Amy Padilla

When my father schemed to marry my sister off to a decrepit old man to boost his standing, I swore I'd protect her. Together, we drove suitors away, but his fury only grew. To punish us, he rigged the barbarian lottery—and when Evelyn's name was drawn, her fate was sealed. Unless I stopped it.

Kian was born between two worlds. Half fae, half green witch, accepted by neither. He was used to being an outcast. A big believer in fate, when he's offered a reference to work at a temp agency, he takes it without hesitation. And find a job he absolutely loves. Who'd have thought being a temp...

He should've known he wouldn't win going up against the best. In a shameless act of revenge, he had the guards called and had me arrested for offending the man who'd chosen me over him. They, in turn, sold me off to the barbarians.

No family, no home. No one would care if I disappeared. I wouldn't survive another year on my own. In a desperate attempt to survive, I volunteered as tribute to the barbarians after hearing they now accepted males.

When Avery showed up for his temp job on Monday morning, he had certain expectations in mind. He was not expecting to end up bent over his new boss's desk.

All Tony wanted was a job that didn't make his life harder. Being a temp should have made it easier by letting him pick jobs that he was comfortable with. But bills needed to be paid, and he didn't have the luxury of turning jobs down.

Isaac went against his family when he refused to join the military. He had dreams, and he wasn't going to cave to family pressure to give them up. So when his boss offers him an opportunity to get some real experience in the job he's working toward, he leaps at the chance.

Every year, a woman from each town is chosen as a tribute to the barbarian clans to keep the peace, never to be seen or heard from again.

I should've known better than to trust my childhood bully.