Page 66 of The Chosen Fae

Rune said, "Thanks!"

Lolita quickly thanked her as they ran out of the office, headed out of the building, and raced straight toward the gate. They hurried out through the open gate and saw a red Ford Escape.

They climbed in, and Stone found the keys after a brief search in the console.

"I can't believe they gave us a way to try and catch up to the other competitors," Stone said.

"I can't believe the Game Master said nothing about us missing from the commons to go on the challenge," Rune said.

"I think it's part of the challenge," Lolita reasoned. "If we make up the time and win the challenge, we beat them at their game."

"True," Stone said, though he still couldn't believe Silas had slipped out of their room without Stone hearing him leave. And for sure, Silas and Iris and the others had to have lied about being on their side, at least this time. Maybe they had changed their minds. Or maybe Vesper and Xena had changed them for them.

"It's a competition between fae kind, and they're being fae, even though we don't play that way. The people in charge are probably getting a kick out of it to see if we can even make it at all," Rune said, enjoying the feel of the leather seats. "They might even be tired of us winning all the time and hoped the other faes' deceitfulness would change the outcome."

"Possibly," Stone said. “But I thought Silas and the others were supposed to help us with the last few challenges.”

“Agreed,” Rune said.

"Wow, I can't believe you can drive the car," Lolita said, changing the subject.

"He can't. He's faking it." Rune smiled at him.

"Hey, I managed to drive to that house during the challenge to turn the baby into a changeling." He was driving faster than the speed limit.

"That's true." Rune had to agree. She thought she might not be able to drive as well, since she had never driven a real car before. A simulator wasn't anything like the real thing.

"We have to take a right up here to the lake," Rune said.

Then he slowed down.

Once he made the turn, Lolita shouted when she saw the sign for the west entrance to the lake.

Stone hit the brakes and turned right.

Rune was holding onto the overhead grab handle in the car for dear life, as best she could. "Slow down!"

"Sorry, we're in a competition." Stone didn’t seem sorry at all; rather, he was focused and determined.

"And we need to get there in one piece," Rune said.

Lolita agreed.

Stone found a gravel spot to park in front of the lake, jammed on the brakes, and turned off the car. They jumped out of the car all at once.

"Jet skis, a motorboat, and canoes are over there," Stone said, motioning to them as they raced to the water’s edge.

As soon as they reached the boats, Rune was already swinging a leg over a jet ski. "We each have to get our own clue. We need to take three separate jet skis. They should be the fastest." She didn't ask if Lolita could handle one; Rune wouldn't insult her by implying she couldn't. And she figured it would take Lolita too long to reach a buoy going by canoe. Or if they took the motorboat and had to stop at each buoy.

"Yeah, let's go," Lolita said.

Lolita and Stone mounted their jet skis and shot across the lake toward the buoys where the other fae were already diving for clues, their canoes floating next to the buoys. Lolita handled her jet ski well.

Immediately, Rune had an idea of how to slow down their competitors, since they had tried to keep them from participating in the challenge. She veered toward the competitors' canoes, snatching the ropes of two and towing them swiftly to shore.

Stone laughed and went for three of the others, snagging their tow ropes and moving them to the beach.

Lolita claimed the last one, sped toward the shore, and beached it beside the other canoes.