Page 14

fourteen

MOLLY

I settled against Cameron’s bare chest, and he slid his fingers back through my hair. “The Society isn’t stationed in just one location. They own three homes in every place they rotate between, and there’s no required order that they have to visit. They go where they feel they can be the most effective.”

“ Three homes?” I asked.

“The leading couple works as one with their right and left hands, remember?”

“The right and left hands are the other two couples?”

“Mmhm.”

“Are they also elected?” I asked.

“They are. The current right hands have no children, and keep to themselves for the most part. The lefts are loosely related to Chris. They aren’t much liked, but the last couple in their position was Rhett’s family. They lost their lives in the human war, and the current pair were the runners-up in the last election.”

“Shit,” I murmured. “No wonder you and Rhett are close, if you grew up together while both of your parents led the Society.”

Cameron nodded. “In an ideal world, Rhett and his mate would take his parents’ place when we take mine. That would require him winning a mate, though, and he’s grown even more volatile in his age than I have. On top of that, he has no desire to compete.”

“He didn’t seem volatile to me. You don’t either.”

“Not dangerous , volatile. Possessive , volatile. Fae grow more beastly as we age alone. It’s the instinct to survive pushing us to find and claim a partner before it’s too late. We have little control over it, but it affects some more than others.”

“And Rhett is one of them?”

“Yes.”

“And even if he wants to, he can’t go on Bachelorette if he’s that possessive,” I said.

“Nope.”

“Were his parents as involved as yours? If they were still here, would they make him take a mate somehow?”

“They were worse than mine.” He flashed me a small grin. “My parents have decided he’s their second son since his parents passed. I’d put a lot of money on them somehow forcing him to play Survival in the next season or two.”

Which meant at least one more woman was going to be trapped in my position.

“Would they let us warn the woman, at least? I don’t want anyone else being suddenly forced into this if there’s something we can do about it.”

“Not before the next season. We’ll need to seal the bond as soon as we leave the island, and we won’t be functioning in Society that first week or two afterward. They won’t wait more than a few days before starting the next game.”

“We could seal the bond after we talk to your parents,” I suggested.

Cam chuckled. “No can do, Lolli. I’m making you mine the moment I’ve won.”

My face warmed. “Rhett told me they started playing our season on TV already. So the next girl will probably have an idea it’s a possibility, at least. She might even have time to strategize.”

A moment passed, my thoughts still turning. “If Rhett won, would he get elected like you?”

“Like us , yes. Quickly,” he agreed. “Rhett is very well-liked, but all of fae Society knows he’s determined not to take a mate, which makes getting elected impossible.”

My forehead creased. “Why is he so against it? I thought he needs a mate to survive.”

“He fell in love with a human a long time ago. Decided he wanted to marry her. He proposed, and she said yes. When he told her what he was a few weeks later, and that he wouldn’t age when she did, she was horrified. Threw the ring at him and ended it immediately. She died a few years back, and he went to the funeral, still in love with her. He’d rather fade than tie himself to anyone else.”

“Holy shit.”

“Fae love deeply, and intensely. It’s how we’re made.”

“Guess it’s a good thing for you that you made sure I’m yours,” I said.

He chuckled. “A damn good thing.”

“How are we playing it when we get back to the beach?” I asked.

“We’re done playing. We already won the game. When we go back, everyone will realize you’re mine. I’ll tell them I managed to seduce you while we were on the boat.”

“If we keep it a secret, it could help the girl in the next season,” I countered. “What if her guard is brought in too?”

“If that happens, he’ll be the first to go no matter what he says or does. No one would let this happen again.”

My lips curved upward. “I guess not.”

“We may have ruined someone else’s plans, though. Good work.” He kissed my forehead, and I laughed.

“You’re an ass.”

“A clever ass.”

I couldn’t deny that.

We spent the rest of the evening watching a movie while snuggled up together, then fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Early the next morning, Rhett knocked on the door and said it was time to go back to the island.

Though I knew it was a little ridiculous, Cameron and I hadn’t been walking around naked together. So, I wrapped myself in a towel before I went back to the bathroom for the despised green bikini. I tossed Cam’s shorts out too, and his chuckle told me he got the message.

He was dressed and waiting when I emerged. Leaning up against the wall in nothing but those shorts, he was chest-achingly gorgeous. My yellow sweatshirt was hanging over his arm, waiting for me.

His lips curved when he saw me. “Good to see you in your favorite outfit again.”

I swatted him on the arm with the back of my hand. “I’m burning it as soon as we’re off the island. And never wearing a bra again.”

“I approve of this plan.”

“Shocking.”

He chuckled, and handed me the sweatshirt. “Now that we don’t have to hide anything, you can wear this.”

“I can finally cover my tits? It’s a miracle.” I pulled it over my head and wrapped my arms around myself. “This is true bliss. Screw bikinis and tiny shorts.”

Cam grinned and captured my hand, leading me toward the door. Rhett had his hand lifted, ready to knock again, when we emerged.

He tucked his hands in his pockets. “Ready?”

“Ready for it to be over,” I said, pulling my hair off my face with my free hand. I should’ve braided it or tied it up. My hair tie was around my wrist, but I hadn’t taken the time to use it.

We followed Rhett out to the speedboat connected to the yacht, and sat together on the tiny bench again. Cameron’s arm was around my waist as we went, but my hair kept smacking him in the face.

“Sorry,” I called out, after a particularly violent bump. “Forgot to put it up.”

He laughed and snagged the band from my wrist. When he gathered all my hair for a high ponytail and smoothed the wild strands down, I bit my lip.

The man tied it without a problem, then put his arm around me again

It was sweet.

Really sweet.

The boat docked soon enough, and it didn’t take long to confirm that Cam was right about Reid going home.

Cam and Kyle had been controlling the game—but considering Kyle hadn’t had a clue about my relationship with Cam, Cam had outsmarted everyone.

As guilty as I felt for playing them, that was what the game was about. And since no one on the island had been outraged that I was the game show’s grand prize, the guilt was shallow.

“Ready?” Cameron murmured into my ear, as he held my hand to help me out of the boat.

He didn’t need to worry about showing affection anymore.

The game had changed.

They weren’t competing against each other. They were competing for me.

Unfortunately for them, I’d already decided who the winner was going to be.

Cam didn’t release my hand as we walked up onto the beach. I was a little warm in my sunshine sweatshirt, but it was that much less skin to apply sunblock to. So, I’d take the heat.

Travis looked confused, his forehead creasing at our intertwined fingers.

Kyle’s eyes narrowed.

“Hey,” Cam greeted them.

“What did you do?” Kyle growled.

“Oh, just enjoyed my Lollipop.” Cameron’s grin was wicked.

My face flushed at what he’d implied, but he wasn’t wrong.

Two sets of nostrils flared as the men sniffed me, looking for evidence.

Their eyes darkened when they found it.

Cam’s grin widened.

The bastards could obviously smell him on me. I should’ve showered before going back into the game.

Then again, Cam had wanted to claim me that way. If I’d tried to wash his scent off my skin, he probably would’ve done whatever he needed to reapply it.

Reapply it.

Like it was sunblock.

Which I was also absolutely and completely tired of.

Reapply obviously wasn’t the right term, but whatever.

Anyway, I really wanted to smack him for that nickname right about then. Even though I’d grown to like it for the most part.

Neither of the men said another word as Cam led me to the fire. Or as we took a seat in front of it.

I leaned against his side and he toyed with my hair, neither of us saying much. Talking while the others listened wasn’t quite what we wanted.

After a while, Kyle walked up.

Still naked.

He cleared his throat. “Dolly,” he began.

The look I leveled him with made him sigh. “Molly. Can I talk to you for a minute?”

We’d had plenty of minutes to talk on the many dates he’d won, and I really wasn’t interested in spending any more with him. But I didn’t want to be a bitch, so I nodded anyway.

Cameron’s grip on my hand tightened slightly, and I squeezed to reassure him before pulling free.

I wrapped my sweater-covered arms around my middle so Kyle wouldn’t try to grab my hand like Cam had. Kyle had never done anything entirely inappropriate, but he was definitely a touchy guy.

We walked down the beach in silence, but I didn’t go far enough that Cameron couldn’t see me. I didn’t want him worrying. The possessiveness he’d brought up as part of fae getting older made me want to go easy on the guy.

Even though I still didn’t feel like I knew him well enough to become his mate.

“So, you and Cassette,” Kyle said.

As much as I was used to not looking at him when he spoke, I really wished the guy would start wearing pants again.

“Yep.”

He whistled. “I was under the impression that you hated him for lying to you.”

“I did,” I said.

It wasn’t untrue.

I had hated him… for a few minutes.

I’d just been forced to move on because I had bigger problems than him not telling me exactly what was going to happen when I left the apartment with Rhett.

Survival was the bigger problem.

Kyle was a part of that.

“How did that change?”

“He apologized.” I continued walking slowly beside Kyle, glancing over my shoulder to make sure Cam could still see me. He was relaxed by the fire, in the same place I’d left him. Despite his body position, I knew he was tense on the inside.

“That’s it?”

“I’m a pretty simple woman,” I said. “A genuine apology does wonders. When I gave Cameron a chance to explain himself, he told me the truth about not being allowed to share anything he knew. He had his mind combed before he came, to make sure nothing about guarding me gave him an advantage. If anything, it gave him a disadvantage because all of you knew he knew me. Some of the guys targeted him at the beginning, remember?”

Kyle nodded, though his expression was tight.

Frustrated, too.

“So, if I apologized…” He trailed off, waiting for me to finish the sentence.

“You’d have to know what to apologize for.” My lips curved upward just slightly.

He grimaced.

“I think you know as well as I do that we wouldn’t be happy together, Kyle. You’re a pain in my ass, but you’re not a bad guy. You deserve to find a woman you’d actually fit with. Maybe someone… cheerier than me?”

“I helped Cam get here. At least the bastard will owe me after this.”

I gave him a knowing look. “You helped him get here because you didn’t think there was a chance I’d ever consider choosing him.”

“Maybe,” Kyle grumbled.

I smiled. “ Definitely . Have you ever thought about going on Bachelorette ? I think you’d do pretty well there.”

“Would if I could. The possessiveness is too dangerous.” He shook his head. “I’ll just have to come back here and win the next girl.”

“Well, don’t give up,” I said.

He raised his eyebrows at me. “You do know who you’re talking to, right?”

I laughed. “I know. It just seemed like the right thing to say.”

“Cassette looks like he’s ready to strangle me. What do you say you kiss me, just to get back at him for using me?” Kyle said, flashing me a devilish grin.

A snort escaped me. “In your dreams, buddy.”

With that, I strode back to Cameron.

Kyle called after me, “If you meet the next girl, put in a good word for me!”

I flipped him off over my shoulder, and he laughed loudly.

Eventually, he’d be a great mate for someone who liked a loud, confident guy.

But he’d have to prove that to her himself. I sure as hell wasn’t getting involved.

There was a crease between Cameron’s brows when I walked back to him. “What did he say?” Cam asked, draping his arm over my shoulder and pulling me back to his side.

“We’re in love, and I’m going to carry his children.”

Cam growled, his grip on me tightening. “ Lolli .”

My lips curved upward. “He knows you outsmarted him. He asked me to put in a word with the next girl, if I meet her.”

“And?”

“And I’m sure you saw me flip him off. If he wants a mate, he’ll have to win her over himself.”

Cam nodded.

His mood was more reserved than it had been when we were on the yacht and the speedboat, though.

Something told me he was nervous.

It was ridiculous for him to worry after I’d already agreed to be his, but I did get it. There was still no guarantee. And Travis and Kyle still did want me to choose them. If I was in love with a guy who could reject me that easily, I’d be stressed too.

“You don’t think Travis would try to use his magic on me, right?” I asked.

Cam snorted. “He saw how fast Oren died. I don’t think anyone will ever be stupid enough to try that on this island again. Travis isn’t bright, but he doesn’t have a death wish. He’ll want to keep coming back here until he’s won a mate or faded too much to try.”

I settled against him.

It was going to be a long few days, especially if Cam remained stressed and quiet for parts of it… but we were going to make it.