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He was still beneath her, his body taut except for his mouth, which was letting slip some serious profanities.

I could feel his movements from inside her and felt my arousal pique even hotter than it already was.

I continued to slowly thrust into Fallon and exhaled deeply, one hand pressed to her lower back. Fuck, she felt so good.

“I feel so full,” Fallon moaned, her hands trembling on Noah’s shoulders. “Fuck, I love it.”

“You hear that, Noah?” I grinned at him. “Look at what we do to our girl. And we’ve only just gotten started.”

I began to move my hips, thrusting in earnest as I fucked them both, controlling the momentum of our movements. I was a pretty chill dude, but I liked being in control in the bedroom on occasion. When there were more than two people involved, Captain Zane commanded the ship.

Noah was a good first mate now that he’d boarded the sex ship. I could feel his hips moving with mine, fucking Fallon and wringing every ounce of pleasure from her. I could feel his dick pump in and out of her in time with mine, our cocks pressing against each other as much as they filled her.

Starfish whimpered and Noah swallowed the sound with a kiss, the scene making my hips move faster. I was nearly there, the tightness of Fallon’s ass and the feeling of Noah’s dick so close to mine pushing me towards the edge.

“I’m so close,” she cried, panting hard. “Please.”

I glanced down at Noah’s scrunched face and saw the exact thing that didn’t belong in a sex sandwich.

Too much thinking. His hips were still moving with mine, each thrust pounding into Fallon, yet his mind wasn’t cooperating.

I reached out my free hand, pressing Fallon between us tighter with my chest. Noah’s eyes went wide, finding mine.

“Stop thinking,” I told him. “Time to make our girl cum.”

He nodded as Fallon trembled between us.

Noah’s hand slipped down to rub her clit as we picked up our pace, our movements in sync as we chased our release.

Fallon cried out, her body tightening around me and, just as I was about to follow her, I squeezed my hand around Noah’s neck and he joined us on this pleasure cruise.

The three of us came hard, bodies spent and glistening with sweat.

I grinned wide, pressing my forehead to Starfish’s back, panting hard and slipping out of her.

“Fuck,” she sighed, her chuckle shaking me. “Just fuck.”

“Yeah,” Noah breathed. “One hundred per cent.”

I crawled onto the bed with Starfish wedged between me and Noah and tried to catch my breath. Nobody spoke, too spent from what had just happened, and for the first time in my life, I actually enjoyed the silence. It was comfortable, like floating in the ocean.

Fallon took my hand and rolled onto her side, resting her head on Noah’s chest and dragging me with her, so I was pressed to her back. I breathed her in, loving the feeling of just being with her and Noah. It wasn’t long before I found myself drifting out into a sea of dreams.

Lobster in a lagoon, I was starving!

“That looks like enough to feed a small family,” Noah said, sitting down beside me with his tray. He had a particular pastry that I hadn’t noticed when filling mine; it looked awfully scrumptious.

The cafeteria was like a ghost town these days, given all the Potentials who had died.

We’d found a spot in the far corner to sit, keeping our distance from anyone else, which wasn’t hard.

Our pod was one of the larger groups left and the other Potentials mostly steered clear of us now.

The competition felt like it was over, despite us all still hanging out at the academy in limbo.

“I had a good workout last night,” I said to Noah, winking at him. “Surprised you’re not eating more.”

Fallon laughed from where she sat opposite, flanked by Ace and Kayden.

It was like she had two bodyguards, especially when they scowled at any Potential who got close to her.

We were scouring the sea floor when it came to Starfish.

That’s how deep we were in. I wasn’t complaining.

Tickle my gills and call me Patty because I was all in.

“What do you think they expect us to do each day?” Kendra asked, stabbing her fork into a piece of fruit. “We finished the third trial two days ago. The waiting is killing me.”

“Maybe they’re waiting for us to die of old age,” Fallon replied, watching her best friend murder her breakfast. Kendra was small, but boy oh boy she could be vicious. I felt a little bad for the piece of apple she was currently victimising. “The last one alive gets the crown.”

“I wouldn’t put it past them,” Ace huffed, sitting back in his chair and folding his arms over his chest. “Anything to hold onto power a little longer.”

Dick was carrying a tray of food over to the table when he tripped suddenly. “Oh, no!” Dick exclaimed, throwing half his cereal all over Kayden. “Sorry!”

“All right, Little Dick.” Kayden shrugged, wiping milk from his arm. He grabbed Dick’s tray, putting it on the table next to him. “Sit down and try not to choke on your breakfast.”

Dick did as he was told, and I couldn’t hold back the aww or the look of wonder I gave Kayden. That dude was such a softie. All squishy like sea foam.

“Cut it out, Merman,” he huffed.

I focused on my breakfast, or should I say Noah’s breakfast. I really wanted his pastry. I was so close to snatching it when Noah slapped me on the back of the hand. “Get your own.”

“Fine.” I pouted. “Sharing is caring, FYI.”

Before he could respond, a crackling echoed over the speakers and we stopped what we were doing as the Overseer’s voice filled the room. Kayden smirked as he rested an arm over the back of Starfish’s chair. “Speak of the devil and she shall appear.”

“Or her voice will.” Fallon smiled before taking another bite of her toast.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Knights and warriors! Potentials of the great House of Ascension! You have valiantly survived the trials, and I bid you congratulations for all you have achieved. The academy is not a place for the fainthearted, nor are the tests for those who will cower when faced with adversity.”

“Adversity?” Ace scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Bit light on there.”

“To celebrate your accomplishments and crown our new ruler, we must now prepare you for what’s to come.”

“Please don’t tell me there is more,” Lou groaned, clutching Kendra’s bicep and hugging it tightly.

“You have proven your survival capabilities, your endurance, and strength of mind. Now it is time to test if your eloquence, tact, and grace are as noble—if they remain at all. Dance classes and etiquette lessons will be held. Terrulia’s ruler must be refined and dignified, a respected individual who will rise above all others.

In a week’s time, the academy will host a ball to celebrate every Potential who remains, as well as a crowning ceremony for our magnificent ruler.

Congratulations to you all once more, and I shall see you at the festivities! ”

Lou clapped her hands, bouncing in her seat as she smiled at us all. “A ball! I was worried it was going to be bad news!”

“Sounded fucking awful to me,” Ace grumbled, earning an elbow to the ribs from Fallon.

Kendra put down her fork, giving her fruit a reprieve. “I think Lou is right. This will be fun.”

“You only agree because you’re dating,” Kayden replied. “That’s how things like that work.”

“Oh, really? Hey, Fallon, what do you think of the ball? Fun idea, yeah?”

Starfish grinned mischievously. “Yahuh, super fun. Can’t wait.”

Kendra raised her brows at Kayden. “How do you feel about the ball now?”

“Ahhh…”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Ace sighed. “Get a tattoo saying ‘Fallon’s bitch’ on your forehead already.”

“Shut up, Twiggy! As if you wouldn’t need to get one too.”

I shook my head, ignoring the two of them as they argued, the others at the table doing much the same. “Silly snappers. I, for one, think it will be gnarly as to dress up and hit the dance floor.”

“It’s a nice break from all the kill or be killed,” Fallon replied, leaning forward on the table as Kayden and Ace continued their spat. I was surprised they hadn’t started throwing fists. Hmmm, I guessed there was still time. “What do you think, Noah?”

“There could be more than meets the eye. Nothing is ever as it seems.”

Starfish smiled at him. “Always the sceptic.”

My cuff buzzed on my wrist as the screen flashed black to white to black until words appeared.

Was this another message from my siblings?

The trial had made me realise that they were the ones back home who truly cared about me and had sent me the letter.

Not my dad. Were they sending me another warning?

Strange they didn’t use the Acadameet App.

Only one way to find out.

‘Watch alone.’

Okie dokie, crab karaoke.

I glanced at the others, but they hadn’t noticed anything, either busy chatting about the upcoming ball or still deep in an argument. Those dudes… so much pent-up tension. I chuckled to myself because I could think of a few ways to let that out.

Later, Zaney, later.

Rising to my feet, I headed back towards the service area, using the excuse that I needed the pastry Noah had, which I did.

It was a necessity. On the way, I tapped the screen of my cuff, and a video began to play.

There was no audio, but it was dark and whoever was filming was moving around erratically, almost like they were trying not to get caught.

Maybe it wasn’t from Zach and the others after all.

Was this Kayden and Ace letting me in on a secret prank on Noah?

I grinned. Those tricksy tuna fish.

Slowing my steps so I wouldn’t crash into any tables, I watched as a door I didn’t recognise opened, and then there were a bunch of people sitting on the floor, their arms tied behind their backs and looking like shit.

Their faces were dirty, their hair at all angles.

To my shock, I noticed how gaunt they were like they hadn’t eaten in a while.

This message was definitely not from anyone close to me.

Getting secret messages was suddenly not so fun anymore.

Dread pooled in my gut as the video kept playing, and I froze on the spot just as a hand in the video reached out, tilting up the chin of the person closest.

No. It can’t be. No.

Zuri’s eyes stared back at me, red-rimmed and filled with fear. My sister. The screen flashed black, and then words that sent a chill down my spine filled the screen.

‘If you ever want to see your sister again, you’ll do exactly what you’re told. Expect further instructions soon. Tell no one or she dies.’