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Chapter Eight

Secrets

Chase

Two weeks earlier…

Luxor Labs

He smellslike metal.

Clean. Polished. Sterile.

Like a true scientist and founder of my father’s company star drug—DUST. A drug meant to create mindless soldiers that follow one leader under one mind. And like any drug, you need somewhere to test it. And I’m doing just that, even if I have to fall to my knees and fuck for it.

Money wouldn’t work for a man like Dr. Elias Goldberg.

No.

He enjoys something I have–a nice thick cock, and it’s not like I was cheating. I am as free as they come, but not for long, if I can change it.

“I told you not to come back here,” he spits out, running his hand over his ash grey hair, but his eyes are already undressing me. I lean into the steel table, tongue wetting my lower lip, my black shirt undone just enough for him to see the bite mark Tate left on me.

He likes it when I’m marked…

He says it makes me look eager…

“Come on Doc, you miss me.”

My finger slides up the cool table.

“I miss you.”

The lie comes easy when you’re doing something for love. He walks slowly, hand already pressing against the bulge, I swallow hard as I bat my eyelashes for him.

“DUST is not a drug for you. Trust my word, Summer Time Madness is not the place for you if you want to come out alive.”

His words should scare me, but all it does is put the pieces together. Give my Queen the evolution she desperately chases, and Tate the connection…

It’s perfect.

Only if I get what I want… which I’m sure I will.

I smile. “That’s exactly why I want in.”

He shakes his head. “Why?”

Because my name is Chase fucking Calderon, and I’m tired of living in the shadows of those I love. I want to play their games–be included in their mental battles. Be the one to fucking finally pulling the strings, even if I have to fuck the scientist that will create death or evolution.

“Cordelia is going. I’ll make sure of it.”

Elias cups the back of my neck, his eyes studying me. Everyone knows who Cordelia Suarez is. The upcoming botanist and scientist, ‘The Plant Whisperer.’ There’s been enough articles written about the prodigy, but what makes Cordy special is her blood.

And no one would have known that if she wouldn’t have gotten cut during the observations. The way the spores react to her blood was something truly groundbreaking. This is why I trust my plan... Trust our love.

We will transcend.

I just need to get her there.

His hands slip behind my waistband. “You want those tickets. Earn them.”

Tate’s hands slide up my back, curling around the base of my neck.

“You good?” Scanning me in a way you would look at a test subject.

“Couldn’t be better, I’m just excited for the festival.”

The lie tastes bitter on my lips, and the guilt of deceiving him claws at me, but how else can I get what I want?

How else can I get them to give in?

I just want to give them a taste, small enough to feel but not enough to digest. Tightening my fist around the DUST packet inside my pocket, my lips curl into a smile.

There’s no going back now.

Everything so far has gone according to plan, now all I need to do is get them alone. I want to make sure when we touch down on Luna Island, they are bonded.

Nothing says bonded than good hate fuck. It’s been a while since I watched them–my dick jolts at the memory. It’s truly beautiful watching fire and ice come together.

“Did you hear her say she graded my thesis?” he asks, as he pulls out a joint from a glass container.

“No, I didn’t. Why? Does it bother you?”

Tate takes a long, deep pull from the joint, the smoke curling around the corner of his lips.

“It doesn’t.” He exhales. “Her acknowledgement is what pisses me off, that I care about it. Her approval made me hum with satisfaction.”

I pluck the joint from his lips, leaning into the metal railing.

“What you need to do is fuck her, get it out of your system. We are here to have fun, nerd.”

He scoffs.

“Speaking of Cordy, where is she?”

Tate shrugs.

“Probably in her room, there’s no one here.”

I nod in agreement, passing the joint back to Tate after taking a pull from the herb. “Do you think she’s onto something?”

My brows knit together. “What can she be up to?”

I place one of my hands on each of his shoulders and shake him.

“It’s a music festival, genius, not a fucking college campus. Just fuck her.”

My hand moves down from his shoulder, slithering down his taut stomach, and stopping right on his thick bulge.

“Fuck her.”

Tate snickers.

“Yeah, okay,” he says before pulling away and leaving.

Which is fine by me, I want to be alone right now. They’re the ones in need of reconnecting. I know where I stand. Leaning into the railing, I continue to watch the waves as the ferry cuts through the water. It’s funny how the world keeps spinning even when you’re about to die.

Tate thinks I got the tickets.

Cordy thinks I’m just an obedient knight.

Neither of them knows the truth. I built this moment–lied, sucked, traded, and sold myself to get us here.

They think it’s just a party, but little do they know, this is a fucking experiment. A controlled outbreak on a quarantined island. If only they knew what’s already inside their system–ours.

They will hate me for it–but there’s a chance that their curious and intelligent minds will see me as their equal, and see the beauty in the gift that I’m offering.

Love doesn’t come without sacrifice. It is the ultimate test. But knowledge is power, like Tate likes to say, and they will thank me when the time comes.

We just have to survive first.