoid them that way. “Want to sit down?” I asked Bas.
    “Sure,” he said, grabbing my hand again.
    We walked through several rows of purple-clad spectators, many of whom I knew through various charities or fundraisers. I waved hello to a few acquaintances as Bas led me to the front of the Box. The Seven took up most of the front row seats, of course. All but Dr. Og, the inventor of the destiny system. He rarely made it out anymore. When he did, it was for meetings, and he was always accompanied by his caretaker.
    Minister Edward Worthington, my boyfriend’s grandfather, stood as we approached. He wore a deep purple suit and matching pinstripe tie. A multicolored pin was attached to his lapel, representing the seven rings. His gray hair and matching beard were perfectly groomed, as always. Minister Worthington was tall and thin, where Bastin was broad and muscled. But he and Bastin shared the same cool, blue eyes. He turned them on me, nodding politely.
    “Hi Granddad,” Bas greeted him. The two shook hands.
    “A good day to you both,” he replied. He turned to me and pumped my hand as well. “I saw the broadcast of your speech to the Industry Employers over in AnaKurtz. Motivating yet firm,” he said, giving me an approving nod. “Well done.”
    “Thank you, Minister,” I replied. I had spoken to three hundred employees in the manufacturing sector named for our former president. It took me two days to write and prepare my speech, and then I ended up scrapping it, instead speaking off the cuff. I received a standing ovation.
    “And I’ve heard your inauguration date is set,” he continued. “Next summer, is it?”
    “That’s my girl,” Bastin said, slinging an arm around me.
    I smiled broadly at both of them. “I’m very much looking forward to it.”
    Which was an understatement. There had been complications during my birth. My destiny had been extracted with no problems, but its time stamp was another story. Everyone knew how quickly details about one’s destiny faded after birth—the specifics were completely lost within the hour. In my case, immediately after my destiny was recorded, my mother had a seizure. She recovered just fine, but as a result, the Specialist wasn’t able to continue the extraction and my time stamp was lost. It had never really been a problem for me. It just meant the date of my rise to council was “to be determined.” Or had been