Chapter 13

Thirteen

Moon

“ W e should attempt to stick together,” Odas says as he jogs up beside me, and I curse under my breath.

“No, we shouldn’t. The instructions didn’t say we’re still a team, we could very well be enemies at this point. The next task could be to incapacitate someone in the group. Being the smallest and least blessed with shifting abilities, I’d be the first target.” I jog faster, but Odas matches my speed easily, as does Cato, who’s just a few steps behind his apparent friend.

“Moon—"

“No. I’m still mad at you for the lies?—"

“I never lied. You just assumed?—"

“You’re about to be presumed dead if you don’t cut the shit. You let me think I was insulting your super-sized dick, when in fact, it’s probably quite small and ineffective!” I snap, knowing men find this insulting.

Like, no one has ever been like… ew, small boobies, cover those up, when I flashed them. Although Daire did seem less interested in seeing them than I’m used to. I pause mid-stride.

“Have I been… Is it assault to flash you?” I ask, as Odas runs past me, and Cato crashes into me. Thankfully, his buddy was anticipating this, because he catches me before I can go flying into outer space from the force of Cato’s body slamming into mine.

“Moonlight Blossom!” Cato snaps, and we all fucking freeze, because at no point have I ever told a soul my full name willingly. Especially not in the last two days.

I narrow my eyes on him, holding up one finger. “First,” I say, shoving said finger in his face. “If I hear you say my full name again, I will cut your tongue out and feed it to Odas. Second,” I add a second finger and step closer. Cato crosses his arms over his chest, attempting to look unaffected, but I can tell saying my full name was unintentional. “I don’t know how you know that name, but I now solidly believe I can’t trust either of you as far as I could throw you, and since I can’t even lift you, that is exactly zero percent!” This time I get right in his face. “And third. Answer the question. You too, Fae boy. I can feel you breathing down my neck,” I snap, taking two quick steps back, right into a chest. Fenrick appears behind me, lifting his brow, and I just glare.

These men severely underestimate me, which suits me just fine.

“No. I can’t say I’ve ever felt assaulted by seeing a woman’s breasts,” Odas says, clearly failing to hide his grin.

“No,” is all Cato says, before Fenrick spins me and tugs me against his chest.

“Why?” he asks, searching my eyes for an answer, and I get the urge to tug his mask down. However, the last time I snatched someone’s mask, my life flipped on its axis. This makes me wonder, though, is he pulling his mask down just so he can breathe down my neck? Or is he sniffing me? Creeper.

“Well. In a pinch, if I flash a man my breasts, it usually saves me a good three seconds. Long enough to bolt and escape, rather than fight.” I shrug, honestly. Unsure why I just confessed. “Do you have compulsion magic, you fuck?” I accuse, making him frown and flinch back slightly. Understanding flashes in his eyes, before he shrugs, clearly smirking under that mask.

“No more flashing your breasts to anyone,” Fenrick growls, and I lift a brow.

“Why? They’re lying, aren’t they? It is like an assault!” I screech, and Fenrick rolls his eyes so far back into his head, I think he just saw his own brain.

“No, Moon. If a man is already attacking you, and you’re doing it to protect yourself, it’s no more assaulting than breaking his nose would be. Honestly, it’s a free show they don’t deserve,” Fenrick grumbles, and I nod.

“What if I’m not being attacked? What if I’m just trying to escape?” I add, needing to know.

“Listen, if you flash a coworker, or some rando on the street, sure, that’s offensive. But if you’re doing it as a defense tactic, I’d say no. All’s fair in war, right?” Odas says, but I shake my head.

“No, war is evil. War ends lives, even if the person escapes with a heartbeat. War does irreparable damage,” I say vehemently. I shake my head, looking up at Fenrick. “No flashing titties, I guess.”

“Just to be clear, if I’m in a fight with a woman or at war, titties are the least traumatic thing I’ll see,” Odas adds.

“What if it was a dick. Huge monster cock?” I ask, hands on my hips as I search all their faces, and all three men cringe.

“I mean, ew, but not traumatic,” Fenrick says with a shrug.

“Maybe it’s because I’m a woman. Maybe it’s because men have been using their power against us since time began, but I can tell you, if a man whipped his dick out in a fight, I’d be traumatized. It’s a double standard. It’s not okay, and I’m an asshole.” I nod, deciding right then that I will never flash another man that doesn’t ask to see my boobs.

I look around, knowing I won’t see the camera. “Jeffery James, from my senior year of magical practice, sorry dude. I know you ended up following me around for the rest of the year, but I was wrong. Although, you were holding a fucking bat, so…” I pause, thinking of the other time I used my boobs to save myself. “To the bouncer at my favorite bar, Henry’s, sorry. You were just huge and super intimidating, and I panicked. This is my official confession, in case either of you decides to press charges…”

“Are you done?” Cato sneers, and I shrug.

“No. I need to apologize to my coworker Daire. I didn’t flash him, but I threatened to, just to piss my boss off, and he was very upset about that. So.” I shrug. “I can do that one in person, though, after I win this shit.” I wiggle my eyebrows.

Three groans make me roll my eyes before I duck out from under Fenrick’s arms.

“You three just— stay away, okay? I think it’s best you all go elsewhere. You might already be in love with me, but I’m Heart Bonded to someone else. So.” I jog away, but they follow.

“You can have more than one Heart Bonded,” Odas calls out, but I shake my head.

“Witches never do,” I shout back, picking up my pace, but Fenrick jogs beside me easily.

“Full-blood Witches, maybe. But half-breeds?” he says, before disappearing, making my steps falter.

“What does that mean?! What are you insinuating?” I shout, but trip over my own feet, landing hard on my hands and knees.

The ground shakes, and I shake my head. Jeez, I didn’t fall that hard.

Fenrick drops beside me and wraps his arms around me. The world around me takes on this bizarre glow, and Cato and Odas freak out.

“Mungus,” Fenrick whispers, and I freeze. Crow warned me about those…

“Don’t offend them!” I whisper-shout, and the other two men smash themselves against the hedges of the maze, keeping their eyes down, as Fenrick holds me tightly to him on the opposite side.

An animal that looks super similar to a very small hippo-cow-zebra thing, comes prancing around the corner. It pauses, sniffing the air, sensing us. It just stands there, waiting. I can feel its glare. Practically hear it calling us a bunch of bitches.

“Let me go.” I tug free from Fenrick, who curses, and I step into its path. I tip my head down, not looking up at it. “Uh, hi. We’re just following the maze. We mean you no harm. Would you like some berries?” I ask, keeping my hands up where the Mungus can see them.

“Moon,” one of the guys hisses, but I shake my head.

“It might have found it offensive that we were hiding,” I hiss back, and it stomps its thick… uh paw? Foot? Hoof? And I look up and watch it huff, doing a little head shake thing. “No berries?” Another stomp. “Okay, uh. What did I say?” I ask, and on the third stomp, it steps toward me.

“Damn it, Moon.”

“Hush, Cato.”

“She’s a girl. Not it,” Odas supplies, and I look back up.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to assume. You’re very kind, not trampling me for my mistake,” I quickly add, and she huffs again. This time, the foot stomp is less sassy. Barely.

“Berries,” Odas instructs, and I nod. I move slowly, pulling the berries out of my backpack, and holding them out to her in my open palm.

“On the floor?” I ask, which gets me a very angry double stomp. “Okay! Okay, straight from my hand, then?” I guess, and her answer is a huff. As she walks forward, much slower now, she bows her head and then lifts it to rather gently lick the berries from my hand.

The chirping sound she lets out, which sounds like a ferret, combined with her slobbery tongue makes me giggle, and she nudges me with her wide flat nose.

“Pets?” I ask, lifting my hand to scratch her ear, and nearly dying as her little tail flicks around happily. “Oh, aren’t you just the smartest, most pretty girl there is?” I praise her, as I rub her head cheerfully.

“Balls,” Fenrick hisses, and I lift my head.

“What?”

“You would find a way to convince a Mungus to imprint on you. I hope you’re a skilled berry and fish hunter because that’s what she eats most.” Fenrick shakes his head and then vanishes. Very annoying. “Guess you’re a mother now,” he adds, making my jaw fall open, as I stare at my new… uh. Baby?

Moon

“I’m starting to think you were the dangerous part of trial two,” I say, as I pat the sweet girl’s head. I’ve started calling her sweet girl, so until someone can tell me her name, that’s it now.

“She’s not. When night falls, there will be a new task,” Cato says, and I sigh, really wishing they’d go away. Sure, they are grade-A eye candy, but I really don’t want to have to fight them.

“It is night,” I point out, but Odas shakes his head.

“No. Deep into the night. It’ll be something that seems trivial but will be extremely difficult. The Games last until there’s only one person standing. Today is day two. The next few days will be an all-out bloodbath. Starting tonight,” Odas whispers, as we turn the corner, and I yelp when my chest collides with someone else’s.

“You!” he hisses, and I flinch back. Sweet Girl is not having it because she stomps forward, but I stop her.

“Woah, it’s okay, no maiming.” I hold my hand up, and the Vampire hisses and then sucks in a deep, ragged breath. His eyes flash red, and his fangs descend. “Okay, maybe a little maiming…” I step back, and Fenrick appears in front of me.

“Get back,” he warns, and Daire hisses.

“You get back!” My eyebrows shoot up, and I frown. “Two days, no blood,” he adds helpfully, and my eyes go wide.

“Weren’t you with a group? They didn’t?—"

“They knocked me out, tied me up, and when we made it through the first trial, the other team… well they left me there after nearly killing the two that tied me up.”

“Because you’re a Vampire?” I ask, and he nods. “Shit, is there no blood in any of the supplies? They give us food…” I frown, that seems super fucked up. Rigged.

“Blood can’t be kept fresh out here,” Daire says, before taking several steps away from me. “Most other groups have split by now…oh.”

“Oh, what?” I ask, and he shakes his head.

“Nothing.” He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and I smile. I wonder what those do for his vision…

With a speed I wasn’t expecting, Daire flashes away. And at first, I think he’s gone, until my world blurs.

We move so fast, for so long, that I get sick. I could do nothing but hold on for dear life.

When the world stops moving, and I’m placed on the ground, I look up to find Daire pushing his hands into his hair, pacing around.

I curl up in the fetal position, hugging my stomach, and closing my eyes, hoping my body adjusts to that bullshit.

“What the fuck? That was horrible,” I whine, and Daire laughs, but it’s lacking humor. It’s dry, almost angry.

“Not feeding for two fucking days is horrible,” he snaps, and I blink up at him.

“They weren’t gonna hurt me if that’s what you were thinking? I didn’t need to be saved. I guess I appreciate the help, though. I haven’t been able to shake them since we all got dropped in here,” I groan, as I slowly sit up.

“I don’t want to do this,” Daire groans, dropping to his knees, and my alarm bells start going off.

“Do what?” I grab the handle of my knife and Daire laughs.

“Unless you have silver, that won’t do shit,” he chuckles, and I shrug.

“Could be silver. You know, for someone complaining about almost being flashed, you sure do look ready to assault me. With your fangs.”

“Why do you think I was so upset? I have no control over my need, Moon!” Daire flashes to me, and in a blink, I’m on my back and looking up at him.

“Can you drink, without killing me?” I ask, and Daire nods.

“When I’m not starving,” he whispers, and I nibble my lip.

“Try not to?” I ask. If I didn’t know Daire from work, I’d be trying to kill him right now. But I know he’s a decent man. He’s just starving. I might try to cut a chunk off the danger lizard if I were hungry enough.

“I should have grabbed the Cyclops,” he groans, dropping his forehead until it’s resting on my shoulder, and I shiver under him. “But then I’d be dead. I don’t want to hurt you, but I need to feed,” he whimpers.

“Bite me, now. Quickly. And then I’ll stab your leg or something before you take too much?” I offer, poking his side. When he turns his head, removes his glasses, and licks my skin from my collarbone to my earlobe, I shake under him, because that should not have felt good. This is a terrifying and life-threatening moment. Not a sexy one.

“You smell fucking incredible,” he groans, and I giggle nervously.

“I didn’t expect you to be so flirty. You’re normally so uptight, no offense,” I say breathlessly, clutching my knife for dear life.

“Control is something I struggle with. It’s all or nothing.” He nibbles my skin now, and I gasp.

“Sheesh, no kidding. Am I about to die?” I whisper, wondering if I’m more, or less, likely to survive if I just stab him now.

“Maybe,” he admits. “It’ll feel good, at least,” he adds, and I scoff.

“That doesn’t make it better.” I pause, “Good how?”

“Like fucking and eating ice cream, after taking a long hot shower,” he says, and I laugh.

“That’s an unusually specific description,” I say, noticing I’ve wrapped my legs around his waist. “I feel like maybe you should do it now, before I chicken out, and try to kill you,” I add, and then pull his head down with the knife-free hand. “Or try to fuck you, because apparently, my body's response to being threatened is to be horny as fuck.”

“I’ll. Try,” he hisses, and then he’s biting. My back arches, and I moan like a porn star working for her money. He wasn’t wrong, this feels fucking insane. Life changing. Shit, if I live, I’m making him bite me every day. I know I’m grinding against him, like a horny teenager getting kissed in the back seat of the car owned by the guy’s parents.

“Shit, Daire…” I moan, completely shameless. One second, I’m grinding against the hungry Vamp, and in the next, I’m lying there, and Daire is gone.

I look up, finding a man I’ve never seen before hovering over me. He looks down at me, eyes wild, and the look in his eyes scares me. He drops down, kisses my cheek, and then places a pebble on my chest, before running away. He’s faster than even Daire was and disappears into the hedges. No, he plows through them… Wow.

I grab the pebble, holding it up and seeing that it looks like the other ones, only this one is silver. I tuck it into my bra, sit up, and find Daire unconscious, slumped like fifteen feet away.

What the hell is happening? Who just saved me from… either the best orgasm of my life or being murdered? What the fuck is up with the cheek kiss and the pebbles?