Page 20

Dex

S he was a vision. Like a demon and angel had made a baby and the result was her.

She was all parts beauty with equal parts danger.

I don’t even think she knew all that she was capable of yet, but it was palpable.

Just one look at her, and I could tell that she was formidable, even if she didn’t quite believe it herself yet.

The games would change that.

I’d scared her, though, I knew she felt this pull between us, just as much as I did.

Maybe it wasn’t me that she was scared of, but what it meant about her.

A truth in herself she wasn’t ready to face yet.

That she liked this dark and dangerous part of her.

I could tell she’d spent her life being good for everyone else, but down here, nothing else mattered.

She had to stand on her own two feet with no one to cater to but herself.

Maybe for the first time in her life too.

I could only hope that there could be a way that we both made it out of here, no matter how unlikely that might be. Nocturne was unpredictable and unforgiving. She hadn’t seen me yet, having snuck in later than I should have.

“What are they going to do with those masks?” I heard Regis asking.

“None of your business,” the Goddess of Spring replied in a chilling tone.

Eyeing the masks on top of the decapitated heads also had me wondering the same question, but the Goddess’s clipped response was telling. Clearly, we weren’t meant to know, which made it all the more interesting.

A part of me wondered if I’d be able to sneak back in here after everyone had gone to sleep.

They’d told us the only way to obtain the power of another mask was to kill the wearer, but they’d told us many blatant lies that they covered up with finery and an active destruction of information.

I’d learned that the Divine were more interested in serving their own interests than helping their own citizens.

Transparency wasn’t something I could expect from them, and the Goddess of Spring’s curt response had me intrigued enough to find out for myself.

A loose plan formed in my mind to take those masks for myself. The three powers alone would be worth it.

It was genius really. If there was a way to obtain those mask’s powers, displaying them in plain sight like they were a sure way to make us feel like they were forever out of reach. A reminder of our insignificance.

Well, I had a feeling that I would call them on their bluff.

Odessa’s deep brown eyes finally locked onto me, and I went towards her as if pulled by an invisible string. I couldn’t help myself when it came to her. Every time she was around, I seemed to forget everything but her.

She’d been avoiding me all day and it thrilled me to know I’d gotten under her skin. What she walked in on, I hadn’t meant for her to see, but the fact that she had, that she knew the truth of how I felt about her, was in a way freeing. If only she wasn’t so frightened of her own feelings.

After a brief as hell interaction, she ran from me, right into that god’s arms. They spun around the room, dancing as if they were the only two in here.

It ate at me, watching them when I knew she belonged with me. Even if she didn’t want to admit it to herself yet, she knew it. Deep down. She had to.

Anger and possession coursed through my body like I’ve never known, until he whispered something in her ear that made her smile, and fuck. I couldn’t take it anymore. Before I knew what I was doing, I found myself tapping on his shoulder as if he were just a mortal man.

“Can I cut in?” I asked boldly.

His emerald, green eyes flashed in surprise, and Odessa stared at me open mouthed.

“Why not,” The God of Shadows replied, offering me Odessa’s hand stiffly.

It was clear he wasn’t happy being interrupted.

Odessa fit snuggly against me, her jaw set tightly as if she knew we were being watched and couldn’t say what she really wanted to.

As soon as we started dancing and were far enough away from anyone that would eavesdropping, she snarled up at me. “Are you out of your mind? Provoking a god like that?”

“Provoking? I thought I asked nicely.”

“You can’t just go and ask a god to cut in!” She talked through clenched teeth, keeping a fake smile in place, playing the part like nothing was amiss.

“I think I just did.”

She shook her head, and I spun her out, bringing her back in. Her backside became flush with my front and there was a very noticeable item poking at me from her thigh.

I chuckled. “Speaking of things you shouldn’t be doing?—”

“Not a word.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” She spun again, this time coming to face me. She was a good few inches below me and had to strain her neck to glare up at me. Then I watched as her eyes went wide and she awkwardly clenched her legs together.

The knife was slipping.

If she were to be found out, her head would be up on that wall along with the other contestants, and I couldn’t let that happen.

I brought her body close to mine, covering the fact that she was clearly struggling to keep from dropping the damned thing.

We moved together in tandem, her eyes darting around the room in a panic. I gripped onto her thigh, feeling the outline of the dagger.

“Just go with it,” I pleaded with her.

“Fine, but if you fuck it up, I’m taking you down with me.”

She had no choice but to trust me. With my hand pressed against her thigh, I dragged my hand up to her hips, the knife moving with me.

Thankfully, she had something protecting her skin from being sliced otherwise, I’m pretty sure she would have gotten nicked by the sharp blade.

Finally, with my other hand coming to clutch the knife, I yanked it through the tight fabric that cinched in at her waist.

It wouldn’t hold for long, but it was something.

The song came to an end, and she bowed politely then took off, headed in the direction of the bathrooms. I let her go, watching as she left.

In fact, most everyone had stopped what they were doing to watch us.

I hadn’t noticed, too focused on the temptress in my arms. I wasn’t ashamed for wanting her.

She was gorgeous and had a spark that made me want to fan until it was a raging inferno.

Tomorrow, the games would begin, and we’d be plunged into the depths of this volatile place. I wondered if that was the last, I’d see of her until we were officially opponents, playing against each other for the chance to win.