Page 62 of A Simple Truth (the Freckled Fate #2)

61

FINNLEAH

“ D efense is a lot easier than offense. So, we better get that stupid flag,” Ashe snarled near me as she locked in the last piece of her armor. Their protection was quite different than the typical Destroyer soldier; instead of solid, heavy metal it was leather, woven together with small, tungsten plates, almost like leather-woven scales. I adjusted in my spot, anxiously cracking my fingers.

I had seen every game leading to the Finals. We had practiced every single day too, learning strategy and game plan until it was muscle memory.

And yet, somehow it was not as comforting as I had hoped it would be, now that I stood on the threshold leading to the arena.

The Finals had three rounds. The winning league against the Ten.

Today was the first one; the easiest one of them all.

All we had to do was capture the flag that was randomly hidden somewhere on the premise of this small island. Whatever team captured the flag in the first round got to place it in their territory during the next round and defend it from the other team. Then, the losing team from the first round had two games to capture it back. By the end of those two games, whoever had the flag was the ultimate winner.

“Ready?” Gia winked at me as she pinned any flyaway hairs.

“I think so,” I replied, unsure. Ioanna handed me a jar of black paint as she dragged two fingers across her face. I copied the gesture, passing the jar to the twins next to me.

“Your first War Games are the best! You’ll love them! It’s so exciting!” Tori squealed near me.

Excitement was not quite the word I’d use, but I just smiled in return.

A horn sounded through the morning air, and we fervently climbed up the carved, rocky stairs leading to the top of the island that now served as our arena.

“This is new,” I whispered to Ashe, my eyes widening as we approached the top. The whole landscape of the island was changed.

“Courtesy of Creators. They changed things up for the Finals. It makes it more fair, since neither team is aware of the layout or where the flag is.”

How wonderful.

“So, we just wander the whole island until we find the flag or get killed?”

“Pretty much,” Ashe retorted, as if it was no big deal.

“The goal is to make them all tap out first and then just scavenge for the flag,” Cass clarified.

“Good thing it’s a small island, I guess,” I mumbled, my hands clenched into fists while my heart pumped at crazy speeds.

My eyes scanned the crowds that had gathered to see the games, there were the De Villiars madly waving at me, Aurelia jumping up with a large poster she’d drawn for me. I smiled and waved back at them. My heart eased seeing their excitement for me. However, that immediately changed as I saw Zora’s figure marching towards us with fury written on her face.

“What happened during the captain meeting?” Gia asked, as the Ten circled around her.

“Oh, you will see in just a minute,” she hissed.

And we did.

The ten battalion commanders came marching out across the field.

“They are back!?” Tori screamed so loudly that I flinched at the volume in my ear as both twins were jumping with glee. In fact, all of the Ten lit up with happiness as they saw their husbands strolling towards us.

“Not only are they back, but they are also the ones we will be fighting today.”

“Hold on. Did you just say we are fighting them ?” Motra turned back to Zora.

“Yep. Apparently, they fought Georgino’s team earlier today and won.”

“Are they allowed to do that?” Cass commented through wide smile without turning her gaze away from her beloved as he stared with hungry eyes at her.

But I didn’t care for the rest of the conversation as my own heart stopped beating as I saw him . The man that had left flowers on my nightstand each morning, despite being miles away, that made dumb jokes making me smile and laugh. The man I saw in a completely different light now as he made his way through the battalion commanders to the front.

“Hello, ladies,” Gideon crooned. My mind turned blank as he sent a small smirk towards me.

“Oh, and, Gideon is also playing,” Zora muttered, clearly unhappy with the decision. The Ten all turned to her at that.

“But he’s banned!” Ioanna whispered as the Ten exchanged questioning looks between themselves.

“You have a Justice Wielder, it’s only fair we have one too,” Orest added, visibly enjoying the riled up look on Zora’s face.

“I am more than happy to sit this one out.” I raised my hand, turning to Zora.

“Oh, hell no. They want to play dirty, then let’s play dirty.” Zora narrowed her eyes at Orest with her intimidating glare, but he didn’t back down. In fact, he wasn’t even remotely concerned.

“Worried you’ll lose, Zorianna?” he purred. “I promise I’ll be gentle when I make you tap out.”

“I hope you enjoy suffering, Orest. Because I won’t show you mercy.” Zora snapped back.

“Oh, how lucky for us then, that I do in fact enjoy that,” he cooed, sneering wide at her.

My eyes broadened at his words, in complete shock; Gia elbowed me to close my dropped mouth. In my entire time here, I had never seen him like this: so smug and competitive. A whole dark side to the usually quiet and reserved Orest, that made me smirk as I shook my head. Zora still stared him down, both exchanging in a silent conversation with their eyes, an argument that I think went way beyond the actual game.

“The Flag has been set. You have a 5-minute warning prior to the game,” The referee’s voice echoed through the large crowds.

Zora motioned the Ten to gather around as she sifted through strategies.

“Gideon obviously will have to be dealt with.” Her eyes lifted up to me.

“If you think I can fight him,” I started.

“No, but he will look for you, so you just have to draw him out long enough for us to capture the flag,” Zora continued as the Ten nodded. I opened my mouth to object. But she quickly commanded, “Seduce him if you need to. I don’t care. I am not losing this game to Orest.”

“Oh, so I’m not allowed to go to his tent when I want to but now, you all are okay pimping me out?” My brow shot up.

“It’s War Games. Anything goes. Plus, kissing worked well for you before.” Ashe chuckled. Our five-minute huddle was interrupted with the loud uproar of the crowd.

“What are they doing?” I asked, anxious, as the Ten turned around to face all eleven men undressing. All of them were now standing shirtless near us.

Though all of them were different shapes and colors, they all equally possessed masterfully crafted bodies of warriors.

“Oh, now we are fucked,” Ioanna whispered as she bit her lip, watching her husband wink at her as he pulled his undershirt over his head.

“Why don’t you pull your pants down too while you are at it!” Motra shouted at her red-haired fighter.

“That’s your job, woman!” he shouted back, laughing, Motra shook her head, turning back to us.

“I am going to fuck him so hard for that tonight,” she whispered to the couple of us still paying attention.

“We haven’t seen them in a month, and they are doing this now ?!” Tori swallowed and even silent Lulu signed passionately to her husband.

“Little fuckers. They know exactly what they are doing…” Zora was raging, but even with her anger, she couldn’t blink fast enough to pull her eyes away from Orest, who was the tallest of them all, now standing with his arms folded as he stared her down.

I couldn’t blame her. Because I too found myself unable to look away as the General, without breaking his gaze from me, slowly dragged his fingers dipped in black paint across his chest, making two lines going from his shoulder down through his chiseled chest and stone-like abs, stopping just above the seam of his pants.

“We need to start this game soon, Zora, or this crowd is about to get a whole different kind of show,” Yanush grumbled.

“Give them hell, girls,” Zora shouted as the referee sounded the final horn, signaling the start.

There were only two strategies to win this round.

We could fight them right here, right now, or go straight for the woods looking for the flag, hoping that we would find it first.

Though, depending on what strategy they were going with, we might not have much of a choice.

Draw him out. I swallowed as I allowed myself one more glance at the General, only to immediately look away because he was still shamelessly staring at me, his heavy gaze turning me instantly molten. I was so acutely aware of his eyes on me, as I shifted on my feet that I found myself so damn thirsty.

For actual water, that is, Finnleah, gods dammit keep it together.

Focus.

Breathe. I drew in the last remnants of anger within me, watching the sky for the red flare. I mentally counted the last seconds.

Four… Three… Two…

One.

And then, chaos started. The Ten moved in an ideal formation as we ran for the woods, away from the half-dressed men. Zora, Gia, Cori, and I were on defense as we summoned the shields, protecting the rest of the Ten; Lulu, Ioanna, and Yanush went on the offense, sending never-ending flaming rain at the men. Tori, Motra, and Cass were already sprinting deep into the woods.

“On the left…” I shouted to Gia and Zora, quickly moving in that direction myself, as I sent a shield to block the incoming fire.

The first few minutes of the game had passed, and we were ahead with a few scouts spread out in the forest.

Gods, we were good. Notes of complete pride and accomplishment ran through me, eliminating whatever fear was initially there.

“Raw fire incoming!” Yanush shouted as I swiftly sent my shield over to her and Ioanna. My eyes darted to the source of it, only to find Gideon curiously observing from the back, not even a tiny bit of worry on his face; while he leisurely sauntered about.

“Go!” I shouted to Ioanna, Yanush, and Lulu as they nodded, and I covered them as they darted in between the shields. Soon Yanush and Ioanna were gone too.

“Draw him out!” Zora yelled. I winced sending a large heat wave towards the couple of soldiers going after our freshly departed scouts.

“Fine,” I yelled back.

“Cover!” Gia’s voice roared as more incoming raw fire shredded through the sky. I darted my eyes to him, my brows furrowed as I smothered it before it could reach her. Pleasant surprise flashed on the General’s face. “We have to go now!” Gia motioned with her hand. I sent my own fire wave, just enough for the last of us to sprint away from the opening into the maze of trees and hills of the island.

Fuck . I winced as I stubbed my toe against a rock but continued running, only occasionally glancing behind me to make sure I wasn’t followed. My lungs burned more than ever until I had finally slowed from a sprint to a casual jog, and, eventually a walk. I was climbing over the crumbling boulders, occasionally lifting my head to the skies watching out for the flares that the Ten had come up with to communicate.

One flare — enemy sighted.

Two flares — enemy is down.

Three flares — they were out.

Four flares — meant absolutely nothing but we were to use it to confuse the enemy. That one was my personal favorite. I sent four sparks up in the sky.

Though the morning sun climbed high above us, the trees provided just enough shade to hide between.

I moved my tight braid from my shoulder, assessing. Each game I had watched lasted no longer than an hour. And though we battled on a whole new terrain with a team I had yet to see in action, all I had to do was to stay in the game for an hour or so.

I also needed to keep a certain General occupied during that time, so the Ten could find the flag. And as long as I didn’t engage with him in direct combat, I could do that.

I trailed up the small path, climbing over a large hill. Each one of the groups of scouts would’ve already climbed a tree to try and find the flag. I spotted one flare far off in the distance. In response, I sent four flares up. A few more flares shot up in the sky signaling the good progress that we had made.

After wandering for another fifteen minutes, I had officially decided War Games were quite boring once you were in them; nothing but a regular stroll.

A happy smile crept up as I saw a few additional “the enemy was down” flares light up the sky.

“Let’s see how smart you truly are, General.” A wicked grin stretched across my lips as I sent a large heatwave through the woods, then a couple of fire spheres, burning little shrubs nearby. I summoned a few more, sending them far up and out, as if I was in an imaginary battle. Perhaps, if he wasn’t tracking me before, he would now if he thought I was proactively fighting.

Was it a bit shady to trick him like that?

Maybe.

But like Ashe said: regular rules didn’t apply in War Games.

Plus, he was the one who hadn’t bothered to tell me he was going to be back today.

So, it was only fair.

I casually hiked up another hill, stepping over scattered rocks and roots. A few flares lit up the sky three of the Ten were down, and only one more of the enemy. I sent my four flares up and four others copied it.

The plan was to scout for the flag north, west, and east and meet in the middle, where I was unhurriedly heading.

As it turned out, the middle was an open field, which I didn’t like. Here, I felt like a sitting duck. But maybe it served me well, considering I was indeed the bait for the enemy. I made it out of the forest, walking through the knee high grass.

“Come find me,” I sweetly sang, immediately regretting it as my eyes noticed the large, red flag peeking past a few shrubs ahead.

I was a running distance away.

“ Thank you, Lady Fate! ” I mumbled in excitement as I took off, running up the sloped field faster as the air whooshed from my lungs. I ignored the additional flares; more of us down, but it didn’t matter because I was here and so was the flag.

But before I could take another step, a large fire rope wrapped around my ankles, yanking me straight to the ground.

“Going somewhere?” the General purred.

Oh, now he shows up? I grumbled to myself as I maneuvered out of his ropes, ripping them with my heat shields, managing to stand up and bolt again towards the flag.

But the General hastily caught up with me in a few large strides. I wheezed as another set of ropes, this time wrapping around my waist, jerked my whole body to him until I was tight against his bare chest.

“You think you can run away from me ?” he whispered in my ear. His warm hand tenderly tucked the hair from my face, his thumb tracing down my jawline until he tilted my head up to his. His lips almost touched mine as he whispered, “I’ve missed you, Finnleah.” My breaths were uneven for all the wrong reasons as I closed my eyes, leaning into his touch as he held me close, his lips lightly brushing against mine. “But I don’t appreciate you drawing me out with your false fighting alarms,” he replied, still not letting me out of his tight embrace.

“It worked, didn’t it,” I retorted as the corner of my mouth tugged upwards and the world didn’t seem so daunting anymore, now that he was close.

“I would’ve come for you either way,” Gideon murmured as he landed another kiss on top of my head. My lungs expanded in a large breath, taking in his smoky scent as shivers ran down my body at his closeness. “Though, it is rather convenient that you brought me to the flag.”

“I saw it first,” I objected, daring to open my eyes, only to be met with his handsome smile.

“That’s not how War Games work. Have you never played Capture The Flag?” His chest shook under my hands as he laughed. “I promised Orest a win, and supposedly I have to play fair, considering my previous ban from the game.”

“Zora will murder me.”

“Maybe she’ll kick you out and you could finally stay at my tent,” he purred. “At least, that’s what I’m hoping for.” He grinned and my cheeks flushed pink, as my body eagerly agreed with his enticing suggestion.

“You know, I just thought about it…” I theatrically paused. “And I’d rather get the flag myself.” With that, I sent my strongest heatwave straight at him, pushing us both apart. My body bounced from the heatwave, closer to the flag.

“As you wish.” The General sent a flaming rope towards me, but I blocked it, then he sent another one, and I masterfully deflected it too. Each time, I took half a step closer, letting him push me towards the flag. All I had to do was simply touch it and the enchantment would send a red heatwave through the terrain, immediately stopping the game.

A few flares lit up the sky again, but I ignored them.

Just a few more steps, and I’d reach it.

“You’ve gotten stronger,” the General noted, impressed, as I blocked another attack, his words filling me with hidden joy.

“Zora did one hell of a training job. In fact, she is the best trainer I’ve ever had.” I threw a jab at him, he rolled his eyes, not hiding his smirk laced with wicked intent.

“Be sure to tell her that when you lose,” he said.

“I would, but I don’t plan on losing, General.” I sent a heatwave at him and though he didn’t fall, he stumbled. Stumbled . “Maybe she can teach you a thing or two as well.” I showed him my tongue and darted for the flag. He glared from under his lashes, taking a long breath.

“I don’t want to fight and hurt you, Finnleah.”

“Well, that’s too bad, because I’m not giving you this flag without a fight,” I argued, conjuring a large sphere.

“We both know you will not win in a fight against me. But how about this. I’ll trade the flag for another kiss from you.”

My eyes flickered with suspicion.

“Are you saying if I kiss you…you’ll let me keep the flag? You’ll lose a game for me? For a kiss ?” I rolled my eyes, not believing him as we crept forward. Now, the flag was almost within my reach; just another step.

“For a kiss from you, I’d do anything.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, silently questioning, and he just shrugged.

“One kiss and the flag is mine?” I repeated, my mind eager to fulfill my part of the bargain, not really caring for anything else.

“Precisely,” he reassured.

“A kiss on your mouth, and not on anything else ?” I arched my brow up, as his eyes widened.

“What kind of man do you think I am, Finnleah? Gods…a kiss on the lips will do. But now that you mention it…it’s only a matter of time until you come crawling for the other kind as well.” He ran his thumb down his lips as his eyes devoured me, making my knees almost buckle.

“One kiss, and you have a deal.” I kept my shields up, not wholly trusting this idea, though the fire ceased, and he’d approached me.

“Go on, then. Give me my kiss and let’s end this game.” He stopped only a breath away, then closed his eyes and pursed his lips.

Such an idiot. I smiled as I shook my head at him, lowering my shields and rising on my tippy toes. I wrapped both of my hands around his face pulling him down a bit as I landed a kiss. I was going for a small peck but his arms wrapped around my waist pulling me tight against his hardened body. His mouth and his tongue demanded more than just a simple caress, my entire body begging him to take me entirely. My mouth opened wider letting him in as our tongues intertwined together. No, this kiss was nothing like an innocent embrace, this was a kiss with a clear promise behind it, one that sent a shiver down my spine and filled my body with undeniable need.

“It is a shame, though, that your-best-trainer-ever didn’t teach you to make stronger contracts, Finnleah,” he mumbled a second later, swiftly twisting me in his arms, making one large lunge for the flag, grabbing the pole and immediately ending the game. Only then, only after he had ended the game , he handed it off to me. “Your flag, my love, as agreed.”

I gawked at him, completely stunned, “Oh, you’re such an asshole!” I threw the flag back at him and he caught it. “You…you...” I was so astonished that I couldn’t even finish a coherent sentence.

“What? You think you are the only one who can twist my affections towards you for their own benefit?” He laughed as my face turned red from anger and a bit of embarrassment. “You still have so much to learn. Perhaps for a few more of the other kisses, I could teach you a thing or two.”

Before I could reply, the referees zoomed in on us, announcing Orest and his team as the winners of the first round. I didn’t have to see Zora to know the absolute wrath churning her blood into butter, her face drained of all the color, now a vivid contrast to her black hair and her face tattoo.

“It seems you have a celebration to attend,” I bitterly spat at the General as the rest of the competitors gathered around us.

“It seems so.” He lowered his voice, adding with a sultry whisper, “Find me later.”

I snarled at his arrogant look turning my eyes towards the approaching Ten.

“What happened…” I asked as I saw Lulu’s limp figure with blood running down her face, the twins carrying her up.

“She refused to tap out. So, her husband resorted to knocking her out instead of killing her,” Motra wiped the dirt off her brow.

“How nice,” I mumbled, feeling just as pissed off as I looked. The rest of the group were treading together, bunching up in a small circle, except for Zora. She just kept marching past us, towards Orest, who took a few steps away from his team, already awaiting her arrival.

“Nice game, Captain, don’t you agree?” he tormented her, aware of the pure rage boiling in her eyes.

“Ohhh….” She pointed at him but couldn’t come up with any words as she shook her finger. “You…You…”

“Me what?” he instigated, taking a step closer to her, until her pointed finger sunk into his chest.

“You won’t be as lucky the second time around,” Zora snarled, her hand lingering on his bare chest for a second too long before she lowered it down.

“Oh, luck doesn’t have anything to do with it. It’s all about skills and strategies,” he purred, precisely aware of how much those words would make her angry. I watched them duel with their eyes for another moment, realizing that I had never met two more competitive people than them. “Good game, Captain.” Orest extended his hand out and she hesitantly shook it, yet instead of letting go, he jerked her body close to his. “See you on the field tomorrow.” Zora glared at him but didn’t say anything until she marched back to us.

“We’ve lost the flag, not the Games, so we can still win this,” she proclaimed. “Second game is tomorrow morning. So, sorry ladies, but no whoring around with your husbands tonight.” The Ten let out a frustrating sigh. “Don’t look at me like that. They don’t get to enjoy their wins either.”

“Maybe we’d compete better if we all finally got laid,” Ioanna protested.

“We can try and find out what their strategy is,” Yanush added, hopeful.

“We are going into complete lockdown until we win this shit,” Zora grumbled.