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A rctic

It’s a tentative yes, but I have a few conditions of my own.

I jump up and fist-pump the air. “Yes!” It’s been a long time since I felt excited about anything.

Too long.

I sit back down as another message comes in almost immediately after the first.

For the record, I still think it’s a bad idea.

I type one straight back.

You won’t regret it. I’ll see you a little later.

Three bubbles appear and then disappear and then appear again before disappearing. I don’t take my eyes off the phone the whole time. A minute later, a message finally comes through.

What? Wait. Tonight? You’re coming over so soon?

I smile and type a message back.

Yes. Tonight. There is no time like the present, Paisley.

I wait for a few long-ass minutes but get nothing back, which I fucking love. Most females would be thrilled about my proposal. Most would beg me to come over immediately. They wouldn’t need any time to think my proposal through. They’d be all in from the start.

I’m not being arrogant; it’s a fact. I had several Tributes proposition me even before they found out that I am the king. Since my secret got out. Sally has passed me several messages a day from Tributes. Some were ladies asking me out and some were downright dirty propositions.

Paisley is nothing like them, and it makes me like her and want her so much more.

I have one little problem. Just the one. I’m hoping I can get around it. I type out another text. This time to a different person.

I need to see you now.

Steel reads my message and replies.

Can’t it wait?

I smile. I’m glad I have one other person in my life who I can trust to say it like it is. Frost, too. He and I have gotten closer since the whole Ice debacle. I try not to think about Ice. Not tonight.

No, it can’t wait. You know where I am. Get here now.

I hit “send.”

Less than ten minutes later, he knocks on the door to my chamber. I check the camera to be sure and it’s his ugly mug staring back at me. My royal guards are standing at attention on either side of the door. I buzz him in.

“You called?” he says as he walks in. “This had better be good. I had just gotten home after a long-ass day of work when you messaged me.” Then he gives me a sheepish look. “Shit! The execution is in two days. Let me guess, you’re struggling with—”

“Hello to you, too. This has nothing to do with the execution. In fact, I don’t want to talk about it. Can I get you a beer…whiskey, maybe? Why are you so fucking touchy?”

“Is this a social call?” He narrows his eyes.

“Yes.”

“You called me over before I even had a chance to shower for a social? It could have waited half an hour, Arctic. What’s up?”

“It couldn’t wait because I have somewhere to be later.” I go over to the fridge and grab two beers, handing one to him.

I uncap my beer and take a long drink.

“Not outside of this castle, I hope.”

“Yes, outside of this castle.”

He frowns hard. “Do you have a date with one of the Tributes?” He looks skeptical. “I heard something about it being date night tonight or some shit. Is this date unexpected because I haven’t seen a request for guards?”

“It’s not a date. Not exactly.”

He cocks his head; I can almost hear his mind working. “Okay, but you do want to leave the castle. Is that where this is going?”

“Yes. It’s delicate. I need—”

“Delicate, how? What do you mean by delicate?” He’s prickly as fuck. I think he senses where this is going. Steel isn’t stupid. “You’re meeting a Tribute, but it’s not a date. What is—”

“I’m not meeting a Tribute.”

He raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue. When I don’t, he says, “This isn’t making sense. You’re going to the human accommodation to meet with someone, but it’s not a date and not with a Tribute.” He frowns. “Do you have a meeting?”

“Nope.”

“And it’s delicate?”

“Yes. It’s—”

“Wait a fucking minute! You’re meeting her , aren’t you? That sexy human you can’t take your eyes off of. It’s her, isn’t it?” He puts the unopened beer down and starts clicking his fingers. “Paisley. It’s the redhead. You’re meeting her. It’s not a meeting, but it is delicate.”

I nod once. “I don’t want you to make a big deal out of this.”

“Why meet her at night? Why is it so delicate? Holy fuck, Arctic. She’s a staff member. She’s not a Tribute. What are you doing? I knew it.” He looks up at the ceiling for a moment. “When I caught you two in the closet the other night, you insisted it was nothing. I fucking knew it. I shouldn’t be so surprised. I guess I never expected it from you.”

“Don’t make such a big deal over this.” I take a sip of my beer, put the bottle down, and open Steel’s. “Here.”

He takes the bottle and puts it back down. “It is a big deal. It’s a huge deal. How long have you been fucking her, and is it serious?”

“I haven’t fucked her yet.”

“Good! I can stop you from making a mistake, then. Trust me, you’ll regret it.”

“There is nothing you can say to stop me from meeting her tonight. I’m attracted to Paisley, but there’s nothing else there. It’s the same for her. You have my word on that. I’m not going to get into it with you. We’re fucking. It’s going to happen often over the next week or two…max, and then we’ll be done. Get used to the idea and fast.”

He rolls his eyes and curses under his breath. “Why Paisley? Pick a Tribute. Any Tribute.”

“I don’t want a Tribute.”

“You can’t mate your staff member.” He opens his phone and starts scrolling.

“I have no plans to mate with Paisley. Calm the fuck down. Aren’t you listening? It’s to break a dry spell. That’s all. We’ve discussed it. What are you doing?” I ask when he keeps scrolling. His eyes move from side to side, and his lips move while he reads.

“I’m reading her file. She’ll be thirty-six in two months. Human females are most fertile in their twenties. After that, there is a major decline year on year. Thirsty-six is too fucking old. She doesn’t meet the criteria. The Tributes are in the perfect window.”

“You can stop talking and listen to me, asshole!”

That shuts him up. His jaw is tight, and his eyes are blazing.

“We’re going to break our dry spell together. Long story short, she’s in a similar position to me. Then we’re going to move along on our merry ways. I will move forward with a Tribute.” It sounded better when I was putting the proposal forward to Paisley. I don’t give a shit. It’s my decision.

The end!

Steel looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Why not do that with a Tribute? You’re putting her job at risk. You’re putting this pilot program at risk for the sake of getting your dick wet.”

“It isn’t for the sake of getting my dick wet, and you know it. I haven’t so much as looked at another female since Anya died. I haven’t been able to until now. Paisley gets me. She understands my grief…my pain because she feels the same.”

“Is she a widow? It says here that she’s divorced.”

“Her ex left her during a difficult time. He was her first love, her husband, her entire world, and he left her, and it broke her heart. She’s sad and sorry, just like I am.”

“So you need to fuck her better?” Steel starts laughing. “Do you even hear yourself?”

“I’m stuck, Steel. I can’t move forward; I’ve tried. Paisley is the key. I hope I can help her move on, too. I know it sounds crazy, but—”

“It does sound crazy. And you’re sure that once you’ve got this attraction out of your system, you’ll be able to move on?”

“Yes,” I say without hesitation. “It’s this or I’m leaving the program.”

“And you’re sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Yes. I think it’s going to work.” I nod a few times. “No one can know about this. Not a soul. I need to be able to get to her and back without being detected.”

“Two weeks, and then you’re done?”

“Give or take.”

He groans. “You love making my job impossible, don’t you? You do realize that you still have a target on your back, Arctic?” He shakes his head, looking like he’s thinking it through. “I’ll put in extra hours. I’ll get a team together of males I know I can trust. I’m doing this because I want to see you happy. I want to see you move forward. I do have to caution you about becoming attached to this female. The Council would never accept her, and you know it.”

“The Council can kiss my ass,” I grumble, even though I know he’s right.

“Arctic!”

“Fine! It won’t happen! I won’t get attached. I swear it! It’ll never happen,” I mutter the last, meaning it wholeheartedly.

“Famous last words, bro,” he smirks, but his stance is tight.

“I won’t! I’m still sticking to the original plan, just with a slight detour, that’s all.”

He looks at me long and hard before nodding. “I got your back, but it can’t go on for too long.”

“It won’t.”

“Good. When do you want to leave for her place?” he asks.

“Three hours? Or will you need more time to assemble a team?”

“I should be able to get a plan and a team together by then. I will need to do something about the CCTV cameras.” He lifts his eyes in thought and then gives his head a shake. “I’ll sort it out.”

“Thank you, my friend.” I clasp his forearm.

“Don’t make me regret this.”

“I won’t.” We both smile. I feel happy for the first time in so damned long that the emotion is foreign for a few beats. Then my smile widens, and so does his.