Dot's Home around Three in the Morning:

Daisies and a small painting of Jesus covered Dot's home altar.

Bedroom doors were marked by floral signs. A ten-year-old wolf boy swung from rope ladders that hung above.

"You're supposed to be at the table, young man." Dot handed him a carrot juice box.

He ran to Quig and showed him his pet snakes. "Is Ida a ghost or a zombie?"

Betsy spoke. "My mom isn't dead; she's just a deadbeat like her husband. I like staying with you, but I can't wait until January. I hope my so-called birth father doesn't show up in court." Quig pointed at the pink daisy-shaped clock on the wall. "Grew-Ella and I need to leave for work, and then we plan to attend Karen's potluck."

"She will and has our rooms already fixed up," Grew-Ella said.

Quig and Grew-Ella took Betsy to school.

*

The Brownstone, Afternoon:

Grew-Ella welcomed Quig inside.

Karen's home was once two brownstones, but the artist had updated it by hand, patched and painted murals on the walls, and polished old wood floors to fake a comfortable grandeur.

Karen drew sprites and pixies over the spots Quig smashed into during his unfinished wedding.

Avery ran toward Quig and hugged him.

"Mom Avery, I'm thrilled you made it."

She scrunched her mouth. "Lana wasn't wrong when she called me the former queen of a festering, pus-filled sore. The Kingdom gets poorer each year."

He frowned and picked over appetizers. "Don't say that at this party, but I agree."

Quig's brother-in-law was drunk and high. The man attempted to smack Avery's butt, but he slipped and fell. "Queen Avery, with a housing shortage, you'll be begging to live with me. My wife is giving me the condo in the divorce." The man attempted to slobber all over her neck, and his breath smelled of rot and urine mead.

"Don't touch my mom. She can toss you like a toy ball," Quig said.

"I'll marry your mom and win custody," he said.

Quig's brother-in-law spotted Rodrick rushing toward him. "Fine, I'm leaving." The loser stormed toward the door.

A squad member grabbed him. "I'm taking you to sober up, again," she said.

Rodrick strutted toward Avery. "Hopefully that will scare him," he said, masking his embrace as a bump. "Avery, I talked Karen into renting her house for an emergency meeting this week."

Grew-Ella waved at them. "A creepy plastic surgeon backed me into a corner. Real doctors don't perform surgeries at parties."

"Your friend, Quig, won't care if the doctor killed you. He didn't care when he lost custody or when his brother died," an older workhouse leader said.

Quig's legs buckled underneath him, and he grabbed at the air to steady himself.

Grew-Ella wrapped her wings around Quig's waist and held him up.

"I didn't realize you and Quig were an item, but maybe he'd care after all," the man said.

Zoreon's makeup flaked off, revealing a bruise. He staggered toward Grew-Ella and reached for her thighs. "You're not as tasty as your sister, but I adore you, and your ban doesn't work here."

Quig swatted the man's hand away. "Don't touch her like that! Besides, she is offering me snuggles, not you."

The creep ran to Avery. "Tell your so-called son to stay away from my property."

Avery spoke calmly, though her eyes were furious. "Leave her alone, or I will get a court order to ban you here, too." She turned to Quig. "My little baby, thank you for protecting Grew-Ella from Zoreon."

"Zoreon works with Grew-Ella's sister." Quig's mind wandered.

*

The Past: The University:

Quig sat at a lunch table in the crowded cafeteria. Vases of black and peach carnations propped up signs on each table. Meet and Greet Dating Party.

Dean Frog squeezed next to Quig.

He tied his hair into a man bun and adjusted his rhinestone-covered eyepatch. He shifted into a smaller but more muscular dragon. "I'd receive reject status if it wasn't for my wealth because I entered the royal beauty contest. Made out like a bandit and sold my fourth-place win to small advertising companies. Don't try to win; try to survive. I hid when everyone strangled each other with their contestant sashes. Being a half-blind duke is better than being a dead king."

"You'll always be elite because women love you." Quig winked at his boss.

"I'd still be with my ex-wife if she wasn't okay with our youngest daughter getting badged twice," Frog said. "I paid for the badge removal. Yoleta doesn't love me enough to let go of this ridiculous status system."

Phyllis ran over and touched Quig's hand. "I didn't mean the joke about the hot tub, but this isn't the first time I flirted with you."

"I don't hang out with your family because I'm attracted to you," Quig said bluntly.

"You're Avery's son, a famous novelist, and attractive in a nerdy way. That makes you someone I should be with." Phyllis dragged him from the table, and no one at the event could hear them. "Zoreon will give you reject status if you cross me."

"He can't do that because of the blood contract, so you must be behind my cancellation," Quig said.

"Why are you doing this to yourself? Grew-Ella isn't good enough, and neither are you with that busted wing and speech impediment, but the powers that be want us together."

"This isn't just about Grew-Ella. You disgust me." Quig walked away from her.

"It wasn't just me who gave away Silvan-Mack's ugly kids! Quig, you'll no longer be a grand elite if you don't choose me," Phyllis cried out.

*

Inside the Brownstone at 7:40:

Lana lumbered towards Rodrick, each step slower and less coordinated than the last, but her pain from being stuffed in a body bag and tossed around did not affect the beauty's appearance because cosmetics were artfully applied. She wore a badge on her dress: Leader of Marriage Laws. "Prime Minister Silvan-Mack is an idiot, but so was his tenderhearted poppa. Silvan-Mack has the same first, last, and middle name." In a mocking tone, she said. "I'm Silvan-Mack-Silvan-Mack-Silvan-Mack, the second. My adult adopted son is too humiliated to be called by my name, so he calls himself Junior."

"That's not true..." Rodrick's eyes widened. "Maybe you shouldn't say that out loud. They almost killed you, and I want to protect my kids."

"I know Junior's real name," Lana said. "My eyes are open. Can you and Dot drop me off?" Lana's fingers clung to her friend's shoulder to steady herself.

"Why not Yoleta? I have to talk to Zoreon," Rodrick said.

She frowned. "Yoleta's hearse is creepy, though the ride would be fitting. I know she retrofitted it not to carry coffins, but my last ride won't be in her old funeral wagon. Sorry, I'm tired, and I'm afraid I'll die on the way home. They plan to execute me tonight, and I want to die with a friend."

He guided Lana out of the brownstone and into his vehicle.

Fifteen Minutes Later:

Dot, Zoreon, and Rodrick left and arrived in Lana's neighborhood.

Rodrick and Lana vanished behind the trees.

Dot and Zoreon waited around forty minutes outside in the limo for Rodrick to finish talking.

Dot didn't hear screams from within Lana's ranch-style home, but when he came back, he wore a clean suit and scrubbed fingernails. The execution must have happened.

Glimmers of sadness reflected in Dot's eyes. "Did you help them execute Lana for what she did to Quig?"

"Do you think I am a psycho? Lana isn't the one who hacked your brother's social media accounts, and she wasn't angered by the forged insults. She thought they could be funnier, though." Rodrick's broad shoulders slumped. "Lana was dragged by squad members and killed in front of me."

"I'm sorry." Dot scowled, her mouth in a narrow line, and her fingers poked at his sleeves. "We had choice words, and I'm sad."

"The Prime Minister is sending the squad to remove the traitor's body." Zoreon opened his briefcase. "Rodrick, I demand a gift for allowing you to watch."

Dot sighed and fumbled for her wallet, keeping it close. "The prime minister can pay you, not me. We have nothing to do with this."

"Keep your money. Grew-Ella will make a lovely mistress after I wed a supermodel or the next queen. Silvan-Mack signed these contracts for me in the past, but they won't give me Grew-Ella because Quig adores her. Real workhouse leaders never place their real names on anything, and they told me no! All the workhouse leaders agree with the stupid actor because of his election campaign. He's not really one of us, but the death of his mom will keep him in line. The workhouse leaders didn't approve of my being banned off campus."

"Zoreon, I don't think you realize how revenge works," Rodrick said.

"Did you attack Ida?" Dot asked.

Zoreon laughed at her. "I tossed her into a workhouse sewage vat after I used a death-binding spell. When you learn how rich I've become, both of you might change your mind." Zoreon pulled more money from his briefcase and threw cash at Rodrick's feet. "Each is worth fifty thousand."

"Ida has come back. You don't know how dangerous death-binding magic is. Who taught it to you?" Dot asked.

"Bought it off the web, and that is actually how I killed your brother, and I planned on killing Karen too if Quig hadn't decked me in the mouth." He kissed his reflection in the window. "If not Grew-Ella then Tiffany, because she's the second-best version, and I can use plastic surgery to improve her."

"No, I'm not signing any contracts until January," Rodrick said.

"I don't plan to marry her, but to own her." Zoreon showed more money in his open briefcase. "I have my own scam, and place rich people no one will miss into the Kill Home execution database, and I take their money."

"Using the Kill Homes as a piggy bank is illegal," Dot said.

Rodrick sighed. "It's illegal to use the contract for attempted deviant assaults. Grew-Ella will stab you again if you corner her."

Dot tried to hit Zoreon across the face.

"I healed up nicely, and that made me want her more. You have a day to give me Grew-Ella, or I'll have my squad members take her!" Zoreon fled the limo into the darkness, whistling.

*

Midnight: The Den:

Screams echoed through the hall.

Grew-Ella and Quig bolted from their separate guest bedrooms in borrowed pajamas.

Yoleta rushed into the brownstone with tear-stained clothes. "Everyone get up!"

Madd-Ox yawned. "The party is over. I only slept three hours last night, and you're going to wake up, Mom Karen. She has meetings and parties booked all week."

Shrieks emitted from Yoleta's mouth. "Rodrick and Zoreon called me and told me Lana was executed, and Phyllis will be next if I don't find her a new husband." She gagged, ran up the stairs, descended wearing clean clothes, and burned hers in the fireplace. Yoleta pulled away and turned to Madd-Ox. "I'm here to arrange a marriage for Quig. He likes older women, right? Phyllis is too beautiful to die." She ran her fingers across Quig's arm.

"The answer is double no." Quig pulled himself away.

Yoleta frowned. "Then find another super attractive but unacceptable woman. Think of your courtship similar to the ancient Earth show, The Bachelor, or our kingdom's most beloved show, The Chosen Bride. Only the girls you don't marry are forced to work in glorified sweatshops. Quig, you're classified as a broken elite."

Grew-Ella sat down on a dragon-shaped chair. "Quig should be on TV. All the smart women would fight for him, but he's engaged." She stared at him and smiled. Her hand rested under her chin.

He squirmed away.

"Don't lie; I know that he's not dating anyone," Yoleta said.

"Yoleta, how about you give me broken elite status?" Madd-Ox asked. "I'd love to be on TV."

"No," Yoleta snapped. "Grand elites can only date each other, and I want you to marry my oldest daughter. If Quig doesn't marry Phyllis, I'll work on raising his status or find a suitable, unacceptable woman."

"Sorry, but I'm not a government official and I don't want to be a grand elite again," Quig said.

Chase entered the brownstone with guards behind him.

"I called Chase from the limo to convince Quig to marry Phyllis." Yoleta stepped back. "I need to leave and give a press statement in twenty minutes."

"Grew-Ella's sister isn't here, her badges are fake, and I don't want Quig with my ex-wife, Phyllis, because he deserves better," Chase said.

"I know you're a stupid liar and were never married," Yoleta said as she stepped back.

Mad-Ox spoke. "Chase Vice is a destitute reality TV star prince. I'm a royal, and I work for a living. He has coins only good at Captain Cardboard's Magical Pizza shops. That's why he's actually common and faking his brokenness—well—that and his on-air rant about Phyllis before they married."

"I'm a broken elite and thieves robbed my accounts," Chase said. "I work two jobs besides my radio gig. One of those jobs is delivering flowers, but the tips are nice because apparently men pay extra to have celebrity princes bring their mothers' flowers."

"Why is Chase a broken elite and not me?" Madd-Ox scrunched his mouth and snorted.

"I told you no, but maybe I'll arrange a wedding between you and my oldest daughter. Oh, and I should arrange one for Chase and Grew-Ella, but he's too attractive for her. He'll probably leave her for her sister again."

"She can't do that, can she?" Chase asked Quig.

"No, she can't." Quig's voice rose an octave. "Chase... married Junior's speechwriter, and his government contract is void due to his broken elite status, and the fact he was a minor when it was signed."

"You're making that up! Tiffany Hempstead is less attractive than even Grew-Ella. He wouldn't pick her."

"I think she's hot. Her lips are soft and not stuffed with plastic."

"Fine!" Yoleta turned to Quig. "I know you probably had a hand in Chase getting married to a hag. Stop interfering with our laws." She stormed out of the brownstone and the door rattled behind her.

*

Next Morning:

Quig gave Grew-Ella a lift from her mom's brownstone, and they picked Betsy up from Dot's mother. His sister and Ruby had already left in the van.

Grew-Ella, Quig, and Betsy ate breakfast soups at The Salad Princess and ordered wrapped cheese and hummus sandwiches. "Poppa Quig, my whole tummy loves you. Can I eat my sandwich now?"

"I love you too, princess, but it's for lunch," Quig said.

He dropped her off at the front entrance.

"The second sandwich is for your friend, Magpie," Grew-Ella said.

"She'll love it, and my tummy will love mine." Betsy hugged Grew-Ella and skipped to her group.

Afterward, Quig drove Grew-Ella to the campus parking lot. "I'll sell everything I have if it means keeping Betsy out of the workhouse."

"My bio mother didn't know she was pregnant until after the government forced her and my father to divorce. She and Mom Karen sold jewelry to save me. Dad's marriage to Mom Karen was arranged by her father so that she wouldn't receive more badges, but they love each other and my father is hiding in town because the government can't force him to divorce her; if they can't find him."