I must have looked horrified but she didn’t even blink.
“I said what I said.”
“Won’t be a problem.”
“Excellent.” She smiled and jumped off the counter.
“You’re seriously not going to elaborate on anything you just said to me?”
“Nope!” she chirped happily. “I guess you’ll just have to go through my book collection. I’ll give you a hint, the spider and the screw driver are from the same book. Happy hunting.”
“I think I’m actually good not knowing. It’s probably worse than what I’m imagining.”
She laughed. “So, what exactly is this game you’re planning? And when does it start?”
I pulled her against me. “That depends. Are you still sore?”
She shook her head.
“Then we’ll have to start soon. You still haven’t picked a tree to decorate so I thought we could kill two birds with one stone. I’ll give you a five-minute head start, then whatever tree I catch you under we’ll decorate.” A brief pause. “After I’m done with you, of course.”
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nibbled, fire burning behind her eyes again.
“Five minutes starts now.”
“But—”
“Run, Nightshade.”
31
THE VOLUNTEER
It had been snowingall night, but not a shred of evidence was left on the forest floor as I ran. Austin must have cleared all the snow before he told me to run. Interesting, he wasn’t trying to get an advantage by tracking my footprints.
I’d hopped into my boots while I made my way off the porch, only to realize I could have stayed in my slippers. Damn it, I lostprecious time going for these boots when I should have grabbed a jacket. Although, I barely felt the cold as I dashed for the forest.
I ran down the path headed north to my favourite hiding spot. Even though I took up running a couple years ago, I wasn’t any good. My lungs couldn’t handle long distances. It probably didn’t help that I spent more time reading about running than actually trying to run but I digress.
I took a sharp right turn, my boots slipping in the mud. I snapped a branch trying to stay upright. Well, he’d definitely know I went this way.
I slowed my pace as I reached the edge of the hill, the last thing I needed was to go tumbling down the whole way. I took a few steps and skid a few feet. Damn it, it would have been safer if he’d left the damn snow. We got over thirty centimetres overnight, I would have sunk right in instead of worrying about going face-first into a tree. Why was the hill so fucking steep?
There was a tree by the lake that I could climb to hide, if I could make it. I had no idea how much time had passed and I certainly wasn’t going to waste time by checking. That would require stopping to take out my phone.
“Ready or not, here I come.”
Austin’s voice cut through the silence. He was still by the house—unless he cheated—but he sounded like he was right behind me and in front of me. Like he was everywhere and nowhere all at once.
I got to the bottom of the hill and dashed for the edge of the lake. I didn’t get more than a few steps before I slammed into a wall of muscle. I squealed, stumbling back. My eyes met those beautiful icy-blues, burning with lust.
I was done for.
I backed away slowly, he made no move to stop me.
“Cheater. You used your shadows.”
“Not using my power wasn’t one of your ground rules.”
